Film and Newsletter Archives

	The Phantom of the Opera

From the celebrated novel written by Gaston Leroux with Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry A Universal Production presented by Carl Laemmle
The Players Lon Chaney..........Erik, the Phantom Mary Philbin..........Christine Daae Norman Kerry...........Raoul de Chagny Arthur Edmund Carewe...........The Persian Snitz Edwards..........Florine Papillon Bernard Siegel...........Simon John Sainpolis..........Phillippe de Chagny Virginia Pearson..........Carlotta Olive Ann Alcorn.........La Sorelli Edward Cecil..........Faust John Miljuan..........Valentine Grace Marvin..........Martha Alexander Bevani..........Mephistopheles Anton Vaverka..........Prompter William Tyroler..........Orchestra Leader George B. Williams..........M. Richard Bruce Covington..........M. Moncharmin Edith Yorke..........Mamma Valerius Cesare Gravani...........Retiring Manager Together with Ward Crane, Chester Conklin, Viola Vale and five thousand additional artists
story adapted for the screen by Elliot Clawson Titles by Walter Anthony Consulting Artist, Ben Carre' Ballet Master, Ernest Belcher Photography by Charles Van Enger, A.C.S. and Milton Bridenbecker Film Editor, Gilmore Walker Incidental Comedy, C. Richard Wallace Research, Meta Claire Stern Technical Director, A.H. Hall Art Director, E.D. Sheely, Assisted by Sidney Ullman Directed and Supervised by Rupert Julian Assistant to Mr. Julian, Robert Ross Supplementary Direction and Supervision by Edward Sedgewick
The Story Christine, a young singer in the Paris Grand Opera, is loved by Raoul DeChagny. The employees are terrified by stories of a weird Phantom who is supposed to inhabit the sub-cellars under the opera house. Guided by a strange and commanding voice that she hears from the walls, Christine finally achieves success as a singer. Then the mysterious voice summons her and she finds its owner is a huge man wearing a mask. He takes her to his hiding place and demands her love in payment. Tearing off his mask, she finds a horrible and grotesque monster. Due to her pleading, he allows her to sing once more and breaking her promise, she manages to communicate with Raoul, who plans to save her. The monster, who is the Phantom, learns of the plan and again kidnaps her. Raoul, aided by Ledoux of the secret police, seeks to rescue her, but they are trapped in fiendish ways by the Phantom, who has been identified as an insane musician and magician. The Phantom finally captures them but the brother of Buquet who was murdered by the Phantom leads a mob to the hiding place. The Phantom escapes to the street with Christine and gets in a carriage which overturns. Raoul rescues Christine and the mob finally captures the Phantom, beats him to death and hurls him into the River Seine. Raoul finds happiness with Christine. Moving Picture World September 19, 1925

Reviews
N.Y. Graphic (Regina Cannon) "The most startling picture of the year. Strange, weird and fantastic."	N.Y. Daily News (Mildred Spain) "Has a thrill for everybody. It's all of those B&B movies (Bigger and Better.)"	N.Y. Evening Sun (John S. Cohen) " A successful pictorial melodrama. The Phantom is a thriller."
"A master film. Is epochal!" Dudley Burrows, San Francisco, Cal.	"Plenty of thrills and suspense." Frank Tierney, San Francisco News.	"Great!" Warren, San Francisco Chronicle
"Immensely striking-in many ways the best of the super-pictures I have yet seen!" W.F. Elliot, San Francisco, Herald		"This can't miss. A wonderful mystery melodrama. This should surely register as one of the biggest money-winners of the year. Smashing! Big! The biggest interior sets that have ever been filmed. Means a happy cash register." Wid's Weekly.
	Do you notice that there is not one "criticism"- not one jarring note? It is most unusual for all the critics to agree. They all praise Lon Chaney most highly - also Norman Kerry and Mary Philbin- in fact, every member of the all-star cast. Better ask your favorite theatre when "The Phantom" will be shown. Carl Laemmle President
	released September 6, 1925 at the Astor Theatre in New York.