The 1925 Lon Chaney Version

Paula74 Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:49 pm

Because you just can't have a Phantom board without a topic for this version.

A few random comments...

Mary Philbin is my favorite movie Christine.

The ending irks me to no end.

I lament the loss of the graveyard scene.

**Raphael** Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:59 am

Indeed; no Phantom forum is complete without this topic Smile

I recommend everyone pick up a copy of the Milestone Collection 2-disc DVD so they can see the REAL 1925 film and not the 1929 sound reissue (minus the sound) that everyone thinks is the 1925 film.

R.

IamErik771 Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:32 am

Ah, yes, I need to pick that up as well. Very Happy

But regardless, the Lon Chaney version is still my favorite Phantom film thus far. Though there are other versions I adore, and though there are things about the Chaney film that I'm not fond of (like the aforementioned ending), I still never tire of rewatching it.

Scorp Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:11 pm

The first and still the best. This is a classic and the closest we've ever got to having a definitive Phantom on screen. So glad that this is the one Leroux got to see.

I have always said and continue to think that if I had to be banished to a desert island and could take only 3 Phantom belongings, it would be a copy of the original novel, the ALW OLCR and a DVD of this version.

MlleMusique Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:05 am

Love this movie. Mary Philbin's Christine is gorgeous, and Lon Chaney's Phantom is...Leroux perfection. Paula74 I agree with every one of your comments. I only wish I could see the sound version, just once Wink

**Raphael** Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:27 am

*reading back of Milestone Collection 2-disc DVD case* "1929 Restored Version featuring Two Soundtracks: Stereo Orchestral Score by Carl Davis and THE ORIGINAL 1930 SOUNDTRACK EDITED TO FIT PICTURE"

There you go, MlleMusique Smile

R.

Paula74 Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:31 pm

Last year, one of the local theaters - it's one of those gorgeous old-time vaudeville and movie palaces - did a showing of this movie with a live organist accompanying it. I think it was shortly before Halloween. I wasn't able to attend, but I'd love it if they made it a yearly event...especially since they've added classic movie screenings to their regular calendar of concerts and such.

HDKingsbury Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:16 pm

Raphael wrote:Indeed; no Phantom forum is complete without this topic

I recommend everyone pick up a copy of the Milestone Collection 2-disc DVD so they can see the REAL 1925 film and not the 1929 sound reissue (minus the sound) that everyone thinks is the 1925 film.

R.

Yes! This is the version I have, and it is absolutely wonderful! Thanks to his brilliant performance as Erik, I started seeking out other Chaney movies and now have a small but growing collection of silent films. (My other favorite silent actor is Conrad Veidt, and after watching him in The Man Who Laughs, I can't help but wonder what he might have done with the role of Erik!)

IamErik771 Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:07 pm

Paula74 wrote:Last year, one of the local theaters - it's one of those gorgeous old-time vaudeville and movie palaces - did a showing of this movie with a live organist accompanying it. I think it was shortly before Halloween. I wasn't able to attend, but I'd love it if they made it a yearly event...especially since they've added classic movie screenings to their regular calendar of concerts and such.

Ooh, nice! The Hawaii Theatre here (same venue that did the "3 Phantoms" concerts in years past) will be doing that this Halloween. I still need to try to get tickets, but considering all the other events going on around here that night, it probably won't be too difficult. Very Happy

Amyable_Nature Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:14 pm

When I was in high school, I bought a cheap copy of the dvd with some modern techno music as the score. I just watch it on mute and play my own music. I don't like the ending either, SPOILER, highlight to read text:
but he does a fantastic job getting beaten by the mob. I know how weird that sounds. But the way he holds them back for a moment with one gesture followed by the maniacal laughter...that's creepy. I love it.

Enjolras Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:57 am

Well you know guys that the movie will be on TCM on the 18th.

IamErik771 Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:28 am

Wow, I guess that'll be a very Phantom-filled birthday for me. Very Happy

I've got it recorded from a previous TCM broadcast, but hey... there's nothing like watching it again.

And Amy, I agree with you completely... Though I dislike how the ending was changed, Lon still did a wonderful job there.

HDKingsbury Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:47 am

Ahh! I'm watching this right now. Christine has unmasked Erik...

"Feast your eyes--
glut your soul on my accursed ugliness!"

That's one of my all-time favorite movie lines!!!

Later

And now we have Red Death. YOWZA!!!! I I love you

Chaney's Red Death. *sigh*

phantomgirl110 Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:47 am

Just watched it on TCM myself. It's the first time I've watched it straight through for awhile. Terrific movie, even if the end does annoy me.

Phantomlove Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:31 am

I adore this movie, I just wish we could find the original 1925 version that was scrapped. That one had the alternative ending, the graveyard scene and Raoul visiting Mme Valerius in it. It would be fantastic if that could be found.

Strangely enough though, as weird as it is, the new ending doesn't bother me that much. I think it should bother me, but I don't really care about it. The rest of the movie is so great.

LadyCDaae Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:02 pm

Sadly, I believe that only stills of the original ending currently exist. However, the Milestone DVD (one of the few things I consider absolutely essential for every phan's collection) does include a photo gallery of this and other deleted scenes.

~LCD

Scorp Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:12 am

Amazing stuff: on the 20th, Carla Laemmle (the niece of the film's producer whose idea it was to turn Leroux's novel into a film and who starred in the film as a ballet dancer), turned 100! Happy 100th, Ms Laemmle! Very Happy

Madame Giry Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:45 am

WOW!

