Phantom Books Part 1 (The Gaston Leroux Novel)

[Poet2916]

Large...trophy??...Polish it with me? 0__o *shuns dirty thoughts*

[LerouxFan]

@TheaterParamore I've seen the previews, but didn't know about it until they had sold out all of their copies. Now I'm just waiting on the second release coming up later this month. It does look good.

[LerouxFan]

Well, hadn't thought of that with the mystery being ruined, but you're right. Still would like to see a Leroux based movie, even if it isn't told in the same detective style.

[TheaterParamore]

@LerouxFan There is a Leroux based movie out, actually! Check out "Erik, Portrait of a Living Corpse." It's amazing. A filming student made it, and it's a pretty big deal in the Phantom community. I think the @PhantomReviews can back me up on this! :)

[TheJacksForAllTrades]

Y'know, I don't know whether your voice has been lowered via computer or if you just naturally low voice, but at some points your voice is very menacing, I do really like it, it'd be pretty cool if you went into voice acting of some sort :)

[wevetra13]

Actually, this was one of those "stumble apon" things that I loved...watched/listened to this five times. Please respect me in the morning...or not. Just call me. LOL LOL LOL

[Marlean]

Which movie is it at 1:21?

[PhantomReviews]

@Marlean Depending on what you're looking at, its either Song at Midnight (reviewed) or Man of a Thousand Faces (reviewed in the Phantom Spinoffs episode)

[The1990phantom]

@godzilla964: trinity means "group of three." God, Jesus, Holy Spirit = trinity

[godzilla964]

What does "Trinity" mean?

[ThePhantomSafetyPin]

Honestly? On the Leroux novel, yeah it's not perfect. But for those who dislike it based on Mr. Forsythe's remarks in this video, remember that everyone at that time wrote in that same purple prose style. Also recall that the story appeared in installments in newspapers first, and had to be shallow enough for the public to read. Is the book still good? YMMV. I personally like it. Still deserves respect for being the foundation of the phandom, though, whether you like it or not.

[lbjb247]

Forgive me for asking, but which version of phantom does most of this footage come from?

[PhantomReviews]

@lbjb247 The Maximillian Schell/Jane Seymour version from 1983

[lbjb247]

@PhantomReviews thanks

[jarvisel]

The Leroux book only has about five decent chapters, but those chapters are FANTASTIC.

[jazzandmint]

PR, are you doing the voices for ALW, Graham Norton, the casting director, and Frederick Forsythe?

[PhantomReviews]

@jazzandmint All except Fredrick Forsythe!

[jazzandmint]

@PhantomReviews Well done! :)

[bugstomper123]

Help. help me I say.

lol

[ReviewForReel]

"SILENCE YOU UNTALENTED BAFOON" LOL. He sounds like a power rangers villian. 

[GrobanitePhan]

The thing with Leroux was that he seriously thought that Erik was real. A skeleton was extracted from under the Garnier, and Leroux adamantly claimed that it was the phantom. So yeah, I'm sure it was a mix of fairytales, but Leroux thought it was all real. Maybe it was. But...probably not.

[AngelofMusic1416]

I heard a Englund-Phantom quote! *giggles menicingly*

[thepoptartprincess]

And the best part is, this is probably what Frederick Forsythe is like in real life. Only, he'll try to seduce M. Phantom Reviewer instead.

"Come to a quieter place with me, and I can... um.... show you some... um... Phantom movies."

[Mattbrain]

Yes! They're auditioning for Les Miserables!

[chocobasse10]

It would be cool if you had sung the lines from the musical that come just before Music of the Night, you know "I have brought you,to this seat of sweet music's throne", but instead you'd sing "You've been brought here, to answer for you horrible crimes" or something like that.

[kikyosan543]

i am soo greatful that the story is real!

[thecopykidofthestarz]

From 6:58 0n, isnt Rouls Tuxedo down to the Bow And Waistcoat The Same as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Phantom? or the ALW Looks Just Like it? ANd The Hair Too!

[vampyrhobbit]

I want your video collection...

