The phantom of the opera (Lon Chaney)

[DramaMajor713]

*Christine removes the mask*

Phantom: DEEEEEEEERP!

Christine: Aah!

Phantom: *points* DUUUUURRRRR

[OzzyMandez]

That was fucking dramatic.

[Valagnar]

This is the 1929 sound version with the sound taken out and redubbed. Check out the Ultimate Edition from Milestone. It has both the 1925 and 1929 (sound and redubbed) versions.

[spankbandit]

how beautiful.

[dltanner99]

Horror novel see video book trailer

[xXTNoeXx]

1:55 , he looks like the evil-monkey in family guy :)

[whitshade]

There is a popular misconception in this country that blood and gore are essential for a great horror film. While that stuff may be horrific, it is not necessarily horror. I think that mood and setting make for an ideal horror film. Take a look at F.W. Murnau's impressionistic masterpiece, Nosferatu. That film is as creepy and scary (possibly more soI as any modern horror film. Count Orlock chills the blood. He really freaks me out. Count Orlock is a nightmare. Jason is just a guy w/blade.

[whitshade]

Regarding Chaney's make-up, this man truly suffered for his art. I'd read that he could only wear the aforementioned wires for minutes at a time due to the pain they caused him. Then there's the canine teeth he wore in London After Midnight that caused him pain as well. Reportedly, his suffering led to the establishment of stipulations forbidding the use of make-up techniques that were physically painful in films made in the United States..

[EpicOberon]

My new goal in life is to revive horror films like this. Not necessarily remake them, just film new monster movies in black and white and make people in the audiences faint once again, just like they did back in the day. To me it's not about the money. It's about the entertainment and quality.

[jdmitchell2]

Mr. Chaney was a genius. He developed his own makeup & efx

[superdavid002]

Great scene! I mention Chaney in The Celebrity Song.

[KingsOfScreams]

Jacob Whitley, Tyler Dean, and Aisa Estelle will be starting a new youtube collaboration dedicated to the horror genre of film. Three times a week they will be appearing to blog, review films (recent and old), and talk about different aspects of the horror community. Tyler Dean will be on Monday. Jacob Whitley will be on Wednesday, and Aisa Estelle will be on Friday. Be one of the first to subscribe to this awesome new channel and dont miss out on the action.

[SuicidalMickeyMouse3]

see, i never relized what a whimp christine was. jesus, its creepy but not that bad. worse things have happened to people

[elfidox2]

this is my kind of horror film.

todays movies suck.

this one was a good one.

so was Nosferatu and Night of the Living Dead, the 1968 version.

[tabbygail7]

Took my nephew to see this last summer. It was part of a Universal film series showing at historic theater. Despite the chuckles thoughout the film, this scene drew several loud gasps and a couple of shocked outbursts. After all these years Chaney's power is undeniable

[fire2faith]

ok.....

that was kinda creepy

[RebelOntheRoad]

Ilove this

[angeltosome]

What's the best transfer of this movie?

[futuremodal]

I read somewhere that Lon Chaney made small loops of piano wire, stuck them in his eye sockets, and ever so slightly pulled his eyeballs forward.

A true dedicated professional, not like today's crop of pansey actors.

[SirHoliday12]

You said it!

[TokyoXplorer]

@futuremodal Very True. He also used some form of wire apparatus in order for his nose to be upturned in such a grotesque manner.

For all of the time you see him on-screen. Chaney, apparently, was in excruciating pain from the torturous make-up routine.

Legend.

[hl2og]

@TokyoXplorer Yeah... being insane is such a good personal trait.

[ZoltepZaan]

@futuremodal

No modern Gore and Splatter, no effect can compete with a true master. Lon Chaney scares the shit out of me, I guess I sleep with the lights on tonight :) His interpretation of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Phantom of the Opera are true greatness. Just look at that man's face, so much expression and creepyness!

[juggalojack13]

@futuremodal Yes, that and the same wire around his head to pull his nose up, making it look skeletal. He was a master of makeup.

