I'm 18 - The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Discussion

[–] MissyH316 15 years ago

MissLily, I think it's wonderful you appreciate this film! Good for you and I hope you might be able to see and enjoy some of Lon Chaney Sr.'s other great movies too. "Hunchback of Notre Dame" is probably his second-most famous movie, but I highly recommend "The Unknown". It's not "spooky" like "Phantom", but oh my, does it have a creepy, disturbing storyline!

You'll kinda have to forgive those who comment on younger people not liking old movies... as I'm sure you've seen for yourself from plenty of other user comments here on IMDb (as well as other places), I think many kids of all ages are horribly ignorant about old movies.

Because they're so different in many ways from modern movies, many people can not or will not even try to appreciate old movies on their own merits and in historical context. Just another example of intolerance in our "tolerant", politically correct (and dumbed-down) society at large. ;-)

Best wishes!
Missy
"Now, bring me that horizon." --Captain Jack Sparrow

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[–] Frumious_Bandersnatch_46 11 years ago

«"Just another example of intolerance in our "tolerant", politically correct (and dumbed-down) society at large."»
Yes. Apparently all that "tolerance" and political correctitude is directly only toward new stuff — and toward themselves, of course.

This movie was old when I was young. I'd always heard that it was a milestone of filmmaking and one of the great man's greatest. So, once VCRs became affordable and video rental shops started springing up, I rented it — and I was blown away! I was astounded by what they were able to do without sound, without color, without "modern" makeup and/or special effects. Fantastic!

BTW: Have you seen F.W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" (1922)?

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[–] MissyH316 11 years ago

"Nosferatu" (1922) was the movie I almost couldn't watch for a long time, due to the uber-creepiness of the title character - as opposed to "Phantom" (1925) that I AVOIDED watching at all costs for over 20 years, so scared was I of Lon Chaney's makeup!

"Nosteratu" was also my second exposure to the awesome German film expressionism that I think is still unmatched to date.

"Think slow, act fast." --Buster Keaton

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[–] writergurlkristin-1 15 years ago

I'm fourteen, and this my absolute favorite Phantom movie. Lon Chaney is a spectacular actor and played his devotion to Christine wonderfully. I also love how true to the book this version is (other than the ending, that is).

"Always harping on that bloody old judge. We've got ourselves a nice respectable business!"

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[–] Tina-37 15 years ago

I had to give you a huge thumbs up, MissLilyEvans! I'm a bit older than you, but I fell in love with movies when I was about 4-years-old and my passion for them has never lessened. I loved old movies most of all, especially being around a grandmother who used to tell me of when she saw KING KONG, FRANKENSTEIN and GONE WITH THE WIND for the first time. I think I fell in love with the first silent movie I ever saw when I was about 13 (and it WAS PHANTOM OF THE OPERA when it was run on TV), so I understand exactly how you feel. I just hope your love for these wonderful movies continues to grow.

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[–] Tina-37 15 years ago

It's been great to keep reading the comments of those countering the idea that they are "too young" to appreciate silent films. As someone else said, there are often children of ALL ages that don't know a lot about these movies, but I greatly appreciate the ones that do. I used to get the same complaint too: "You're 12 (or 13, 14, whatever) and you like SILENT MOVIES! What's so special about silent movies? They're OLD. Nobody talks. The people move around at funny speeds. And they're in black and white?! What's wrong with you?" But I just ignored them.

We're so blessed to have the few silent movies that we have, and every now and then, we get another treat that has been hidden away in someone's collection ("Beyond the Rocks" with Valentino and Swanson) or in the cellar or basement of a South American theater (the nearly complete version of "Metropolis"). I want to think that when this movie fan has gone to her great reward, the passion for these old flicks won't just fade and die with me, but that others are maintaining the love I have and will pass that on to future generations too. So to those of you age 13, age 18 and age 23 -- I hope your passion for silents just grows and grows as you get older. There are still going to be so many others for you to discover, just as I did and still am.

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[–] MissyH316 11 years ago

Great post; I love it! But I couldn't resist imagining my own answers back to the dim bulbs who complained about your liking silent movies:

"What's so special about silent movies?"
Everything! They're entertaining without reverting to the lowest common denominator of graphic sex, violence, and irreverence.

"They're OLD."
Yes - and so are the pyramids of Egypt or photographs of our great-grandparents. Do we love our family members, friends, and pets any less after they're no longer young? Heaven forbid!

"Nobody talks."
...and this is necessarily a BAD thing? There is not ONE piece of dialogue that could add any value whatsoever to Charlie Chaplin's "roll dance" from "The Gold Rush"(1925), to the house falling around Buster Keaton in "Steamboat Bill Jr."(1928), to Lillian Gish on the ice floe in "Way Down East"(1920), or to the unmasking scene in "Phantom"(1925).

"The people move around at funny speeds."
And guess whose fault THAT is? That of the post-silent era ignoramuses who run the films at the WRONG film speed! Occasionally action was intentionally sped up on purpose for comedic effect. But this notion that all silent movies consist of herky-jerky action is sadly wrong, furthered by many years of misuse and neglect.

"And they're in black and white?!"
So? Can a generation that's had "tolerance" and "diversity" crammed down our throats not appreciate something nowadays different, like black and white movies? Color alone does not a great movie make - a painted turd is STILL a turd.

"What's wrong with you?"
Ha! One might ask them the same question - but you did right to ignore them. No use trying to talk horse sense to jackasses.

"Think slow, act fast." --Buster Keaton

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[–] familyguy42797 14 years ago

Ironically, I'm 13 and I've loved PHANTOM since I was... 8 maybe? Every year the theatre in my town shows this the Thursday before Halloween with a live organ playing the music... I also love old horror movies. People look at me funny when I say I like old movies (some think my perception of old is the 80's... hence when I say 20's, 30’s, 40’s they look like I have the Phantoms face... not grossed out or anything....). I hope to make horror movies like that one day... Without all the gore...
"It's risky, But I get my laughs!"-Charlie Brown

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[–] Knoxvicious 14 years ago

I'm 18 and have just seen the movie.
Though it didn't scare me, I really did like it and thought it was a brilliant piece of film.

I'm thinking of showing these kind of movies to my children when they're young, 5 or 6. Does that sound apporiate enough? So they can appericate movies like this more and actually consider this film a horror or thriller.

Though the unmasking scene did give me goosebumps. That was excellent. Come on, everyone has to agree that was creepy...

www.simplydustinhoffman.com
-#1 site for Dustin Hoffman fans-

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[–] CaptainHowdy1987 13 years ago

I'm 23 and I love silent films. This is one of my favourites. Obviously (as with al kinds of films), there are some sh!++y silents, but most of the ones I've seen are great. Faust is also a favourite of mine.

I know exactly what you mean, familyguy42797. I get those same looks when I tell people I like old and silent films.

"I wished Her back but the dead adored Her, Even wild winds sang in chora for Her"

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[–] orlox99-1 12 years ago

Haha I agree with you about people thinking the 80s is old. Even funnier when something from the 90s is called ancient.

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[–] skiop 13 years ago

Meh, I'm in my 30s and this really had me bored. I think I dozed off a couple of times. I don't think age has anything to do with it. Some people just like slow-moving stories that go nowhere.

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[–] Zeego 12 years ago

I'm 14, and this was the first horror movie I saw when I was 7. I've loved it ever since. So yay for us.

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[–] heelmaster2000 12 years ago

I am 26 and just watched it. Though it was a good film, I was a tad bit disappointed from all the praise I heard. I also watched Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the same night and found it to be far superior.

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