Review of The Phantom of the Opera (1962) by Maryline H — 31 Aug 2007
SEE! the GREAT Michael Ripper as Another Coachman!
SEE! the legendary Miles Malleson as A Different Coachman To Michael Ripper's!
SEE! future Doctor Who Patrick Troughton as The Ratcatcher who gets STABBED IN THE EYE BY A HUNCHBACK DWARF!! (Admit it, just that sentence alone makes you want to see this, doesn't it?).
Gaston Leroux's oft-filmed tale is given the inimitable Hammer treatment - and very glossy it looks, too - featuring a top-notch supporting cast (which is just as well, as the two 'romantic leads' are a trifle dull).
Herbert Lom is okay as the tragic, barmy Phantom (I guess Cushing & Lee were busy that week), but for me Michael Gough steals the film (as the REAL villain). Always great to see Thorley Walters, too.
Good as it is - and it is - this is still a rather minor effort from Hammer, albeit one of their BEST minor efforts! (The 'opera' parts made me chuckle, mind - is opera really that naff or is it just this film's portrayal of it?).
This review of The Phantom of the Opera (1962) was written by Maryline H on 31 Aug 2007.
The Phantom of the Opera has generally received mixed reviews.
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