[artwel123]

@futuremodal was that before or after he went blind?

[yvettegr]

@futuremodal New to this thread, so late in posting this. But that wasn't Lon Chaney, it was Charles Laughton in the 1936 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He did this so the fake eye in the distorted side of his face would move in unison with his real eye.

[ReviewCam]

oh yes it was!

[italirishxoxo]

that wasnt scary!

[beccaboo10101]

OMG!! Lon Chaney doesn't even have to wear makeup for that!!

Compaired to todays movie (2004) and stage version, :P

[WhiteKnighT161]

they should make a spoof out of this.. just like that dramatic chipmunk. well they don't have too because this is already old.

[joe789987]

While today's standards the Phantom makeup isn't that creepy, for 1925 audiences it sure was. They had never really seen that before.

[156gbe56]

great movie!

[brookeiorio]

His face isen't really that ugly like some of the other ones.

[Extratexture4]

This was the first appearance of the phantom's face. Chaney's makeup as the phantom becomes progressively creepier throughout the movie. He did this so audiences wouldn't become accustomed to the Phantom's looks.

[AmyTWILIGHTER]

wow, kinda scary. This Christine is very pretty!

[188]

Lolz @ 1:48!

[nerdelicious5]

He looks part chimpanzee or something.

[xxkewldudexx]

can you send me this version? the full film?

[lordkremlore]

I remember my Papa (grandfather) would tell me about when he saw this film for the first time in theaters, and how scary it was. Truly Lon Chaney, Sr. is perhaps the greatest actor of both the silent film era and the 20th century.

[KiwamuTheKappa]

He also did his own make-up and the stunts in the hunchback of notre dame

[lordkremlore]

Yes he did. I can't remember the title of the film but he played a midget character by literally bending his legs with cup like suctions on his knees that did some damage to his legs. He also used his feet in phenomenal ways in 'The Unknown'.

The man of a thousand faces. And he did it all with a simple tool box.

[Extratexture4]

The film is "The Penalty," in which he plays a man with amputated legs. The effect is amazing, and totally without camera tricks.

In "The Unknown," a real amputee doubled him for some of the tricks he did with his feet.

[lordkremlore]

From what I've heard he did the tricks by himself.

[Extratexture4]

The documentary, "Lon Chaney: Man of a Thousand Faces," states that Chaney often used doubles, and points out several examples.

[lordkremlore]

Been a while since I've watched the documentary that was included with the TCM Archives collection so I'll take your work for it.

[Extratexture4]

His own make-up, yes. But he did use stunt doubles for very dangerous or difficult actions.

[AkiraChan24]

It's an interesting thought that people MUST have screamed when this happened. Nowaday's I don't think I EVER hear people scream at scarry movies. Well, accept myself, lol!

[AleezaChocolat]

I watched this entire film not too long ago, and although I dislike most of it (the "acting" back then was pretty comical and hard to sit through, not to mention the ending), Lon Cheney was and shall remain AWESOME. The fact that his Phantom can still scare people, decades upon decades later, is a pretty good testament to his talent and to the talent of the make-up artists. :)

[EmilyGreene1984]

Then you would have to thank Lon once again - because he did all of the makeup in his career, including his makeup for the role of Erik, the Phantom.

[LeBossuFantome]

If only people would watch THIS instead of Webber's plagiarized filth! This is what The Phantom of the Opera is supposed to be.

[robertllynch]

If only people would read Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra" instead of this plagiarized filth! That is what The Phantom of the Opera is supposed to be.

Or maybe George du Maurier's "Trilby" which the book was inspired by...

[LeBossuFantome]

Too late. I've read both. Five times each.

[RupertMass]

I actually just finished reading the book, and I thought it was fantastic. No movie (or musical) has been able to perfectly capture the greatness of that novel! The Lon Chaney version comes the closest though.

[Decepticonx7]

God, can you imagine how those 1925 filmgoers must have reacted when they saw that? What I wouldn't give for the chance to have been at the back of that old theatre and watch them hit the roof.

