Phantom of the Opera

"The screen's classic of terror!"

1943 1h 29m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 225

HorrorRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Following a tragic accident that leaves him disfigured, crazed composer Erique Claudin transformed into a masked phantom who schemes to make beautiful young soprano Christine Dubois the star of the opera and wreak revenge on those who stole his music.

“The screen's classic of terror!”

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Cast

Nelson Eddy
Anatole Garron
Susanna Foster
Christine Dubois
Claude Rains
Erique Claudin
Edgar Barrier
Raoul D'Aubert
Leo Carrillo
Signor Ferretti
Jane Farrar
Biancarolli
J. Edward Bromberg
Amiot
Fritz Feld
Lecours

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Arthur Lubin
Writers: Samuel Hoffenstein, Eric Taylor
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

89 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

83 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Arthur Lubin, shot by Hal Mohr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Edward Ward. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Russell F. Schoengarth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster and Claude Rains carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The screen's classic of terror!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Arthur Lubin directs. Hal Mohr behind the camera. Edward Ward scores. Russell F. Schoengarth cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

189 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $1.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
383 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
4Directed by Arthur Lubin, shot by Hal Mohr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Edward Ward. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Russell F. Schoengarth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster and Claude Rains carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The screen's classic of terror!".
9IMDB entry: tt0036261 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Hal Mohr
Original score: Edward Ward
Editing: Russell F. Schoengarth
Makeup / hair: Jack Pierce
Runtime: 89 min · 1h 29m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $1,500,000
Box office: $2,000,000
Return: 133% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Phantom of the Opera (1943)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Color
Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Arthur Lubin

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2019-01-28
★ 5/10
Well it's one of the most beautiful Universal Horror movies out there. Phantom of the Opera is directed by Arthur Lubin and features a collective of writers adapting from Gaston Leroux's novel. It stars Nelson Eddy, Claude Rains, Edgar Barrier, Susanna Foster, Leo Carrillo and Jane Farrar. Music is by Edward Ward and cinematography by W. Howard Greene. The Leroux source material has been adapted a number of times. This version sees Universal update their own 1925 silent version that starred Lon Chaney, and give it a Technicolor make over whilst practically making it a musical picture. Even making it a light comedy in parts! It is undeniably a gorgeous picture, both visually and aurally, for the sets and operatic tunes alone this could never be called a dull movie. But we want horror, it's an horrific tale of murder, disfigurement, disloyalty and unbridled passions, we don't want to be watching a Phantom of the Opera movie where at any moment you expect the cast to start singing "ding dong the witch is dead". Cast are mostly fine as regards the tone of the piece, though Rains barely gets his teeth into the role of the Phantom and comes off more like Zorro or the Lone Ranger. While Lubin and his crew give the whole production a professional polish. But is this horror? No, never, and that's a shame given it's from the torch bearers for classic horror of the 30s and 40s. 5/10

Production companies