Claude Rains POTO 1943 Review part 1

[KissMeQuenley]

So.... Claude Rains DOES have a face?

[Monkeyballmania]

She's not the only singer to be able to reach that note. She might have been at the time but a few months ago I could. But then I AM only 12.

[KatyHallow]

A season ticket? That must be a thrilling parting gift. Erique can spend all his free time watching/listening to people who weren't fired due to arthritis. Ouch.

[Weeds2Roses]

I think it's funny that the lady looks more pissed than terrified right before she throws the acid in the phantom's face. You think she'd just be horrified that she just saw someone murdered and would do the acid thing to defend herself, but instead she looks like "Ohh...you! How dare you muck up my carpet with a dead guy! Take THAT!"

[vitaani]

I know it's not really the reason...but I'd like to think there are two Raouls that say the exact same things in order to demonstrate how common and superficial the fop is. This could have been intended to push the audience's sympathy toward the phantom despite the fact that he's a 50 year old creeper. Even he would be better than one of the nearly mechanical pretty boys.

[ondehlurvesj00]

@smarterthanmyclass Yeahhh but she also wasn't very good. :X

[JediMasteKnuzzles]

I think Karloff should have played the part, no disrespect to Claud Rains he did a good job, I just think he was more suited for the part, he was bigger, his voice was deep and lulling and his eyes...his eyes could stair into your soul! And he was fimilur with lots of make up. But this is one horror fans opinion

[castlevania3151]

"but what about the love square er triangle whatever" ROFL

[IrishTom27]

The Phantom sounds like Hannibal Lecter when he tells Christine he's going to help her.

[castletriglav]

If 15 minutes of useless "songs" had been excised from this film, it still would have sucked, but it would have sucked considerably less.

Shit script, shit direction, and shit songs ruined what could have been an interesting film.

[Scoobydoobiedude]

Phantomy goodness! is phanomy a real word?

[Bl00dyStrike]

Looks nice i am going to watch this

[JudgeMagisterDelita]

Claude Rains is the best Phantom in my opinion

[101mkable]

My sister got this movie on VHR and it still in good quatitly it really nice movie. Oldest verion we have we only have this one and the newest one with Genard Butler. My sister is a big fan with Phantom of the Opera she watches any version and she got me into it a little. Her favorite is the 1989 version with Robert Englund. And for me my favorite is 1990 verson with Charles Dance. Thank you for reveiwing my sister enjoys Phantom of the Opera.

[imlaughing2death]

LOL, I remember in the making of documentary of this version (available here o Youtube somewhere), Turhan Bey said that Foster's "C's over C's over C's" as he put it, hurt his ears whenever he heard it.

[jazzandmint]

Susanne Foster's voice is FANTASTIC. A G over high C without sounding screeching? Wow. She gets extra points for being a blonde Christine, ala Leroux. I'm not a squeamish Leroux fangirl, so I'm not too worried about the inaccuracies.

I love how she conveniently happens to be carrying a pan of acid.

[lolkittehs34]

Oh, god...TWO Raouls????

And that Anatov guy, or whatever his name is, has the same costume as Patrick Wilson did in the 2004 movie - except it's not green. Creepy...

[gothicorca1895]

I think Claude Rains might have one of the most compelling Phantom voices I've ever heard. In fact, he's had to get by on only his voice with no visual appearances. Did you know he played the title role in the original movie of The Invisible Man?

[PittsBurghFuzz]

how convinient, a bowl of acid

[PittsBurghFuzz]

wow, the only only christine i know of that is blonde!(the original noveln has christine as a blonde) lol

[MsPinkWings]

Susanna Foster is the best Christine IMO

[smarterthanmyclass]

emmy Rossum wasnt dubbed

[xoxoMandieRosexoxo]

supposedly the final note of the theme song was not emmy rossum- she couldn't hit the highest note

[LerouxsPhantom]

@smarterthanmyclass: She should have been

[LerouxsPhantom]

@smarterthanmyclass: No, but she's lousy compared to Susanna Foster.

[smexyanimebabe]

what you said about the best music during this time...it seems like that for the 40's to the 60's. it always seems like the best musical and opera stuff is from those times! lol

[datalal624]

That high note at 1:45 was kind of funny, but it is impressive!

[PhantomInTraining]

Wait, where can I watch this online? I've looked -everywhere-.

[PhantomInTraining]

1:42 jeez!!!! That's HIGH! Wish I could do that too, iamthewalrus014. lol and I'm a soprano

[iamthewalrus014]

Lol well at least you can get closer than I can! :D

[PhantomBrick]

I bought it for 4 dollars on Amazon. But then, I have a VHS player, so it's cheaper.

[antipodkayne]

Nice old-fashioned monster movie, with lovely 1940´s Technicolour photography, beautiful sets and costumes.

[iamthewalrus014]

1:41  Holy shit. I wish I could do that, I hate being alto. >:/

[doomfeather]

hey, i'm a coloratura and i've been able to hit that note only a few times and never that well. she was very lucky to be able to hit it consistently! if you don't know her already, check out a singer called Yma Sumac for more crazy high and low notes :-)

[rodneyrooster0701]

@iamthewalrus014 don't lose hope! I had been an alto/mezzo soprano for most of my life, up until 8th grade, when I practiced building up my range slowly and now I am a soprano 1! so have faith please!

[brandoncurtis1]

at 7:17,you know what it reminds me of?scooby doo,yeah.from the episode the backstage rage.weird.

