Edit, When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
Both of these versions are now lost. | The only stage in the history of Hollywood where a turntable was built specifically for the 1925 "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, and has remained intact for ninety years. In every scene photographed for publicity or lobby display in which Lon Chaney appears, the face will be 'blanked out' by a patch... At no time will any screen actor other than one playing in the picture be allowed on the set to see his makeup - and the actors in the production are pledged to secrecy. The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Goofs The Universal Studios' stage 28 floor-foot print, built for the 1925 B&W Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, is enormous. Extra material included a Russian count played by Ward Crane, duelling Norman Kerry. It was used in. Frank Eames was cast as the Persian but, ironically enough, his character was changed to an inspector of the Surete when the title cards were being edited in postproduction. The film was re-released in sound in 1929 using Vitaphone/Western Electric sound disks. The entire "donut turntable" could move in either direction, or the center turntable could move independent of the stationary outer ring, and the outer ring could move in the opposite direction of the center ring. After the original film was completed, the turntable area of the stage floor was covered with three layers of 3/4" thick plywood 4'-0" x 10'-0" sheets, which allowed future film sets to be built upon the turntable stage area for feature filming. After the 1943 Technicolor film was completed, the stage flooring was installed, re-covering the turntable. It was published in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte. Due to the Faust play at the beginning, it can be assumed the film takes place around 1859. The first, completely directed by Rupert Julian, was first shown in January of 1925 in Los Angeles, and was the closest to the original novel, most notably, the ending in which the Phantom dies of a broken heart at his organ. Metacritic Reviews. Goofs | The 1995 Kino Video version contains an original score composed by Gabriel Thibaudoux, and includes an operatic solo by soprano Claudine Cote. What really makes this stage unique is that in 1925, an elaborate 30'-0" diameter mechanical turntable sits in the center of the front stage area, allowing forty (40) feet from the back edge of the turntable to the rear stage back-wall. A set of grotesque dentures, fitted with wires pulled his mouth to a grin, and a rubber and wire appliance (or a strip of thin material called "fish skin") pulled his nose up to the point where it was indecipherable from the front.
This version only survives in 16mm prints that were distributed by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s. It has been alleged that Mary Philbin refused to work with Lon Chaney again, after he made advances upon her during the filming of "Phantom of the Opera. They screened both the 1925 Lon Chaney and the 1943 Claude Rains motion picture versions, but neither saw any effective way to make the leap from film to stage. | Highlights and shadows in just the right places gave the incredible effect that Chaney desired. I've heard there are different versions of the film. Unlike most of its peers, Universal never owned a theater chain (ultimately, a wise decision given the 1949 Supreme Court anti-trust decision that would threaten the livelihood of many of its competitors). User Reviews Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies. His eyelids were pulled down by the use of spirit gum, a rosin-based adhesive safe to use on skin. Amongst them are the following: The Phantom being present at the graveyard where Christine's father is buried, at the time she is paying her respects to him. Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. As with many films of the period, most of the black and white portions of the film was color tinted hues of amber, green, blue, red and yellow. How were some of the make-up effects done? A new transfer of the film was struck in the 1950s. There are surviving photos showing scenes that were shot but edited from the final version. From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. Only the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence is known to survive (an IB print from the 1929 re-release). |
All of this fine make-up work was done with extreme precision, and made Chaney the master of his craft. This was most likely done to create simultaneous master and safety/domestic and foreign negatives of the film. It is certain that this includes the Bal Masque scene (which survives in color) and the sequences of the Faust opera. Stage theatrics use of a turntable in set design was primarily a European novelty incorporated into elaborate opera productions in England, Italy and Germany.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, NBC Burbank's stock scenery division built a motorized turntable which expanded from a ten foot diameter, to a thirty foot diameter turntable. These included a sound sequence with opera star. The turntable has never been used since the 1943 feature film. It was never satisfactorily explained in the script, how Eric the Phantom came to be disfigured in the first place. Soundtracks. These inexpensive make-up products were endorsed by leading lady Mary Philbin, and featured an illustrated image of the Phantom which had been used in adverts for the movie.