*falls out of the chair laughing*

Good question: why never a straight adaption of POTO? I knew nothing about POTO the first time I read it. ( I was 12 and had just moved from Guam...so, I was about as fresh as you can get.) I actually didn't see it as being a mystery in the sense that knowing who winds up with who would wreck anything. And as for the 'truth' about Erik...well, no one's done a faithful adaption, so it'd still be a surprise to most viewers!

[ceaeli6789]

I loved the novel and what bothers me is that only two of the several film adaptions feature the persian. He needs more credit than he is getting.

[MsPinkWings]

I love how you quote Phantom of the Paradise & the Robert Englund movie!

[chocobasse10]

"Everybody dies. I just choose the time and place for a few." *sigh* You just couldn't resist, could you? :)

[Peadarisback]

Leroux's novel is clearly inspired slightly by "Notre dame de paris" ("our lady of paris") by Victor Hugo...the disfigured man (Quasimodo) lives in a famous peace of french arcatecture (Notre dame) and falls in love with a girl (Esmeralda) who loves someone else (Phoebus) in return. NDDP has many differences though and is probably a better book but phantom is good

[silenthillmaster755]

@Peadarisback I was TOTALLY thinking that

[FantasmaLuna]

@Peadarisback Except Christine has ovaries.

[javertim]

What is the clip at 1:40 from?

[DrDeadsy]

A very down-to-the-spot review of Leroux' novel. I like it when people don't mix too much gothic romance into their perception, because Leroux was nothing like a romantic author. You need to read a fiew of his other detective stories to understand that. Most of them have not been translated into English or are hard to come by, so reading them in French is adviseable. Some of his books are actually so gory, you can barely read them. Phantom is an atypical Leroux book in some ways.

[DrDeadsy]

Leroux has reused the "Beauty-and-the-Beast"-topic several times. You have it in "La poupée sanglante" / "La machine à assassiner" as well as in "Balaoo". But both of these contain more gore and shock elements and also more sexual hints. Phantom stands out because of its setting (Opera, the disfigured character being a musical genius). That's what I meant by atypical. Usually, Leroux' strange characters are much more down to Earth (and therefore less fascinating) with their desires.

[stitchgrl777]

I've never read another Leroux book. Are they worth reading? Would you compare his style to any author we'd be familiar with?

[DrDeadsy]

I've shied away from reading Leroux' other novels for many years, because I feared that it might ruin Phantom for me. If you want to keep up the image of a romantic writer who "unterstood" or at least cared for Erik, you better not read any other books. If you're more into finding out the truth, you should. Leroux was a mass writter, after he'd finished Phantom, he already had is mind on the next book. And as I said, he was much more into gory detective stories than into romance.

[DrDeadsy]

Which doesn't actually 'destroy' Phantom, but relativise its importance to the author himself. To him, it was certainly just one of his many books. Much more important (and he was much more known for it within France) were certainly "Rouletabille" and "Chéri-bibi", for which he wrote several sequels. He never wrote a sequel to Phantom, but re-used the subject of the disfigured killer in love (see novel titles above).

[stitchgrl777]

i hope you review "Beauty and the Opera" and "Night Magic" and "Progeny" (One of these is good)

[Atressa]

...Night Magic. ...I had forgotten that one... That is the modern retelling with Erik (D'anton was it?) getting married to a girl who's like 17 (she has an M name if I remember right), but then they have all these issues like, she wants a baby but oh noes, a baby won't understand his ugliness and all that?

.....Thanks for reminding me of it. I think.

Which of the books you listed is the "one" you consider good btw? I don't know them.

[stitchgrl777]

I think Beauty and the Opera was the best one. It was the most "realistic" in the sense that it didn't try to romanticize how bizarre it would be to be married to Erik. Suzy McKee really didn't try to water down the awkwardness. I don't remember much of Night Magic, but I do remember thinking it was kind of porn-ish and unrealistic. It was set in modern times, which I just can't really see him in. Esp when he was still wearing his cape and fedora.

[stitchgrl777]

Can Forsythe be considered part of the trinity? Can it just be the ugly dropping?

