The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with Live Orchestra – 100th Anniversary Screening
Director: Rupert Julian Run Time: 78 min. Release Year: 1925
Starring: Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry
Country: United States
Language: English
“Thrills, Mystery, Wonderful Settings, Marvelous Acting…The romance of the beautiful young opera singer, her lover and the strange fiendish phantom.”
About this screening:
Celebrate the centennial of one of the most famous films of all time, Universal’s The Phantom of the Opera (1925). This special screening features its original score performed live by American Musical Productions’ 17-piece orchestra under the direction of conductor Joseph Rubin. Lon Chaney’s performance still captivates a century later and the original score—unheard in Columbus since the film’s week-long run at the Grand Theatre 100 years ago—brings the film to life.
“The Phantom of the Opera is one of the screen’s greatest mystery pictures there can be little doubt. The Phantom will keep you practically speechless throughout the show.” —From The Columbus Dispatch’s 1925 review
General admission tickets are $25, $15 for myGFC members.
About the film:
A forerunner of the American horror film, and one of the most lavish productions of the silent cinema, The Phantom of the Opera (1925) has inspired countless remakes and imitations. But none of its successors can rival the mesmerizing blend of romance and mystery that haunts every frame of the Lon Chaney original. This edition presents the 1929 theatrical version, restored from archival 35mm elements by Film Preservation Associates. It is highlighted by the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence (in which the Phantom interrupts the revelry wearing the scarlet robes of the Red Death), as well as meticulously hand-colored sequences (replicating the Handschiegl Color Process). The film is presented at historically-accurate projection speeds.
About the filmmaker:
Rupert Julian was a New Zealand cinema actor, director, writer and producer. During his career, Julian directed 60 films and acted in over 90 films. He is best remembered for directing Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925). He also directed The Cat Creeps (1930), a sound remake of The Cat and the Canary (1927), which is now considered a lost film, with only two minutes of footage remaining in the 1932 Universal comedy short film Boo!.
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