If there is one movie adaptation of the Phantom of the Opera that has made viewers faint in horror, it’s the 1925 silent film version. It has made so many women faint after seeing the Phantom’s face to the point that theaters owners were urged to have smelling salts ready in case these are necessary. See, just because a film has no dialogues doesn’t mean that it cannot have a maximum horrifying effect.
The 1925 Phantom of the Opera movie is a classic Universal Studios creation. It gained popularity not just because it made a whopping two million US dollars but also because the first two versions were a flop. The low ratings for the first version was speculated as caused by the unpleasant relationship between director Rupert Julian and the starring Phantom, Lon Chaney. The second and longer version, on the other hand, failed to improve the first and was even said to be dragging.
But finally, limited to just nine reels, the final version was made simpler than the second by Universal Studio’s Lois Weber and Maurice Pivar. The movie was played in New York’s Astor Theater in September 6, 1925 and in Hollywood in October 17, 1925. With better musical scores and a polished production, the silent Phantom of the Opera prompted further creations of various Universal Studios horror films including Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Mummy.
About the Phantom of the Opera Poster
The vintage art poster shows a large image of Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, in red and as if sneaking behind the lovers, Christine and Raoul. The image of the lovers is small as if the two are overpowered by the Phantom. The characters are shown all on the rooftop of the French opera house.
Recommendation
The movie poster is an ideal gift for friends who enjoyed watching the movie and are collectors of items related to the popular adaptation. The movie poster, in addition, is a prized item for people who are into making movie history portfolios.