[Basssinger86]

I heard woman actually fainted after seeing it in theaters.

[POTOPhan13]

Yes, they did. Actually, theaters were required to keep smeeling salts for the women who fainted during this scene!

[CaptLiHellsing]

@Basssinger86 They did! In fact it was so common for the women to faint during the unmasking scene, that theatres had to carry some kind of smelling salt to wake them up xD

[Crunchbite14]

I didn't see this version. I saw the real original 1925 PotO.

Even though I've already seen it, it still takes my breath away when I see Chaney unmasked.

I'm not fond of most old movies, but this is my most favorite PotO version.

[PapagenoJuan]

I would shit my pants in 1925. haha

[Freebleeper]

Just imagine being in the audience in 1925 with this scene coming up, and the audience along with you, *chills*

[jfulbright]

There have been a lot of comments here about how the Phantom's face is scary. Well, it sort of is, but I've met a lot of people who have been disfigured or born with defects, and NONE of them present the scary presence that Cheney's Phantom does. He managed to combine the unnatractive with the malevolent in a way that I think no one has done since (maybe Heath Ledger?)

This scene scared the crap out me as a kid!

[rayblack2004]

same as

[ChristineDaaePhan07]

Mary Philbin was such a beauty.

[blondiebanjo007]

I remember seeing this movie and scene when I was a little girl. It totally FREAKED ME OUT !!!!!! I always felt so sorry for the Phantom, and wanted him to get the girl.

They have tried to remake this story many, many times, but they will NEVER come close to the original silent version with the great LON CHANEY !!!!!!!! If you can, get/buy a copy (DVD or Video) of this original silent version.....and watch his HANDS all the way through the movie.

Classic !!!!!!!!! Lon ROCKS !!!!!!!

[mixMartina]

Ooh, he looks really scary without his mask! :O

[Johnny123456789x]

Silent film actors were so greatly expressive... =O

[oohcool]

They had to be.

They look so corny though! lol

[JeredRLacks]

Lon Chaney = Best actor of all of cinema history!

This movie actually scared me. I'm glad to have recorded this off of TCM a few Halloweens ago.

[harlan1988]

lon chaney ,boris karloff,peter cushing ,the stuff nightmares are made of!

[Valentinwar90]

Lon Chaney is just brilliant Phantom. When I first saw this movie I was speechless. He was excatly that Phantom which I had always imagined. He's awesome actor \^^/

[undergroundmr]

Fantastic pick!! Chaney was such a legendary actor, when actors really had to ACT. Silent films are a great example of the physical artistry that actors should possess. I'd like to see TOM CRUISE OR PARIS HILTON show true acting talent like this!

[hazellwood]

paris Hilton can't even act with sound.

[nobodysperfect06]

I find it amazing he is related to Dick Cheney and Barack Obama

[g4yozlykMAYO]

S.C.A.R.Y.

...but amazing!

[aurorlupin]

Now THIS is Erik.

[aurorlupin]

Now THIS is Erik.

[hotwriter36]

Get the DVD of this movie. Although no spoken dialogue, beautiful music and acting by Chaney and Philbin.

[nobodysperfect06]

too bad London After Midnight is lost forever

[DraxZombie]

How did that happen?

[nobodysperfect06]

the last copy of the film was destroyed in a fire in an MGM vault in the 1960's, it's such a shame, that movie looks like an awesome thriller, which we may never get a chance to see

[angerismymiddlename]

This must be one of the most powerful moments in the history of cinema. Great acting, great music, great movie. To put it bluntly -- it's a masterpiece.

[bluecollarteen]

lol you retard that wasn't Lon Cheney Sr.'s real face, he was a makeup GENIUS

[eriklivesoninme]

I'm glad someone posted this it is a classic and ultimaaltely amazing. I love Lon Chaney and this movie all together it caputured Gaston Leroux's book to perfection

[Ryushinku]

He wasn't a burn victim, but he was known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" due to his extensive and intricate makeup techniques. For example, he achieved the nose of the Phantom here with a strip of fish skin and (I believe) some spirit gum to lift the nose up to expose the nostrils.