[RainyDays317]

Forsyth...grrr...evil man who wrote that piece of nonsense , he IS capable of evil! Forsyth...Why?! ALW who wants to base Love never dies, a equally unclever idea, on the stupidest book ever

Leroux's novel I loved though...it was interesting with Erik's ,idk, desperation? I actually enoyed Leroux's novel...alot

I loved Kay's!!!! fell in love with Kay Erik! What can I say? It was beautifully written :)

keep creating these funny phantom reviews... me and my bff wanna watch all the phantoms :)

[fantomedelopera100]

That's a very perceptive comment about how the impact of the original novel is perhaps now more muted than it was previously due to public familiarity with the story.

Fans of Leroux's novel may be interested to know that we are now entering its 100th anniversary year: the novel was first serialised in 1909 prior to publication in 1910.

To celebrate, a Twitter stream has been launched, which details all the latest Phantom-related news. Follow @fantomedelopera on Twitter to find out more!

[competentpixie]

Can't wait for The Susan Kay review. Her book was more than genius!!

.....the Forsyth book.........well, no one would miss it if every copy in the world were to suddenly combust.

[vShaede]

Can't wait to see your review of Kay's "Phantom". It's my favorite.

"Progeny" by Becky Meadows is also very good (that is, compared to all the other "Phantom" sequels out there).

Aside from the original, those two are the only ones I've kept in my book collection.

Thanks for posting. Great job! :-)

[Atressa]

I think Forsythe should eat his words. A la Name of the Rose...

I love the book, but like you mention, it is a pot-boiler mystery, complete with one-D charas and orientalism.

I think the big reason we don't see a Leroux-based movie is bec. Erik is a homicidal creep. He's at least 40, hitting on a naieve (and either very manipulative or very stupid) kid, using lies and chicanery. That's not romantic or sexy. It's disturbed and criminal! 

It might make a good, psycho-analytic art flick tho.

[FatalBellman]

While I see your point, isn't that still mostly true any version? Maybe Charles Dance's Phantom is an exception, but even then he crushes people with the chandelier. Besides, I'd take horror over romance any day.

[Atressa]

True true. Still, he's usually portrayed as someone who seems like an otherwise nice guy, and frequently is not bad looking except for that facial thing.... i don't remember ever seeing a truly horrific version. Englund's is probably the closest.

[FatalBellman]

Yes, I guess you're right. I love Englund's version, though, because he can be completely psycho and then be sweet to Christine the next moment without seeming like an unrealistic character. Plus, it was fun. : ] Although, I think that may be the only movie where it didn't seem a shame Christine left him.

[Biskuits]

I completely agree; the best thing Leroux did was manage to make Erik sympathetic despite the fact that he IS ten kinds of crazy and doing all sorts of dastardly stuff (and if he'd got the girl, he wouldn't have been as awesome, IMO).

I don't like that he made Raoul really unimpressive; I think that he did to make Erik's talents seem that much more hey!wow!! I mean, poor kid actually didn't end up doing much on his own, and I thought he was a pretty sad hero and didn't much care for him XD

[Atressa]

Raoul is the typical "White Knight" of the Victorian melodramas and fairy tales. For that, he comes across as rather dull and one dimensional. The fact he is described as a Momma's boy, throws tantrums, and yes, doesn't do much on his own, really doesn't help his case. He's nice but childish. Lucky, Christine is the same way...

The other thing is that modern audiences love their anti-heroes and sympathetic villains (Erik, the Crow, Sephiroth). Folks like Raoul are dull in comparison.

[Dhslyn486]

Totally agree with everything said. OMG "Phantom in Manh." was HORRIBLE! It was one of the worst books EVER!

I got a sick, sick feeling in my stomach when I found out ALW was going to base his "Phantom: Love Never Dies" on it, but Andrew said it was "loosely" based...hope that means it isn't ANYTHING like the book!

I LOVE Susan Kay's book! It is one of the best Phantom books ever! Hope our Reviewer loved it as well, lol

[mifledyret]

This review settles it: I love you!

Your videos are always so hilarious I have to pause them until I'm done laughing. "They've gone to a better place." "Do you mean-?" "Yes! They're auditioning for Les Miserables." And thank you for the Robert Englund qoute! Naughty boy :P

I hope the reviewer forces Forsyth to watch the Dario Agento version. He deserves it!