From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. This version is a silent reworking of the 1929 reissue. The raised stage area was utilized for feature film "process photography" because of the depth required for a film projector onto a rear screen, enough room for a camera and crew, with an acting/performance area in front of the screen. A turntable built into the set design was first introduced on Broadway in 1941, for the Kurt Weill musical "Lady In The Dark" designed by stage designer Harry Horner. Approximately 40% of the film was re-shot in synchronous sound and the rest had a music/soundtrack added or was dubbed over. However, when synched together and anaglyph color-tinted, the spatial distance between the two simultaneous film strips translates into an effective 3-D film.
A full working organ was installed at the Astor Theater in New York City for the film's premiere. Edit, Chaney's tricks of the trade were not divulged completely (if at all), but judging from stills, his make-up kit, and general practice at the time, most of the make-up can be dissected. It has since vanished and is considered lost. For the sound edition. | In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. Even at this stage, the original nitrate camera negative was starting to disintegrate. Most of the current prints seen today are based on that 1950s duplicate negative. How much of the film was presented in color? Crazy Credits Restoration completed by Richard Lloyd (1999); transfer from D1 supervised by Kevin Phelan (Digital Film at The Moving Picture Company). Several sequences were shot in various color processes for the general release prints. After the first version was completed, it was deemed too horrific after being viewed by a preview audience. The organ was used for scenes where Erik plays the organ in his basement lair. Close examination of original stills reveals a thin, nearly invisible string or wire that can be seen at some angles running from the tip of Chaney's nose, up under his skull cap. Edit, While it is unclear how much footage exactly was in color, the Harrison's Report (a trade journal for exhibitors) recorded that 17 minutes of film on the initial, general release of the film were in color. Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options. Also, an alternate ending where Erik is found dead at his organ, caused by a broken heart. The print restored by Kino is a 1929 re-release version that was re-edited, eliminating some scenes and inserting new material shot after the 1925 version was finished. Technicolor was used for scenes from "Faust" and the Bal Masque scene, Prizmacolor sequences were shot for the "Soldier's Night" introduction and Handschiegel (a process that uses stamps to hand-color prints) for the Phantom's notes and red cape on the rooftop. The trivia item below may give away important plot points. The audience area is one third of the stage's foot print.
In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. In attempting to replicate this technique, the skin on the bridge of the nose simply slides down, ruining the effect.
A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. The film went through numourous re-shoots before finally going out on release. The turntable mechanism was tuned up and used in the film. Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1998 as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.". Edit, After many years studying Chaney's various faces and make-up techniques of the period, it is still unclear how he achieved some of his Phantom effects, most notably the "missing" nose. A popular theory is that he used a translucent material called fishskin and spirit gum to pull his nose up, but in practical applications this doesn't work. When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
As a result, in 1916. The film's European three-tired box seat horseshoe theater and stage proscenium still exist at Universal Studios as a standing set. Get info about the original print of The Phantom of the Opera, 1925, directed by Rupert Julian, with Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry,} Urban legends claim the set remains because when workers have attempted to take it down in the past there have been fatal accidents, said to be caused by the ghost of, Sound stage 28 (the Phantom Stage) has been used in countless other films and television series including. For the 1929 sound version, Universal purchased a pipe organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company in Van Nuys, CA. Filmed on Stage 28 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Universal Stage 28 was demolished in September 2014, although certain parts of the opera house set were saved from destruction. Quotes The original stage had a theatre pin rail system with hanging pipe arbors for electrical lights, existing on the stage right area. This wire would have been attached to tiny hooks inside Chaney's nostrils, and seems the likeliest method used due to reports that his nose often bled during filming. Yes No | Share this. Also available in a computer colorized version. | Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle. | The original ending had the Phantom dying from a broken heart and being found dead at his organ.
