The Phantom of the Opera

I saw this 2 parter on NBC back when Andrew Lloyd Webber was sitting on top of the musical world with his Phantom of the Opera. This is a decent musical story version of the Leroux tale. The year before in 1989 Golan and Globus hired up Robert Englund a.k.a. Freddie Krueger to do a slasher movie version of the story which was a total off the original storyline of the Phantom of the Opera. That movie in all honesty, sucks ! When Yestin and Koppit released this mini series they returned Erik to Paris, France and to his beloved Opera House and once again he is deeply in love with engenue chorus girl and understudy to La Carlotta, Christine Daae, who's beauty and angelic voice reminds him of his dead mother, a nice back story line added to the original storyline with one more family member added in for the first time, the Phantom's friend and father played by venerable veteran actor Burt Lancaster. The soundtrack to this movie is available on RCA C.D. and Tapes under the simple name Phantom. It is the original theatrical stage production that this mini series was based on by Yestin and Koppit.

I watched this movie because I wanted to see what Andrew Lloyd Webber was up against. I honestly thought it was going to be horrible. After, I saw the movie not only was I very impressed, but I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the cast. I was extremely pleased not none of Yestin's and Koppit's songs were used.(Now, I saw the Yestin's and Koppit's play long before I even knew a movie of it had been made.)I didn't like what they did with Eric's background story. I felt that it took away from his character. I hated that they didn't make Philippe more of a hero and that he had scenes in which he smoked!!! I was disappointed that we only saw Eric's face once and that it wasn't more believable. His face also really wasn't scary. I also thought that young Philippe, young Christine,and young Eric should have, at least, some dialogue.

If your looking for mindless gore and horror, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a phenomenal story, incredible cinematography, lavish costumes, superb acting, and all the elements from Phantom of the Opera that you've ever wanted to see wrapped up in imaginative, risk-taking dialog, see this one. Charles Dance is the perfect blend of sympathetic monster and mad, love obsessed gentleman. He loves deeply with an innocent passion. Teri Polo plays Christine with such angelic sweetened and bitter remorse, you'll love, hate, and love her character time and again. Add to that Burt Lancaster's majesty and Andréa Ferréol's over-the-top performance as Carlotta, and this is the strongest PotO cast I have ever seen. Plus, you get to hear real opera beautifully sung throughout the film.

The Phantom of the Opera in this movie is not the classic Leroux or Webber version that many people envision. However, the story told is a good one. If you have some free time and you are ready for a good romance novel with a little bit of action, then pick up this movie. Charles Dance creates a sentimental Phantom of the Opera, but he shows a more powerful side by the end of the movie. Definitely a love story!!

If you are a Phantom phan, or know anything about POTO, then it may help you to know that this is the movie version of the Yeston/Kopit musical. It doesn't have the songs, but it follows the same basic plot line.

Beautiful Adaptation of the Phantom of the Opera. This is NOT the musical Broadway version. The only music here is the Italian operas the opera house is performing. This version based on a stage version of the book, by noted playwright Arthur Kopit, is beautiful and well performed. I love this movie because of its character development and lack of individuals breaking into song for absolutely no reason, what so ever. The use of the Phantom's various masks to convey his mood is a very unique approach, in this film. The climatic duet between Christine and Eric and a beautiful scene with Burt Lancaster and Charles Dance (Carriere and Eric) are both very moving.

A beautiful, and tragic love story.