THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
(Universal>
Is it from motives of delicacy, I wonder, that Universal have omitted to give any reason why Claude Rains, playing second fiddle in the
Paris Opera, 1s so obsessed Dy iis ambition to make a charming young member of the chorus into a prima donna that he spends all his money (unknown ‘to her) on her musical education,, starves in a garret, gets acid poured on his face, and thereafter plays bogyman all over the Opera House, frightening almost everybody to the verge of hysterics and some less fortunate members of the cast even unto death? My own guess is that the poor fellow is really supposed to be the girl’s father-and you know what a potent motive father-love can be in a film story! This explanation may make clearer a few of the curious happenings in The Phantom of the Opera. And if you are in doubt about anything else, put ‘t down to the desire of Universal to give audiences a picture which, in the classic phrase, "has everything." "Everything" includes some stupid comedy involving Nelson Eddy and a policeman, a great deal of spectacular singingnotably by the soprano, Susanna Foster -and even more spectacular costuming, settings, and technicolour. Some of these things make for good entertainment, but any resemblance. to the original Lon Chaney silent film is ‘largely accidental.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19440616.2.38.1.2
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 260, 16 June 1944, Page 23
Word count
Tapeke kupu
228THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 260, 16 June 1944, Page 23
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in