Edit, When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
Both of these versions are now lost. | The only stage in the history of Hollywood where a turntable was built specifically for the 1925 "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, and has remained intact for ninety years. In every scene photographed for publicity or lobby display in which Lon Chaney appears, the face will be 'blanked out' by a patch... At no time will any screen actor other than one playing in the picture be allowed on the set to see his makeup - and the actors in the production are pledged to secrecy. The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Goofs The Universal Studios' stage 28 floor-foot print, built for the 1925 B&W Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, is enormous. Extra material included a Russian count played by Ward Crane, duelling Norman Kerry. It was used in. Frank Eames was cast as the Persian but, ironically enough, his character was changed to an inspector of the Surete when the title cards were being edited in postproduction. The film was re-released in sound in 1929 using Vitaphone/Western Electric sound disks. The entire "donut turntable" could move in either direction, or the center turntable could move independent of the stationary outer ring, and the outer ring could move in the opposite direction of the center ring. After the original film was completed, the turntable area of the stage floor was covered with three layers of 3/4" thick plywood 4'-0" x 10'-0" sheets, which allowed future film sets to be built upon the turntable stage area for feature filming. After the 1943 Technicolor film was completed, the stage flooring was installed, re-covering the turntable. It was published in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte. Due to the Faust play at the beginning, it can be assumed the film takes place around 1859. The first, completely directed by Rupert Julian, was first shown in January of 1925 in Los Angeles, and was the closest to the original novel, most notably, the ending in which the Phantom dies of a broken heart at his organ. Metacritic Reviews. Goofs | The 1995 Kino Video version contains an original score composed by Gabriel Thibaudoux, and includes an operatic solo by soprano Claudine Cote. What really makes this stage unique is that in 1925, an elaborate 30'-0" diameter mechanical turntable sits in the center of the front stage area, allowing forty (40) feet from the back edge of the turntable to the rear stage back-wall. A set of grotesque dentures, fitted with wires pulled his mouth to a grin, and a rubber and wire appliance (or a strip of thin material called "fish skin") pulled his nose up to the point where it was indecipherable from the front.
This version only survives in 16mm prints that were distributed by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s. It has been alleged that Mary Philbin refused to work with Lon Chaney again, after he made advances upon her during the filming of "Phantom of the Opera. They screened both the 1925 Lon Chaney and the 1943 Claude Rains motion picture versions, but neither saw any effective way to make the leap from film to stage. | Highlights and shadows in just the right places gave the incredible effect that Chaney desired. I've heard there are different versions of the film. Unlike most of its peers, Universal never owned a theater chain (ultimately, a wise decision given the 1949 Supreme Court anti-trust decision that would threaten the livelihood of many of its competitors). User Reviews Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies. His eyelids were pulled down by the use of spirit gum, a rosin-based adhesive safe to use on skin. Amongst them are the following: The Phantom being present at the graveyard where Christine's father is buried, at the time she is paying her respects to him. Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. As with many films of the period, most of the black and white portions of the film was color tinted hues of amber, green, blue, red and yellow. How were some of the make-up effects done? A new transfer of the film was struck in the 1950s. There are surviving photos showing scenes that were shot but edited from the final version. From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. Only the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence is known to survive (an IB print from the 1929 re-release). |
All of this fine make-up work was done with extreme precision, and made Chaney the master of his craft. This was most likely done to create simultaneous master and safety/domestic and foreign negatives of the film. It is certain that this includes the Bal Masque scene (which survives in color) and the sequences of the Faust opera. Stage theatrics use of a turntable in set design was primarily a European novelty incorporated into elaborate opera productions in England, Italy and Germany.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, NBC Burbank's stock scenery division built a motorized turntable which expanded from a ten foot diameter, to a thirty foot diameter turntable. These included a sound sequence with opera star. The turntable has never been used since the 1943 feature film. It was never satisfactorily explained in the script, how Eric the Phantom came to be disfigured in the first place. Soundtracks. These inexpensive make-up products were endorsed by leading lady Mary Philbin, and featured an illustrated image of the Phantom which had been used in adverts for the movie.