I just stumbled across this GORGEOUS Poster for a special screening of the 1925 film at the Alamo Drafthouse theatre in Texas from Halloween, 2009.

The 1925 Lon Chaney Version Mondophantom2

The 1925 Lon Chaney Version Mondophantom2

It was apparently produced in a silkscreen edition of 75, 24" x 36" posters and sold out at the theatre. You can see more detailed shots of it at the website of the artist, Martin Ansin: http://www.martinansin.com/index.php?/the-phantom-of-the-opera/

I've written to Mr. Ansin asking if he would consider making more copies of this poster available EDIT: Mr. Ansin has just responded to me saying that regrettably the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre has a no-reprint policy on its commissioned posters. So, sorry guys. Looks like we won't be getting any reprints and will just have to download and admire.

Anyhow, just wanted to share this lovely piece of art with you all!

~Madame~

Sylent Phantom Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:10 am

Wow that's awesome definitely something I'd hang over my couch and I don't say that often. I tried writing to Mr. Ansin as well to see if he'd make more posters. Thanks so much for sharing M.Giry.

Phantomlove Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:23 am

LadyCDaae wrote:Sadly, I believe that only stills of the original ending currently exist. However, the Milestone DVD (one of the few things I consider absolutely essential for every phan's collection) does include a photo gallery of this and other deleted scenes.

~LCD

Yes I know. I have the Milestone DVD which I love. I just kinda keep my hopes up for there actually being a copy somewhere in someone's attic that everyone has forgotten about, but which can be found. It has happened before What a Face

.

Paula74 Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:04 pm

Phantomlove wrote: I just kinda keep my hopes up for there actually being a copy somewhere in someone's attic that everyone has forgotten about, but which can be found. It has happened before .

Same here...rather like the bits of Metropolis (one of my favorite movies) that were discovered a few years ago.

And that poster is great.

LadyCDaae Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:05 pm

Gorgeous poster! Nice "vintage" feel to it, especially in the color palette. Shame about the reprint policy...

~LCD

Scorp Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:29 pm

Paula74 wrote:
Phantomlove wrote: I just kinda keep my hopes up for there actually being a copy somewhere in someone's attic that everyone has forgotten about, but which can be found. It has happened before .

Same here...rather like the bits of Metropolis (one of my favorite movies) that were discovered a few years ago.

And that poster is great.

They rediscovered bits of Metropolis? Tell me more?

Ended up watching this for about the zillionth time this year (been having a bit of a Lon Chaney/old film phase) at the Leroux press launch last week with operafantomet and Josephine. I always knew that the ALW show is heavily influenced by this film design-wise, but I also get the impression now that quite a few of the lyrics have their origins in the title cards to this film.

Re: getting artwork about this film, I posted this on the centenary feed a couple of weeks ago, but in case someone here doesn't subscribe to the feed: http://phoneboothgallery.blogspot.com/2009/12/phantom-of-opera-print-movie-screening.html Won't be buying it myself as I've no space, but someone might be interested.

Paula74 Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:39 pm

Scorp wrote:
They rediscovered bits of Metropolis? Tell me more?

I lost all my bookmarks, but fortunately, I posted about this on another forum last year and it wasn't hard for me to find the link.

http://bioscopic.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/lost-version-of-metropolis-discovered/

There was a German site that had stills from the rediscovered material, but I can't find it...it doesn't help that I don't read German at all. Some of the links at the above article might help lead to them, though.

IamErik771 Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:08 pm

I have a random question... Does anyone here know what month the 1929 reissuing of this film was released? This is for a project I'm working on, so any help would be appreciated. (I don't necessarily need the exact date, but if anyone does know that, it would be pretty cool to find out. Very Happy

)

Rebecca Tue May 11, 2010 10:29 pm

Jumping in a bit late here, but I have to say I LOVE this film! I went through a phase in high school when my sister and I watched it every single day. Literally, every day. (When did I ever have that kind of time?!? Maybe summer break?!?)

Jeff and I saw it in the theatre for a Halloween screening a few years ago, with a live organist. It was a real treat! As someone else said, Lon Chaney makes a perfect Leroux Erik - which makes me very happy!

PhantomAngel777 Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:57 pm

I bought the milestone collection a while back and I love it. I think I only ever watched disc 1... I need to pull it out and have a silent movie night with my hubby when we get settled in the new house.

**Raphael** Mon Jun 14, 2010 11:51 pm

PhantomAngel777 wrote:I bought the milestone collection a while back and I love it. I think I only ever watched disc 1... I need to pull it out and have a silent movie night with my hubby when we get settled in the new house.

Definitely watch disc 2 and the original 1925 cut. You'd be amazed how different it is to the one we've always assumed was the 1925 version.

R.

DSamuels90 Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:04 am

Anyone who loves this movie version NEEDS this book: http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Opera-Hollywood-Archives-v/dp/1882127331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279349993&sr=1-1

It contains a thorough history of the pre-production, filming, and various releases of the movie, as well as the complete shooting script, transcripts of dialogue sequences from the sound reissue, and the complete press book. It's filled with movie stills and promotional photos, and even includes a very detailed analysis of Lon Chaney's makeup (and how he would change it depending on the scene and lighting).

It's a very interesting book, but a bit depressing in the end. The author mentions where various cut scenes had been seen throughout the years, but nobody has/will collect all of the footage to be restored properly.

**Raphael** Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:42 pm

That's a great book, DSamuels90. I picked it up upon it's initial release - one of my favorite books in my Phantom library Smile

R.

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