Review of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) by Chablis L — 30 Jun 2013

Original post date: 4.28.2006.

Another guest column from my dear ole ma...

Watched "Bride of Frankenstein" last eve, which was followed by the silent version of "Phantom of the Opera." I usually don't like (nor watch) silents...mainly because they're silent. I like talking. But was fascinated by "Phantom," especially the written dialogue banners. The language was high-falutin'. Sample: "Shall we harken to this rapscallion!" and stuff like that. It's interesting to me to think that the common, average movie goer in the silent picture age used "harken" when out pitch-forking hay at the barn.

Also, the looks people gave each other in silents...the eye-balling, as it were...made you think they were fxxx-ing nuts. Even the so-called lovers. This one dude, Rudolpho or something, looked at the heroine like she was a piece of e-coli-laced pastrami.

Plus, the eye make-up was raccoon-ish, especially for the men.

Nobody "walks" the way they walk in silents. Kind of like they have a steel rod up their tw*ts...and a rabid dog barking at their heels.

In the silent "Phantom," the ghoul is named Eric. (ABSOLUTELY wrong name choice...sounds like a gay florist). Eric is supposed to be a practitioner of the BLACK ARTS. WELL! If Eric is so hip with magic, why's he living in a sewer?

Did not sleep well. Wasn't Eric's fault. Probably the pickled jalapenos eaten right before bed.

-Mom.