From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. This version is a silent reworking of the 1929 reissue. The raised stage area was utilized for feature film "process photography" because of the depth required for a film projector onto a rear screen, enough room for a camera and crew, with an acting/performance area in front of the screen. A turntable built into the set design was first introduced on Broadway in 1941, for the Kurt Weill musical "Lady In The Dark" designed by stage designer Harry Horner. Approximately 40% of the film was re-shot in synchronous sound and the rest had a music/soundtrack added or was dubbed over. However, when synched together and anaglyph color-tinted, the spatial distance between the two simultaneous film strips translates into an effective 3-D film.
A full working organ was installed at the Astor Theater in New York City for the film's premiere. Edit, Chaney's tricks of the trade were not divulged completely (if at all), but judging from stills, his make-up kit, and general practice at the time, most of the make-up can be dissected. It has since vanished and is considered lost. For the sound edition. | In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. Even at this stage, the original nitrate camera negative was starting to disintegrate. Most of the current prints seen today are based on that 1950s duplicate negative. How much of the film was presented in color? Crazy Credits Restoration completed by Richard Lloyd (1999); transfer from D1 supervised by Kevin Phelan (Digital Film at The Moving Picture Company). Several sequences were shot in various color processes for the general release prints. After the first version was completed, it was deemed too horrific after being viewed by a preview audience. The organ was used for scenes where Erik plays the organ in his basement lair. Close examination of original stills reveals a thin, nearly invisible string or wire that can be seen at some angles running from the tip of Chaney's nose, up under his skull cap. Edit, While it is unclear how much footage exactly was in color, the Harrison's Report (a trade journal for exhibitors) recorded that 17 minutes of film on the initial, general release of the film were in color. Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options. Also, an alternate ending where Erik is found dead at his organ, caused by a broken heart. The print restored by Kino is a 1929 re-release version that was re-edited, eliminating some scenes and inserting new material shot after the 1925 version was finished. Technicolor was used for scenes from "Faust" and the Bal Masque scene, Prizmacolor sequences were shot for the "Soldier's Night" introduction and Handschiegel (a process that uses stamps to hand-color prints) for the Phantom's notes and red cape on the rooftop. The trivia item below may give away important plot points. The audience area is one third of the stage's foot print.
In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. In attempting to replicate this technique, the skin on the bridge of the nose simply slides down, ruining the effect.
A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. The film went through numourous re-shoots before finally going out on release. The turntable mechanism was tuned up and used in the film. Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1998 as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.". Edit, After many years studying Chaney's various faces and make-up techniques of the period, it is still unclear how he achieved some of his Phantom effects, most notably the "missing" nose. A popular theory is that he used a translucent material called fishskin and spirit gum to pull his nose up, but in practical applications this doesn't work. When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
As a result, in 1916. The film's European three-tired box seat horseshoe theater and stage proscenium still exist at Universal Studios as a standing set. Get info about the original print of The Phantom of the Opera, 1925, directed by Rupert Julian, with Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry,} Urban legends claim the set remains because when workers have attempted to take it down in the past there have been fatal accidents, said to be caused by the ghost of, Sound stage 28 (the Phantom Stage) has been used in countless other films and television series including. For the 1929 sound version, Universal purchased a pipe organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company in Van Nuys, CA. Filmed on Stage 28 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Universal Stage 28 was demolished in September 2014, although certain parts of the opera house set were saved from destruction. Quotes The original stage had a theatre pin rail system with hanging pipe arbors for electrical lights, existing on the stage right area. This wire would have been attached to tiny hooks inside Chaney's nostrils, and seems the likeliest method used due to reports that his nose often bled during filming. Yes No | Share this. Also available in a computer colorized version. | Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle. | The original ending had the Phantom dying from a broken heart and being found dead at his organ.
