Page 48 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 128

48 Issue #128 September 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

Phantom Threads

By Nikolai Adams masterpiece of set design).
This version is shot in stunning
nspector Raoul Daubert: “Be careful. Technicolor, every single hue popping to
IThis madman may do anything now.” create an eye-catching pastiche. Paired
Though definitely not the most iconic with creative cinematography that at
version of Gaston Leroux’s much loved times reaches German Expressionism
horror romance novel, 1943’s Phantom like chiaroscuro lighting (especially
of the Opera is opulence personified. when filming the Phantom), this really
Directed by Arthur Lubin (the man is a treat to look at. It is then all pieced
behind so many classic comedies with together with creative crane shots,
Abbott and Costello. . . though he had intriguing static angles and so much Photo Submitted
already proven that he could do darker more, a technical masterpiece that
work with Lugosi and Karloff in 1940’s cannot be denied.
Black Friday), the movie is actually The narrative is a bit less exciting.
filmed on the set constructed for the Heavier on the opera than it is on the
legendary Lon Chaney Sr. 1925 version. horror or romance, young chanteuse star Biancarolli (Jane Farrar) at the Paris (soon turning murderous again).
. . built to be completely identical to Christine DuBois (Susanna Foster) is Opera House. With much upside, she is Meanwhile, Christine entertains the
the actual Paris Opera House (a true a background singer and understudy to training with the city’s most renowned fancy of two suitors, the star male
voice coach. . . still a bit innocent, she singer, Anatole Garron (Nelson
does not realize that all of her lessons Eddy), and Inspector Raoul Daubert
are being paid for by aging violinist (Edgar Barrier) – Lubin’s deft
Erique Claudin (Claude Rains) – who comedic touch comes into effect
has been nursing an infatuation with every time these two are onscreen
the young woman from afar. together.
When he unceremoniously gets fired Filled with melodrama, original
for his fingers starting to lose their operas (World War II made it near
speed, he quickly becomes destitute impossible to get the rights for classic
(after all, most of his money has been operas from Europe), and luscious
going to her vocal betterment). . . visuals, what the 1943 version lacks
his last hope a concerto he has been in spooks and scares, it makes up for
writing for years. After a mix up has in its Academy Award winning color
him thinking that his music has been cinematography and art direction –
stolen by the company he is trying to the only Universal horror classic to
publish with, he attacks and then flees ever win a statuette at the Oscars
– now facially disfigured and branded (and it was well deserved).
a murderer. A worthwhile watch, Phantom of
Retiring to the catacombs of the
the Opera doesn’t reach the levels of
Opera House, the embittered and horror that even the silent version did,
eternally maddened soul steals mask
but thanks to its competent direction,
and costume, beginning to dress like impressive use of Technicolor,
a phantom – feeding into the age old unbelievable sets, and excellent
story of a red bearded ghost that haunts
performance from Rains (his voice
the ancient locale.
and perfectly coifed hair put to good
Terrorizing the producers, cast, and use), it still wows in many a way. So,
audience, it is all in order to get his take the mask off of this forgotten
beloved Christine the starring role classic, it’s operatic.