Image courtesy of IMDb.Ĭhaney again designed his makeup, putting himself through an intense process. However, the true reveal, which was held secret from audiences, was the intensive makeup work that Chaney put himself through again.Ī colorized version of Universal’s The Phantom of the Opera (1925) featuring Lon Chaney.
He appears maniacal from the word go, even as we’re introduced to him as a silhouette. However, again the standout piece of the film remains to be Chaney. The ballroom and opera were meticulous, with Universal preserving the set despite tearing down the famous Sound Stage 28 on Universal property in 2014. Ben Carré, a former backstage worker at the actual Paris Opera, designed the backstage and dungeon areas of the set. The film brings the world of the Paris Opera to life through spectacular set pieces. Still of the Paris Opera House from Universal’s The Phantom of the Opera (1925). A combination of the two cuts was released in September and continues to be the iconic version seen today. A second version was then booed off the screen, forcing Universal to cut the film for a third time. The original film was such a disaster, Universal actually reshot the majority the film after premiering it in January. The entire crew turned on the director, Rupert Julian, and rumors suggest Chaney directed all of his own scenes. This version of “Phantom” was tumultuous, to say the least. Rather than a morally gray, or even sympathetic character, this version of the phantom is hideous and dangerous. However, this time there are no redeemable qualities in Chaney’s portrayal of the monster. Hot off his incredible performance in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), Chaney jumped into the makeup of another Parisian monster. The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin in Universal’s Phantom of the Opera (1925). It was so popular, they chose to revisit the character again in 1943, both using sound and Technicolor to craft a lavish production.Īs part of our Universal Monsters series, let’s look back at the two Universal productions of the beloved story. Universal brought the character to life with the 1925 silent film, featuring Lon Chaney as a ghoulish creature. In the hundred years since the initial story’s release, the tale of a man haunting the Paris Opera has spawned dozens of adaptations, including movies, the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, and even comics.
The novel was first written as a serialized story between 19 by Gaston Leroux. Since the silent era, The Phantom of the Opera has been one of film and entertainment’s most interesting characters.
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