Edit, When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
Both of these versions are now lost. | The only stage in the history of Hollywood where a turntable was built specifically for the 1925 "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, and has remained intact for ninety years. In every scene photographed for publicity or lobby display in which Lon Chaney appears, the face will be 'blanked out' by a patch... At no time will any screen actor other than one playing in the picture be allowed on the set to see his makeup - and the actors in the production are pledged to secrecy. The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Goofs The Universal Studios' stage 28 floor-foot print, built for the 1925 B&W Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, is enormous. Extra material included a Russian count played by Ward Crane, duelling Norman Kerry. It was used in. Frank Eames was cast as the Persian but, ironically enough, his character was changed to an inspector of the Surete when the title cards were being edited in postproduction. The film was re-released in sound in 1929 using Vitaphone/Western Electric sound disks. The entire "donut turntable" could move in either direction, or the center turntable could move independent of the stationary outer ring, and the outer ring could move in the opposite direction of the center ring. After the original film was completed, the turntable area of the stage floor was covered with three layers of 3/4" thick plywood 4'-0" x 10'-0" sheets, which allowed future film sets to be built upon the turntable stage area for feature filming. After the 1943 Technicolor film was completed, the stage flooring was installed, re-covering the turntable. It was published in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte. Due to the Faust play at the beginning, it can be assumed the film takes place around 1859. The first, completely directed by Rupert Julian, was first shown in January of 1925 in Los Angeles, and was the closest to the original novel, most notably, the ending in which the Phantom dies of a broken heart at his organ. Metacritic Reviews. Goofs | The 1995 Kino Video version contains an original score composed by Gabriel Thibaudoux, and includes an operatic solo by soprano Claudine Cote. What really makes this stage unique is that in 1925, an elaborate 30'-0" diameter mechanical turntable sits in the center of the front stage area, allowing forty (40) feet from the back edge of the turntable to the rear stage back-wall. A set of grotesque dentures, fitted with wires pulled his mouth to a grin, and a rubber and wire appliance (or a strip of thin material called "fish skin") pulled his nose up to the point where it was indecipherable from the front.
This version only survives in 16mm prints that were distributed by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s. It has been alleged that Mary Philbin refused to work with Lon Chaney again, after he made advances upon her during the filming of "Phantom of the Opera. They screened both the 1925 Lon Chaney and the 1943 Claude Rains motion picture versions, but neither saw any effective way to make the leap from film to stage. | Highlights and shadows in just the right places gave the incredible effect that Chaney desired. I've heard there are different versions of the film. Unlike most of its peers, Universal never owned a theater chain (ultimately, a wise decision given the 1949 Supreme Court anti-trust decision that would threaten the livelihood of many of its competitors). User Reviews Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies. His eyelids were pulled down by the use of spirit gum, a rosin-based adhesive safe to use on skin. Amongst them are the following: The Phantom being present at the graveyard where Christine's father is buried, at the time she is paying her respects to him. Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. As with many films of the period, most of the black and white portions of the film was color tinted hues of amber, green, blue, red and yellow. How were some of the make-up effects done? A new transfer of the film was struck in the 1950s. There are surviving photos showing scenes that were shot but edited from the final version. From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. Only the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence is known to survive (an IB print from the 1929 re-release). |
All of this fine make-up work was done with extreme precision, and made Chaney the master of his craft. This was most likely done to create simultaneous master and safety/domestic and foreign negatives of the film. It is certain that this includes the Bal Masque scene (which survives in color) and the sequences of the Faust opera. Stage theatrics use of a turntable in set design was primarily a European novelty incorporated into elaborate opera productions in England, Italy and Germany.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, NBC Burbank's stock scenery division built a motorized turntable which expanded from a ten foot diameter, to a thirty foot diameter turntable. These included a sound sequence with opera star. The turntable has never been used since the 1943 feature film. It was never satisfactorily explained in the script, how Eric the Phantom came to be disfigured in the first place. Soundtracks. These inexpensive make-up products were endorsed by leading lady Mary Philbin, and featured an illustrated image of the Phantom which had been used in adverts for the movie.
From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. This version is a silent reworking of the 1929 reissue. The raised stage area was utilized for feature film "process photography" because of the depth required for a film projector onto a rear screen, enough room for a camera and crew, with an acting/performance area in front of the screen. A turntable built into the set design was first introduced on Broadway in 1941, for the Kurt Weill musical "Lady In The Dark" designed by stage designer Harry Horner. Approximately 40% of the film was re-shot in synchronous sound and the rest had a music/soundtrack added or was dubbed over. However, when synched together and anaglyph color-tinted, the spatial distance between the two simultaneous film strips translates into an effective 3-D film.