[LightsCameraAaron]

I think Biskuit's voice acting is great! And, PR, you have an AMAZING Phantom voice. =-)

[iamthewalrus014]

PR, when you say "to make you believe that all this could really happen" ( 8:57 ), are you saying that it didn't really happen? <:O

[SailorDirector]

The skit part was hilarious, love the blending of all the quotes of phantom films. Forsyth's voice was my favorite! <3

[MaskedLion]

thank you very much, I had fun playing Forsyth

[Fpiet]

Hey awesome video!

One point of criticism though: there is an important difference between POTO and J&H. The big reveal with J&H comes at the very end of the story, whereas POTO's big reveal comes at the halfway point.

After that halfway point, the book becomes a straight up horrorstory where Raoul and Christine are trying to escape from Erik, the monster. And that still holds up because even though POTO's set-up is well known, it's ending isn't .

[PhantomInTraining]

I can't wait for you to do Kay's I liked it a lot, even though I'm probably going to get a whole bunch of people saying it wasn't that great. I read it before I read the original, so I guess that's why I like it so much.

[gizmobizness1]

The story parts of your reviews are really good! Have you done over dub spoof before?......

Phantom of Manhattan was BAAAD, then I read Kay's Phantom and it was really good but I don't know why writers feel the need to give Erik an illigitimate son all the time.

[MsPinkWings]

Yeah, that really bothers me too. Yeah right Erik and Christine'd have a kid together... *rolls eyes*

[Biskuits]

I can take it if it's done right, but, for example, the way it happened in *SPOILERALERT* Kay's novel *END SPOILERALERT* is just SO ridiculous! I was so mad there XD

[Deepdesert]

What?? It was perfect the way it happened! It's light-years better than what happens in Phantom of Manhattan anyway...

BTW Biskuits, are you EVER going to post that Takarazuka review?

[Biskuits]

I didn't like it, but you are perfectly welcome to enjoy it. XD

Yes, that is coming, actually! I'm doing sort of 3-jobs-in-one this semester, which takes up so much of my time D: The review is completely written and the appropriate scenes chose; it just needs to be put together now XD PR still has stuff to post before we hit that review, though, so no worries!

[Deepdesert]

Super!

[iamthewalrus014]

Lol, in a way I kinda liked how C had Erik's son. It was a big "INYOURFACERAOUL!!!" moment for me XD

[gizmobizness1]

hmmm when you put it that way..I feel a little better and the "son" was a pretty likeable character though.

[bugstomper123]

Help. Help me I say!

lol XDDD

[doomfeather]

a most excellent video my friend!

(BOO Fredrik Forsythe!!!!)

[DarthxErik]

This was priceless from the beginning to the end. Not to mention extremely well-thought out. *chuckle* "They've gone to a better place... They're auditioning for Les Miserables!"

[Enabsflow1]

Thank you, PR, for making my day. Your reviews are actually helping me in trying not mo make my novel ideas suck. By the way, an odd Idea occured to me the other night. I was watching the Crow. His name's Eric, he was a musician, his make up is based on a mask, he's not disfigured but he is dead, and he is searching for his true love through violent macabre vengeance. I just thought that is would make one interesting review.

[Bealocwealm]

Well... Phantom was not exactly brought back into public consciousness by Webber. It was brought back by Ken Hill, who produced his musical of it in the late '70s. Webber saw this production and decided he would make his own version. Because the Webber version was more successful, few people seem to believe the Hill version even exists...

[PhantomReviews]

I disagree, Ken Hills version didnt exactly set the world on fire, I daresay hardly anyone had heard of it. It didnt make Phantom a household name, but ALWs version made sure EVERYONE knew about POTO.

[Enabsflow1]

@PhantomReviews True, but at least Hill's was an original work and he tried his best to incorporate some actual opera arias and the original story into it. Rather than, say, having ALW try and collaborate with Hill, then decide to steal it from him. I won't deny that most of the music from the ALW version is good, but mangling the book just to make it "Pretty"? Sorry, me being a book purist again. Took me forever to find the Hill soundtrack and I ac tually like it.

[Fpiet]

Speaking of the ALW show, are you ever going to review the actual stageshow? I mean, at the end of the day it's just another adaptation, and certainly not without it's flaws. I know you did the movie, but that just isn't the same.

