Movie Reviewed: The phantom of the opera (1925), starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin

This is a masterpiece

This is a major movie of the Universal Studio and it was well regarded upon its release in 1925. It was showing twice a day and packed every showing with reservations running for months. This Chaney vehicle was a big success financially for Universal Studios. One of the greatest horror-films ever made and certainly it remains at the pinnacle of all films produced during silent era. Chaney was on loan from MGM and he shattered audience’s threshold for fear with his most grotesque face. His existence in the catacombs and dungeons beneath the Paris Opera not only terrified audiences’ but also the pretty young actress Mary Philbin. The actual Opera House was constructed at the Universal City containing five tiers of balcony and seating 3000 extras. Norman Kerry played Raoul, the fiancée of Philbin. It was brilliantly directed by Rupert Julian, but he had to depart for the last scene since lead actor Lon Chaney did not agree with the director about the finale of the story. Edward Sedgwick was called in to shoot the final chase scene which totally engaged the theater audiences for the ultimate demise of the ugly and terrifying creature.

Lon Chaney charms as a super star and the movie itself is a masterpiece. I highly recommend this to all fans of Lon Chaney and horror films in general. Anyone interested in the silent era movies and in golden age of Hollywood would also appreciate this work.