A full working organ was installed at the Astor Theater in New York City for the film's premiere. Edit, Chaney's tricks of the trade were not divulged completely (if at all), but judging from stills, his make-up kit, and general practice at the time, most of the make-up can be dissected. It has since vanished and is considered lost. For the sound edition. | In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. Even at this stage, the original nitrate camera negative was starting to disintegrate. Most of the current prints seen today are based on that 1950s duplicate negative. How much of the film was presented in color? Crazy Credits Restoration completed by Richard Lloyd (1999); transfer from D1 supervised by Kevin Phelan (Digital Film at The Moving Picture Company). Several sequences were shot in various color processes for the general release prints. After the first version was completed, it was deemed too horrific after being viewed by a preview audience. The organ was used for scenes where Erik plays the organ in his basement lair. Close examination of original stills reveals a thin, nearly invisible string or wire that can be seen at some angles running from the tip of Chaney's nose, up under his skull cap. Edit, While it is unclear how much footage exactly was in color, the Harrison's Report (a trade journal for exhibitors) recorded that 17 minutes of film on the initial, general release of the film were in color. Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options. Also, an alternate ending where Erik is found dead at his organ, caused by a broken heart. The print restored by Kino is a 1929 re-release version that was re-edited, eliminating some scenes and inserting new material shot after the 1925 version was finished. Technicolor was used for scenes from "Faust" and the Bal Masque scene, Prizmacolor sequences were shot for the "Soldier's Night" introduction and Handschiegel (a process that uses stamps to hand-color prints) for the Phantom's notes and red cape on the rooftop. The trivia item below may give away important plot points. The audience area is one third of the stage's foot print.
In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. In attempting to replicate this technique, the skin on the bridge of the nose simply slides down, ruining the effect.
A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. The film went through numourous re-shoots before finally going out on release. The turntable mechanism was tuned up and used in the film. Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1998 as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.". Edit, After many years studying Chaney's various faces and make-up techniques of the period, it is still unclear how he achieved some of his Phantom effects, most notably the "missing" nose. A popular theory is that he used a translucent material called fishskin and spirit gum to pull his nose up, but in practical applications this doesn't work. When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
As a result, in 1916. The film's European three-tired box seat horseshoe theater and stage proscenium still exist at Universal Studios as a standing set. Get info about the original print of The Phantom of the Opera, 1925, directed by Rupert Julian, with Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry,} Urban legends claim the set remains because when workers have attempted to take it down in the past there have been fatal accidents, said to be caused by the ghost of, Sound stage 28 (the Phantom Stage) has been used in countless other films and television series including. For the 1929 sound version, Universal purchased a pipe organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company in Van Nuys, CA. Filmed on Stage 28 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Universal Stage 28 was demolished in September 2014, although certain parts of the opera house set were saved from destruction. Quotes The original stage had a theatre pin rail system with hanging pipe arbors for electrical lights, existing on the stage right area. This wire would have been attached to tiny hooks inside Chaney's nostrils, and seems the likeliest method used due to reports that his nose often bled during filming. Yes No | Share this. Also available in a computer colorized version. | Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle. | The original ending had the Phantom dying from a broken heart and being found dead at his organ.
