This slow, tedious, dramatically inert version of the famous Gothic tale is heavy on the warbling opera and light on anything else that might have made it interesting. The origin story of the titular phantom goes on forever, making you wonder if he's ever going to make an appearance. Then once he does, we get scene after scene of long opera numbers while he lurks around in the background waiting, like us, for the story to go somewhere. It doesn't.
The film looks sensational, I'll give it that. This is one of those Technicolor extravaganzas that looks ravishing instead of garish. Clearly, the whole film was an excuse to show off sumptuous sets and costumes; it's just a shame that they chose this story to do that with rather than some lighthearted musical.
Claude Rains is always a welcome presence, but he can't save this film.
The film deservedly won Oscars for its color art direction and cinematography and was nominated for its musical scoring and sound recording. Had a costume design category existed in 1943, it would likely have been nominated for that as well.
Grade: D+
