Horror Classics: The Phantom of the Opera (1962)

BOO! Hehehe, I'll bet you thought I'd forgotten all about you horror hounds! Well, you're wrong, I'm back and this entry of Horror Classics is going to be an interesting one.

We're discussing The Phantom of the Opera. This one is familiar, but with a few twists - you'll see what I mean.

Behind the Scenes: Hammer Takes on the Phantom

Yes, this iteration of the story comes to us courtesy of Hammer Studios and it has a very interesting production history. It starts off with a snippet, yes, a snippet from 1957's Man of a Thousand Faces. The Lon Chaney biopic includes a segment on The Phantom of the Opera, in which Chaney played the Phantom in 1925. Additionally, a successful remake in 1943, generated enough interest that Universal Studios was seriously considering making another Phantom flick.

Ultimately, the in-house plans for a remake fell through, but, in 1958, Hammer Studios released Dracula. The film was a smash hit - as I discussed in my Dracula review - and that success prompted Universal to reach out across the pond.

The project stalled several times before going into production in 1961. Most of Hammer Films' productions were made in Bray Studios. The film's budget was initially only £200,000 which ballooned to £400,000. Herbert Lom was cast as the Phantom and Heather Sears was brought on to play the part of Christine. Terence Fisher was brought on as the film's director.

According to Herbert Lom, the producers wanted a lot of enthusiasm. How much enthusiasm? Well...

"For one of my scenes, the Hammer people wanted me to smash my head against a stone pillar, because they said they couldn't afford one made of rubber, I refused to beat my head against stone, of course. This caused a 'big crisis', because it took them half a day to make a rubber pillar that looked like stone. And of course, it cost a few pennies more. Horror indeed!" - Herbert Lom

I'm falling over laughing! They weren't willing to take extra time to make something that would've taken half a day. In the end, they had to do it anyways.

The film was released on June 25, 1962 in the UK, and in New York City's RKO Theater on August 22 of the same year.

Sadly, the film was met with a mixed to negative reception, although, it has developed a cult following over the years.

The Story

The London Opera is having some problems with their production of Joan of Arc. Their scripts and instruments are being damaged and the show's star - Maria - is traumatized when a murdered stagehand's corpse ends up on stage. Maria refuses to perform in London ever again, and new singer has found in one Christine Charles (Heather Sears).

She is subsequently given singing lessons by a mysterious phantom living under the opera house to perform as Joan.

What's Good about Hammer's Phantom of the Opera?

Right, what works in Hammer's version of Phantom of the Opera?

• As with many Hammer films, the costumes here are great. They're all vibrant and stylish.
• Edwin Astley's musical score is really nicely done. The opera performance of Joan of Arc is great because it's perfectly balanced with the rest of the film.
• The performances are absolutely fantastic. Heather Sears' performance as Christine is great, she balances naivete, and confidence very well. Herbert Lom's portrayal of the phantom is also great, his character is damaged - mentally and physically - and his desperation to teach Christine is palpable.
• The phantom's backstory, a re-working of the 1943 version, is really well-done.

Does the 1962 Phantom Film Stumble?

Well...yeah, but not by much.

• The pacing is a bit scattered with several areas being much slower than the rest of the film.
• The ending is rather abrupt, particularly in comparison to the rest of the film.
• The dwarf in the film isn't really explained much beyond the fact that he saved the phantom's life.

Overall, there aren't many problems that I have with the film.

Is it Worth a Watch?

Well...yeah, I guess it is. The film has its problems, that's true, but ultimately it's up to you guys to watch it yourself and draw your own conclusions.