[Enabsflow1]

@Bealocwealm I feel your pain. I have the soundtrack to the Hill version. Took me a year to find it. The reason I like it is because it's the closest thing to the book next to the 1925 film and it incorporates opera arias into it. That, and parts of it are a stich.

[stitchgrl777]

i like some songs from the ken hill version, but the standout is "while floating high above". But I have no issue with ALW's version of it. That's how I fell in love with it. It does't mean I don't completely appreciate the original novel. Nothing is as "pretty" and washed out as the Schumacher version.

[FatalBellman]

Nice! Man, could Forsythe be any more of a creep!?

[MsPinkWings]

This was pure class! Can't wait to watch your review of the mostly likely horrible Susan Kay novel, I just refuse to read that fanfiction on principle.

[Goldkehlchen20]

@MsPinkWings

I read it, it was fun in a way, but your assumption is right, it's much rather like a very very (very) long fanfiction.

[Bealocwealm]

@MsPinkWings It's got some good parts, some great parts, and some total crap parts, basically...

[Biskuits]

Seconded.

[Hasselhoffhater]

Dude Masked Lion is so awesome in this video!

[MaskedLion]

Heh. Loved it, was incredibly fun to work with you P.R. and lovely responses to my impersonation of That Arrogant Bastard Frederick, Biskuits!

[Biskuits]

I heard your voice for Forsythe and almost fell out of my chair! You were utterly glorious, sir ;} More pomp than one could shake a stick at! <3

[Hasselhoffhater]

Yeah you need to listen to his Erik....His voice is just........amazing.

[Biskuits]

Oh, I have! Delightful :}

[SylentPhantom]

Oh it was so wonderful to see Jeff's lines spliced into your clips It turned out brilliantly. Wonderfully funny as always. Can't wait for the next one.

[crawfordfanatic]

Please kick the crap out of the Forsythe novella. That was total ass!!!!

[crawfordfanatic]

You are to funny LOL! Love it!

[sarahisavampire]

My dearest PR, this was hilarious! I loved the quotes and your review of the original novel. I can't wait to hear your reviews on Kay's "Phantom." I've not yet read the Forsythe yet. I'm afraid to... Do you recommend it? Should I read it before I see your review?

[crawfordfanatic]

Nooooooooo dont read it! It just sucks to the point of brain pain! The entire time you read it you keep saying Huh??? You also find yourself saying No wait a minute thats not right!

[iamthewalrus014]

I don't recommend it, hon. My friend started reading it (even though I told her not to) and she seemed pretty disgusted... XD

[EmilyGreene1984]

Another great review and little skit, PhantomReviewer. ;)

[ferndavant]

OH I LOVE YOU PHANTOM REVIEWER! *throws panties*

[Deepdesert]

Uh oh, I predict troubles ahead for Maria Conetto! And especially the sequel...

I have to admit I enjoy Forsythe's "real" novels like The Dogs of the War and The Day of the Jackal. I think that Phantom of Manhattan crap must have just been a brain fart in his old age.

Leroux's novel is ok but just too disjointed for me, maybe because it was written around 1910, its hard to get into. I love Kay's novel the best, can't wait for your review on that!

[Deepdesert]

Whoops I meant "The Dogs of War." Also another good one "The Odessa File" and...that's about it.

[greenappletea123]

OH DAMN I LOVE THISSS <3

[Neko17]

lol i like how "they went to better place" meant to the Les Miserables auditions funny.

[Alexandraghost]

XD great job. I look forward to the kay review.

[SashalovesErik]

Loved this! So good...

[MrGemini28]

Wow, there's beauty and the beast, orpheus and eurydice, and faust all mixed in a realistic story. That is genius!!

[escottish140]

"Everybody dies; I just choose the time and place for a few." LOL! I love how the Phantom Reviewer says my favourite Robert Englund line.

[HumanxNature]

One thing that was so random in the original novel that I STILL can't understand is a part towards the end when Raoul and the Persian are below the opera house looking for Christine. I don't remember what the exact dialogue was, but Raoul and the Persian were hiding behind a wall or something when Raoul sees a cape dragging across the floor. He then asks the Persian if it was the Phantom that just walked by, but the Persian replied "No, it's someone much worse."

