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The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
'Man of a thousand faces' Lon Chaney stars in the first version of Gaston Leroux's oft-filmed novel.
Director: Rupert Julian
Overview
Lon Chaney gives his most famous performance in this first version of the oft-filmed tale based on Gaston Leroux's novel, which was first published as a serialisation in Le Gaulois from 1909-1910. Chaney plays the Phantom, who lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, and falls in love with the voice of a young opera singer. Directed by Rupert Julian, this 1925 production launched the gothic style which would become the trademark of Universal horror films. This is the restoration of the 1929 reissue version of the film, featuring Carl Davis' 1996 score performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
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