Review of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) by Jonny P — 07 Aug 2011

"The Phantom of the Opera" may be the greatest silent horror film of all time, inspiring the long string of monster movies by Universal in the 1930's. Although I am not a fan of silent films, I cannot help but be mortified by the appearance of Lon Chaney as the Phantom.

Considering his limited screen time, his grotesque appearance leaves a strong impression and it is hard to believe that any normal-looking person could transform himself into this inhuman monster. After seeing this, all other portrayals of the Phantom will be unintimidating.

Mary Philbin is also wonderful, bringing this damsel in distress to life. The film includes tinting during different scenes to portray a certain mood but a very unique characteristic of the film is its unexpected use of Technicolor in the Masquerade scene.

The sudden appearance of color renews the film's energy midway through. Although it does not have the "scare factor" that modern horror films achieve, in its time the unmasking scene is said to have made audience members scream and faint in their seats.

That terror is what makes Chaney "The Man of a Thousand Faces" that revolutionized make-up artistry in film and set the wheels in motion for the screams of movie patrons today.