[HumanxNature]

But by the end of the novel you STILL don't know who that person was! Does anyone have an explanation for it? Or was it just part of Gaston Laroux's crappy writing to try and make the novel more "mysterious"...?

[Deepdesert]

I also think there was a lot of things just left hanging. Christine and Raoul just kind of disappear, like Leroux ran out of things for them to do or say. I also REALLY don't understand what he means by Erik's saying Christine was just as beautiful as a dead woman...does that mean he was a necrophile?? Or maybe it's just translated weird...

[KryssLaBryn]

I always thought that Erik was referring to the expression of peace, of calm, on her face; this was probably about the first time she was ever actually calm around him.

The translation in Wolfe is better than the common uncredited one and makes more sense, but I don't have a copy to hand, alas.

[Deepdesert]

ok, that does make more sense

[iamthewalrus014]

I think he said "As beautiful as a dead woman" because when people are dead (after the dude at the funeral home has put makeup on them and stuff) they look peaceful. And then when they have the makeup on, it's meant to make them look less dead XD and sometimes they can be beautiful.

[AngelofHeartbreak22]

agreed

[SashalovesErik]

The Rat Catcher? Yeah, I never quite understood that either, but I think that was one of the mysteries that still remained in the books.

[DrDeadsy]

@ HumanxNature: The Rat Catcher is a typical Leroux-mystery that doesn't make much sense and just there for creating an eerie atmosphere. ;-) His books are full of them, and believe me, usually it's a LOT more confusing. Thinking about a subterranean people without eyes but trunks instead of noses and 20 fingers and toes... (they appear in "Théophraste Longuet", one of the weirdest, sickest novels I have ever read in my whole life).

[stitchgrl777]

What about the Shadow? I could never figure him out....

[lilrowyravenclaw]

Okay, funniest line EVER:

"YES! ...they're auditioning for Les Miserables."

XDDDDDDDD

[thewylion]

wooo cant wait for kay's review :D

i love u phantom reviewer :D

[CaptainIchabodRainy9]

Great points! I enjoyed this greatly!

[X2Magneto]

luv the nod to phantom of the paradise

[TheWanderingchild]

- But funny how the other five finalists disapeard...

- I can ensure they've got to a better place.

- You mean...?

- YES! They're auditioning for Les Miserable

XD

Really good opinion at Leroux novel! :)

[Biskuits]

This was like the great Quote Spectacular! And I loved it XD <3

Also, very nice insight on the book to film nonsense; I was worried when I saw you only had a couple minutes left to say your piece, but it was well-done! ;}

[RottenBadger]

Ahh yeah, the original novel isn't that amazing, but it remains a good read. There are some really good moments in it, such as when Erik visits Daroga at the end, and the use of fake-documents to make the story seem real is also quite effective.

Loved the plot to the review by the way. I shuddered when the Phantom Reviewer sang 'MON'... really put a sinister edge to it.

[lamllemaussade]

The woman voicing Christine or Maria or whatever has a really grating Midwestern accent... and it especially doesn't mesh with this silly Brooklyn-type accent she's trying so miserably to pull off. It had to be said. It sticks out like a sore thumb in every video.

[Biskuits]

Grating?? The New York one is pretty bad, I'll admit, but my natural accent is grating? D'aw, now you've gone and hurt my feelings or some garbage.

[PhantomReviews]

Hey, leave my Christine alone, I happen to think her voice acting is hilarious.

[Biskuits]

It's okay, PR; I think it's somehow not obvious that I'm trying to be a little ridiculous and over the top ;}

[smarterthanmyclass]

i like ur new york accent

[lamllemaussade]

It's quite obvious you're trying to be over-the-top. I've heard your real voice in other videos, and it's to that which I was referring. I forgot, we're not allowed to speak our minds on YouTube anymore...

[iamthewalrus014]

There's nothing wrong with speaking your mind, but you don't have to straight-up insult people.

[stitchgrl777]

you sound GOOD biskuits!!

[DragonHeart06]

I agree - I main reason I found that I couldn't really enjoy the book is because Leroux plays it up as a mystery - but, EVERYONE knows who The Phantom is nowadays! Once you strip of mystery of...well, it's mystery, it's not much fun to read...