The 1943 Universal Studios Technicolor remake of "Phantom of the Opera" starring Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster and Claude Rains stripped the plywood floor covering in order to utilize the turntable for the film's stage production numbers. According to a 1924 magazine article: "At no time during the production is his picture, in the makeup of the weird creature he is playing, to be made public. The European horseshoe Paris Opera Theatre's three tiered box audience seating area surrounds the floor audience ramped area. The basement of stage 28 houses the original turntable mechanical mechanism to turn the 30' diameter turntable. The top of the interior theatre ceiling master shot is completed with a matte painting. |
Edit, When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
Both of these versions are now lost. | The only stage in the history of Hollywood where a turntable was built specifically for the 1925 "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, and has remained intact for ninety years. In every scene photographed for publicity or lobby display in which Lon Chaney appears, the face will be 'blanked out' by a patch... At no time will any screen actor other than one playing in the picture be allowed on the set to see his makeup - and the actors in the production are pledged to secrecy. The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Goofs The Universal Studios' stage 28 floor-foot print, built for the 1925 B&W Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera" feature film, is enormous. Extra material included a Russian count played by Ward Crane, duelling Norman Kerry. It was used in. Frank Eames was cast as the Persian but, ironically enough, his character was changed to an inspector of the Surete when the title cards were being edited in postproduction. The film was re-released in sound in 1929 using Vitaphone/Western Electric sound disks. The entire "donut turntable" could move in either direction, or the center turntable could move independent of the stationary outer ring, and the outer ring could move in the opposite direction of the center ring. After the original film was completed, the turntable area of the stage floor was covered with three layers of 3/4" thick plywood 4'-0" x 10'-0" sheets, which allowed future film sets to be built upon the turntable stage area for feature filming. After the 1943 Technicolor film was completed, the stage flooring was installed, re-covering the turntable. It was published in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte. Due to the Faust play at the beginning, it can be assumed the film takes place around 1859. The first, completely directed by Rupert Julian, was first shown in January of 1925 in Los Angeles, and was the closest to the original novel, most notably, the ending in which the Phantom dies of a broken heart at his organ. Metacritic Reviews. Goofs | The 1995 Kino Video version contains an original score composed by Gabriel Thibaudoux, and includes an operatic solo by soprano Claudine Cote. What really makes this stage unique is that in 1925, an elaborate 30'-0" diameter mechanical turntable sits in the center of the front stage area, allowing forty (40) feet from the back edge of the turntable to the rear stage back-wall. A set of grotesque dentures, fitted with wires pulled his mouth to a grin, and a rubber and wire appliance (or a strip of thin material called "fish skin") pulled his nose up to the point where it was indecipherable from the front.
This version only survives in 16mm prints that were distributed by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s. It has been alleged that Mary Philbin refused to work with Lon Chaney again, after he made advances upon her during the filming of "Phantom of the Opera. They screened both the 1925 Lon Chaney and the 1943 Claude Rains motion picture versions, but neither saw any effective way to make the leap from film to stage. | Highlights and shadows in just the right places gave the incredible effect that Chaney desired. I've heard there are different versions of the film. Unlike most of its peers, Universal never owned a theater chain (ultimately, a wise decision given the 1949 Supreme Court anti-trust decision that would threaten the livelihood of many of its competitors). User Reviews Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies. His eyelids were pulled down by the use of spirit gum, a rosin-based adhesive safe to use on skin. Amongst them are the following: The Phantom being present at the graveyard where Christine's father is buried, at the time she is paying her respects to him. Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. As with many films of the period, most of the black and white portions of the film was color tinted hues of amber, green, blue, red and yellow. How were some of the make-up effects done? A new transfer of the film was struck in the 1950s. There are surviving photos showing scenes that were shot but edited from the final version. From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. Only the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence is known to survive (an IB print from the 1929 re-release). |
All of this fine make-up work was done with extreme precision, and made Chaney the master of his craft. This was most likely done to create simultaneous master and safety/domestic and foreign negatives of the film. It is certain that this includes the Bal Masque scene (which survives in color) and the sequences of the Faust opera. Stage theatrics use of a turntable in set design was primarily a European novelty incorporated into elaborate opera productions in England, Italy and Germany.
During the 50s, 60s and 70s, NBC Burbank's stock scenery division built a motorized turntable which expanded from a ten foot diameter, to a thirty foot diameter turntable. These included a sound sequence with opera star. The turntable has never been used since the 1943 feature film. It was never satisfactorily explained in the script, how Eric the Phantom came to be disfigured in the first place. Soundtracks. These inexpensive make-up products were endorsed by leading lady Mary Philbin, and featured an illustrated image of the Phantom which had been used in adverts for the movie.
