Movie Review: The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

The Phantom of the Opera is a remarkable achievement in early film. It’s remarkable for its use of extras, its color sequence, of course, but most of all, for Lon Chaney.

Lon Chaney’s performance is so rich with visual flare, and he of course did the makeup himself. He was a truly remarkable actor, and it’s unfortunate that many of his films have been lost in time — either literally, or more metaphorically — but this is certainly the movie he’s best known for today.

The scene of his face reveal is truly great, and has stood the test of time as a legitimate shocker.

The story, too, is satisfying. I have no idea how closely this adapts its source material, but the tragic story truly resonates.

Rating: 7/10