[slimmdogg2968]

Actually the way he got his nose like that was with a piano string, he tightened it until he thought it looked like a skull's nose socket.

[ChantantReve]

however he did it, it sounds painful.

[KurtsFan]

Actually no. He didnt do that. He used a material called Fish Skin and pulled it back to his forehead. He also used a putty, or however you spell it, on his cheek bones to make it appear more "sunken in" like a dead person.

[slimmdogg2968]

actually according to this book i have about classic horror and thriller movies and the 100 scariest movie moments on bravo, all ive ever heard is that he used paino wire to achieve the skull nose

[KurtsFan]

Check out this book called "Lon Chaney: Man of a Thousand Faces". Its by a guy named Blake...Im not sure of his first name but its a biography on Chaney and the author explains a pretty good bit of his make up techniques.

[Greya77]

I can't believe how good the make-up is, it looks like cgi.

[thejobloshow]

That's his actual face. Lon Chaney was a burn victim, thanks for being sympathetic.

[DrNoYes9]

HE MOST CERTINLY WAS NOT!!!!! he made other movies and didnt look like this in them!!!!!

[heynowmm]

CGI could never match an incredible makeup job, using the actors own expressions. Lon Chaney was a master mime and makeup artist.

[TheaterRaven]

One of my favorite scenes from this film. It's funny, even though I KNOW what's going to happen, I'm always like, "No, no, Christine, don't do it"--she rips the mask off--"What the heck?! No she DIDN'T!"

Great video, thanks for uploading. Lon Chaney's Erik rules. Now, if we could only somehow find a Phantom who could have the face Chaney used and Michael Crawford's voice . . .

[sarahmariep]

This scared the crap out of the audience member back in the 1920's! My grandpa told me that from experience! :O

[Phantomkiss]

WOOT!! LON CHANEY RULES!!!!!!

<3

[chaneyfan]

This is the milestone collection disc,just purchased it. Lon Chaney is the best actor the world will ever know.

[VonnRosenberg]

Lon Chaney is an amazing phantom. all hail Lon Chaney

[KSab02]

this isn't the music that's in my dvd...

[Actress06]

fantastic! now I wanna see the whole thing! Thanx 4 posting!

[UltraLass]

Hail Lon Chaney...the best Phantom! He's really scary. Maybe they should do that in the actual musical!

[GOTHMIDNIGHTMERMAID]

I saw this on Turner Classic movies one time.

[kevinhardy]

great movie , i enjoy the theme song very much so.

[Perranporth]

Never seen that one before. That must have been really scary to 1920s audiences.

[SephysManda]

He's my fav phantom

[mgrchip]

Now i know how the evil Monkey from Family Guy Got his Point from

[mgrav1986]

wow, another person realized that lol

[broadwayisadrug]

i could not watch the movie it had no voices

[LightsCameraAaron]

I had the DVD with the original score and the original colors it was an awosme DVD. I'll have to buy a new one though, cause I have no idea where it is.

[aidalai]

haha! he looks like a walrus!!

[myoneandonly89]

Oh,hooray! My dearest Lon, this is the first time I actually got to see the moving picture! Before I had only photos to go by.

I don't understand why he frightens people so much, he kinda just seemed like "OH NO SHE DIDN'T" but maybe that's just me. :)

[EmpressDR]

That's how I think. But that face IS scary, all by itself. But the musical shows him as tragic romantic figure which is better --though I prefer sexy Antonio Banderas as the phantom to Michael Crawford, whom I liked in Hello Dolly!

Get a look at my title piece featuring Lon in "The Penalty."

[Sneakerjeans29]

this is not the original version,the movie is,but not the colors and the score.

[musicchan0313]

I actualy didn't watch it becouse the sight of his face always makes my stomach drop.