From an examination of various prints of the film, it was discovered that most - if not all - of the original film was shot using two cameras placed side-by-side. This version is a silent reworking of the 1929 reissue. The raised stage area was utilized for feature film "process photography" because of the depth required for a film projector onto a rear screen, enough room for a camera and crew, with an acting/performance area in front of the screen. A turntable built into the set design was first introduced on Broadway in 1941, for the Kurt Weill musical "Lady In The Dark" designed by stage designer Harry Horner. Approximately 40% of the film was re-shot in synchronous sound and the rest had a music/soundtrack added or was dubbed over. However, when synched together and anaglyph color-tinted, the spatial distance between the two simultaneous film strips translates into an effective 3-D film.
A full working organ was installed at the Astor Theater in New York City for the film's premiere. Edit, Chaney's tricks of the trade were not divulged completely (if at all), but judging from stills, his make-up kit, and general practice at the time, most of the make-up can be dissected. It has since vanished and is considered lost. For the sound edition. | In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. Even at this stage, the original nitrate camera negative was starting to disintegrate. Most of the current prints seen today are based on that 1950s duplicate negative. How much of the film was presented in color? Crazy Credits Restoration completed by Richard Lloyd (1999); transfer from D1 supervised by Kevin Phelan (Digital Film at The Moving Picture Company). Several sequences were shot in various color processes for the general release prints. After the first version was completed, it was deemed too horrific after being viewed by a preview audience. The organ was used for scenes where Erik plays the organ in his basement lair. Close examination of original stills reveals a thin, nearly invisible string or wire that can be seen at some angles running from the tip of Chaney's nose, up under his skull cap. Edit, While it is unclear how much footage exactly was in color, the Harrison's Report (a trade journal for exhibitors) recorded that 17 minutes of film on the initial, general release of the film were in color. Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options. Also, an alternate ending where Erik is found dead at his organ, caused by a broken heart. The print restored by Kino is a 1929 re-release version that was re-edited, eliminating some scenes and inserting new material shot after the 1925 version was finished. Technicolor was used for scenes from "Faust" and the Bal Masque scene, Prizmacolor sequences were shot for the "Soldier's Night" introduction and Handschiegel (a process that uses stamps to hand-color prints) for the Phantom's notes and red cape on the rooftop. The trivia item below may give away important plot points. The audience area is one third of the stage's foot print.
In 2012 it was determined that an "accidental 3-D" version of the film existed. In attempting to replicate this technique, the skin on the bridge of the nose simply slides down, ruining the effect.
A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. The film went through numourous re-shoots before finally going out on release. The turntable mechanism was tuned up and used in the film. Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1998 as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.". Edit, After many years studying Chaney's various faces and make-up techniques of the period, it is still unclear how he achieved some of his Phantom effects, most notably the "missing" nose. A popular theory is that he used a translucent material called fishskin and spirit gum to pull his nose up, but in practical applications this doesn't work. When PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was shot in 1925, there were three cuts of the film: two preview cuts and the final, general release version.
As a result, in 1916. The film's European three-tired box seat horseshoe theater and stage proscenium still exist at Universal Studios as a standing set. Get info about the original print of The Phantom of the Opera, 1925, directed by Rupert Julian, with Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry,} Urban legends claim the set remains because when workers have attempted to take it down in the past there have been fatal accidents, said to be caused by the ghost of, Sound stage 28 (the Phantom Stage) has been used in countless other films and television series including. For the 1929 sound version, Universal purchased a pipe organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company in Van Nuys, CA. Filmed on Stage 28 at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Universal Stage 28 was demolished in September 2014, although certain parts of the opera house set were saved from destruction. Quotes The original stage had a theatre pin rail system with hanging pipe arbors for electrical lights, existing on the stage right area. This wire would have been attached to tiny hooks inside Chaney's nostrils, and seems the likeliest method used due to reports that his nose often bled during filming. Yes No | Share this. Also available in a computer colorized version. | Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle. | The original ending had the Phantom dying from a broken heart and being found dead at his organ.