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The classic horror novel by Gaston Leroux The Phantom of the Opera has been an integral part of film history since the early days of cinema. The story has a timeless quality that has led the filmmakers to return to the tale again and again.
With many adaptations of the book available, there are simpler adaptations and some that simply use the book as a setting. From the silent days of cinema to the modern era, The Phantom of the Opera continues to prove to be one of the most beloved and versatile stories of all time.
9 The Ghost of the Megaplex (2000)
Not all adaptations of the classic novel follow the plot exactly and The Phantom of the Megaplex was a unique twist in history. A teenager finds himself in the middle of a series of strange events while working in a movie theater on the night of a special movie premiere.
The Phantom of the Megaplex was one of the best Disney Channel Original Movies and turned out to be a smart twist on the old tale. With guest appearances from screen legends like Mickey Rooney, the early 2000s gem is equal parts nerdy and creepy. By moving the story from an opera house to a movie theater, the creators found an interesting way to modernize the story for younger audiences.
8 The Phantom of the Opera (1998)
Legendary Giallo Horror director Dario Argento took Leroux’s classic tale and adapted it with his own unique style. Contrary to the original story, Argento’s Phantom is not a marked musical genius but rather a strange man who lives under the opera who was raised by a horde of rats. While the story generally focuses on the Ghost’s obsession with singer Christine, Argento sets the Ghost on a revenge mission to avenge his precious rats.
The film ramps up the gore and is also full of the signature camerawork that makes Argento’s films stand out. With so many adaptations thus far, a change was needed for the character of Phantom himself, and Argento’s version certainly stands out for its creepy factor and cruelty.
7 The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
The 1980s were a renaissance for The Phantom of the Opera and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic musical put history back on the map. However, the 1989 adaptation had other plans for the story and took it back to its horror roots. The story follows a modern music student who relives the past life of an opera singer haunted by the mysterious Ghost.
Starring horror legend Robert Englund in a role that isn’t Freddy Krueger’s, the adaptation added elements of the slasher genre to the age-old story. The film’s makeup is top-notch, and plenty of gore effects help the film stand out among the more forgettable adaptations. Unfortunately, the focus on pure horror turned off many fans who were looking for something closer to the musical.
6 Song at Midnight (1935)
While many adaptations of The ghost came from the United States and Britain, Chinese filmmakers produced their own version of the story. song at midnight follows a disfigured musical genius who roams the lands of traditional Chinese opera, seeking revenge on those who have wronged him.
Although the film deviates greatly from the book, the setting is still recognizable to fans of the story. What makes the movie most entertaining is interpreting the story through another cultural lens that recontextualizes it. Leaving the Paris Opera, the addition of Chinese culture adds another wrinkle that was not present before.
5 The Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Universal Studios has had great success with The Phantom of the Opera when they adapted the story in the 1920s. In the 1940s, the studio returned to the Well once more to re-adapt the story and add the Phantom to its roster of universal monsters. The film follows an acid-scarred composer who secretly returns to the world of music to further the career of a young singer he has fallen in love with.
Casting veteran actor Claude Rains as Phantom added a bit of class to the story and it feels more like a drama than a traditional horror story. The addition of technicolor helped add to the film’s visual interest, but the Phantom’s makeup didn’t live up to Lon Chaney’s infamous design for the original film.
4 The Phantom of the Opera (1962)
Returning to the formula that had been a hit for them before, Hammer Studios once again took on a classic Universal Studios monster and added it to their pantheon of terror. Hammer Phantom features an acid-scarred composer who kidnaps a young singer so she can sing the opera he hopes to release to the world.
Feeling like an amalgamation of the two universal versions of the movie, The ghost benefits from several decades of technical advances in cinema. In typical Hammer fashion, the film is faster and bloodier than previous incarnations and features large sets splashed with eye-catching color.
3 The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Decades after setting new Broadway records, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical has finally made it to the big screen. With all the grandeur of the play, the film tells the familiar story of the young opera singer torn between the love of a suitor from her past and the spellbinding claws of the mysterious Phantom.
Not lacking in the romantic appeal of the play, the film made the musical accessible to a whole new audience of admirers. With the recent success of other hit musicals in the 2000s, it was only natural that The ghost was finally going to grace the big screen and in many ways it delivered. The play and movie streamline the book’s story in a way that doesn’t take away its power, and the music is unforgettable, too.
2 The Ghost of Heaven (1974)
In one of his best films, legendary director Brian De Palma took on the classic Phantom story and injected it with a dose of rock and roll. The Phantom of Heaven follows a disfigured songwriter who sells his soul to have his music performed by a singer he loves. Unfortunately, a scheming promoter steals the composer’s music and uses it to open a nightclub called The Paradise.
With exciting rock music and a twisted sense of humor, The Phantom of Heaven took everything that was great in the original story and added more. Commenting on the music industry, the film is both subtle and overt. Although light on horror, the story instead goes in a dark and comedic direction similar to other rock operas.
1 The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Universal’s original film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera was a shining example of the best of early horror films. Telling the classic, familiar story, the film manages to be moody and atmospheric without the benefit of modern cinematic techniques.
The film’s anchor is its star, Lon Chaney, who not only played the Phantom but was responsible for his famous look. Using every inch of her makeup expertise, Chaney’s Phantom makeup is still one of the most terrifying effects nearly a century after the film’s release.
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