The Phantom: Charles Dance

Christine: Terri Polo

The Phantom's father; Burt Lancaster.

My review:

    I must say, next to ALW's musical, and the 1925 film, this is my next favorite version!  It does stray off the original novel, but the story seem more 'down-to-earth' for some reason.

    The Phantom's father is the manager of the Paris Opera house, and is suddenly shocked to learn that he has just been dismissed.  Not for his job, but for the fact that he has to leave his son behind.

    The new managers don't believe in ghosts, so it is up to our dear Erik to make them believe so that no one will be tempted to do down to the cellars and discover that he exists.  (The tricks he pulls are great!) Anyway, Christine arrives, a poor peasant girl who has been promised by the Comte de Changy to be given singing lessons there.  So, you can guess where this continues on. 

    I like this version, though Erik is not the 'Angel of Music', he dares to approach Christine, and offers her lessons which the news managers refuse on the condition she never sees his face.  At least there is some contact between them.  She also learns to love him in her own way, which is nice to see.  The fact that Erik has not traveled the world, and that he has had a father figure might be a minus for some people, but it still fits this retelling.

    Also, this is the first film version to have been shot at the Paris Opera house.  Though, I hate to burst everyone's bubble, the auditorium shots were done at L'Odeon theatre in Paris.  (You can tell that the criss-cross patterns around 'Box Five' in the film do not match the decor around the boxes of the Palais Garnier.)  See the article below.

 I would recommend this version whole-heartedly!

It is not available on VHS, but you can get it on DVD.

Sometimes it does come on TV - so keep your eyes out and your VHS recorders loaded!