Phantom of the Opera

The 1943 version of The Phantom of the Opera is a very superior film of Gaston Leroux's book that had already been filmed with great success with Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin as a silent film. The story, that is NOT a MUSICAL takes a few liberties, but on the whole is very faithful to the book. What makes this film a delight is Susanna Foster's role as Christine, totally charming, totally realistic and totally frightened as well. She would make only a few more movies before retiring from Hollywood. Famed baritone Nelson Eddy is one of her pursuers and he is capable in his role, but not as capable as his operatic films with Jeannette MacDonald. Claude Rains as the Phantom is a very agonized, very angry soul, but he is not the monster type creature as portrayed by Lon Chaney back in the silent era. Director Arthur Lubin has created a really fine production filmed in technicolour in '43 when that was not the norm. It is Lubin's version of THE PHANTOM that I prefer above all others.