[KBboomerang7]

Sadly, I STILL have never seen this version w/Claude Rains... when it comes to the list of POTO movies you are reviewing the other ones I haven't seen (for various reasons) are this one, Phantom of the Paradise, POTO in 1998 w/Jullian Sands, the 1987 animated version, the other musical version. So I've seen most of them but I don't understand why it's so hard for me to find/see this one since it's pretty popular even if it does stray from the original novel. Oh well, I'll keep searching!!!

[LuigiGodzillaGirl]

The animated version is on YouTube

[typhoidsashes]

The two Raouls are the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of POTO. Seriously.

[sspdirect02]

The reason why he killed the maid was because he killed Carlotta so why should he leave a living witness?

[Usemeordie]

Or perhaps the Phantom was just in a bad mood that day and didn't want to deal with the maid.

But both our reasons are logical.

[ArtiAngel3]

The two Raouls remind me of the Tarltan twins from the beginning of "Gone with the Wind".

[canelongno1]

its so funny how wen hes trying to be thretaning to carlotta that even wen standing tree steps up from her he only just reaches the same hight. i bet thats the reson they got him to wear a hat to make him look taller

[christinedaae87]

what always amazed me was that the acid was thrown over his whole face but theres only scaring on one side!! lol. the music is beautiful tho that and Rains performance is the saving grace of this film and i COMPLETLY agree about the repeating of the line by anatol! so rediculous i had to laugh at the time! love these reviews! xxxx

[PhantomReviews]

I just heard the sad news that Susanna Foster has died. R.I.P Susanna, you were one of my favorite Christines, and by far the best singer who ever played the role.

[Hasselhoffhater]

Man I was gonna say that but you beat me! But I too am sad she's gone...hitting a high G over C sounds impossible but alas she could do it. I hope she can rest in peace.

[JoelandtheBots]

Claude Rains is #1 sexiest Phantom. Phantom-ey goodness indeed!

[PipamirSolo]

I totally agree!

[phantomsmusic2009]

This is great! It's sad to hear that the 1998 version is your last review :( I think you should review other films too after your done with this

[lshield1]

When will you be reiviewing the 1998 verison of the Phantom of the Opera? I don't see it on your profile of vidoes.

[PhantomReviews]

I have something very special in mind for that one, but it will be my last movie review. Unless they suddenly release another version, because Im going in chronological order and ive already done the 2004 movie.

[lshield1]

Hi, that last scene was just like the one in the 2004 ALW musical where the Phantom stalks Joseph Bonquet on the ropes of the theatre. Just thought I'd point that out. These Phantom films seem to do a lot of barrowing from each other an example the acid theme.

[EmilyGreene1984]

Actually, if you watch the scene from the Robert Englund version - it almost exactly mirrors the 2004 film. Except instead of stabbing Joseph Buquet and skinning his flesh off, Gerard only hangs him. But the camera angle is almost exactly the same.

[lshield1]

Isn't that interesting. What do you think of the Phantom story? Do you like it?

[MrsLonChaney]

I can't believe I haven't been keeping up with these! I feel so guilty...

Anyway, I loved this one very much, very good as always. This is a great resource for me considering this is one of the only Phantom philms I've yet to see. Can't wait to watch part 2!

-MLC

[jarvisel]

The weird thing is that when he gets a basin of acid chucked at him, he plasters his hands over his face for a good twenty minutes...yet his hands are completely fine.

[NatashaNabokov]

and his clothes aren't even affected.

[phantomzeroex]

Becuase Erique is supposed to be her father Universal desided to add another sutor. So, really, Anitole is supposed to be a replacement for an Erique who is in love with Christine. It's like they split the Phantom character in half; that's why they say the same thing to Christine. I guess after they removed the whole Erique is Christine's dad thing they never got around to geting rid of Anitole. They probably couldn't becuase they already hired Nelson Eddy.

[Eilonwy]

I'm working my way through your videos, and I have to say you've made my day, your reviews are both in depth and comical, so entertaining and yet nearly always correct - and these two elements don't always come hand in hand. I'd take my hat off to you (if I was wearing one...) for your detail, you've obviously done your research. Can't wait for part two! Keep 'em coming.

[VictoriaWinters1991]

At one point I came across the "novelization" verion of this film and they left the Phantom is Christine's father stuff in there...also it wasn't completely removed in this movie...how else would this Phantom know the lullaby?

[PhantomReviews]

Thats interesting, I would love to read that! I forgot to mention the Lullaby reference.

[VictoriaWinters1991]

I hope the book is still available. I read it when I was a kid and for some reason it was available in my school library. Funny thing is I read it before I saw the actual film and was pretty shocked that the Phantom was Christine's father. It even said so at the end - "He's her father...but don't tell her!" I believe it was one of the Raoul's that found this all out.

[clamp2005]

Oh brilliant! I watched this movie just last month actually, and I thought th two Raoul's were rather hilarious. Little bit of comic relief never hurt....most times.

Can't wait for part two!

[ImhotepsAshes]

Good call on the "you're going to be a great and famous singer" thing... Never occurred to me before! Another stellar review.

[TangoMaureen07]

I actually found this over the summer and watched it. It's not that strong a phantom movie but I adored the two "roaul" characters.

[kriitikko]

Definetley not a perfect POTO movie, but it's still on my Top 5 list and I'd pick it anytime over the 2004 film. Great job again! Can't wait for part 2.

[RebelFounderOdogoo]

He looks cute with the mask and wouldn't mind him starking me ^_^ also fantomy goodness? does this mean i can eat him O_O||| ^_^ yummy

[SloeEyedDoe]

Yaaaaaaaay, Claude Rains! I know this version has some serious flaws, but I just love it to pieces. Besides, this was the film that turned me on to Claude Rains.