MovieChat Forums > Phantom of the Opera (1943) Discussion > great movie

great movie

posted 19 years ago by kyle_bertulli
5 replies | jump to latest

I think this movie is so extremely underrated. While it's not the same as the 1925 version, I think it's a great movie in itself. It's more of a drama than a horror film really. As a musician myself, I really appreciate the voices of Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster, and the actress that played Madamme Biancarolli (if she sang it herself). Fans of the 2004 version of the Phantom of the Opera need to watch this, to compare the singers in this movie to the 2004 version. This movie had great acting. Appreciating music the way I do, you learn to relate to certain things in this movie. It's been one of my favorites for a while, even though it doesn't really follow the novel.

[–] greshfam7 19 years ago

I really don't like comparing this to the 2004 version b/c they are too different to compare. The 2004 musical was never meant to be operatic, and this one was. As for this one being a good movie I have to disagree. The sets, costumes, and music were pleasing to the yees and ears, but the acting and plot of this version made me cringe quite a few times. I tried watching it a couple more times and cringed less often, but I can never accept this version as a true POTO film b/c of the dumbed-down plot of this one. There were parts I liked (Biancarolli's [sp?] little fit after being drugged, her death, the chandelier, the acid part, and the little bit where the stage manager was doing his "phantom" gesture and realised that the guy next to him looked just how the manager gestured) but I sometimes found myself waiting for the opera sequences to speed up. I think the overall production is very nice, but I just don't care for this version. Not to say I prefer the 2004 version. I thought that one was well done, but had the potential to be better than it was. Some different techniques would have made it much more enjoyable. But thn again, I'm a 100% stage-show person, so I'm never really pleased with any film musical.

JACK: Never let go, Rose
(she sneezes and drops him.)
ROSE: (after a pause) Oops.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Defy_Gravity18 19 years ago

I saw this movie before I saw the 2004 one and I still dislike this movie. I thought the acting in it wasn't great and it was just...ick. I would like to see the Lon Chaney one but I doubt anyone will ever top ALW for me.

A man died. He seemed a good man, but I did not know him. -Aldonza

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] eden_echo 18 years ago

IMO it was a good movie, I think it's the first POTO version I've seen. I was impressed by their take on the story, it did have it's moments too, but what irritated me the most was the over excessiveness of opera, this has more I believe than any other version, it was too much, they could have toned it down a bit but anyhoo I enjoyed it.

It's been one of my favorites for a while, even though it doesn't really follow the novel.

Well Carlotta wasn't Carlotta in this but a different name, and Christine's last name was Dubious instead of Daae and Erique instead of Erik, and also becoming disfigured by acid, not being born that way. There was a lot of changes in this.

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