The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
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A mysterious figure haunting a Parisian opera house becomes obsessed with a rising star.
The story
In 1870, a Parisian opera house prepares for the performance of the opera Hannibal. When the lead soprano, Carlotta Giudicelli, refuses to perform due to being tormented by the building's resident "Opera Ghost," the ballet mistress suggests that Christine Daaé, a talented young woman, stand in for her. Christine, who claims to be coached by an "Angel of Music," finds herself caught in the mysterious world of the phantom. As she rises to fame, she must navigate the dangers of the catacombs and the mysterious identity of the figure lurking in the shadows of the theater.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1870, the Parisian opera house prepares for the performance of Hannibal. When the lead soprano Carlotta Giudicelli refuses to perform due to the 'Opera Ghost,' Christine Daaé takes her place and becomes a success. Christine is secretly coached by the 'Angel of Music,' who is revealed to be the masked Phantom. The Phantom takes Christine to his underground lair, where she discovers his deformity. After a series of events where the Phantom manipulates the theater's performances, he becomes obsessed with Christine. During a masquerade ball, he steals her engagement ring from her lover, Raoul de Chagny. Following a confrontation in the theater where the Phantom's identity is revealed to the audience, he abducts Christine. In his lair, he offers her a choice between her life and a life with him. She kisses him out of pity, and he allows her to leave with Raoul. The film ends in 1919 with an elderly Raoul visiting Christine's grave, where he finds her ring and a fresh rose, suggesting the Phantom still lives.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 144
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Joel Schumacher
- Writers
- Andrew Lloyd Webber · screenplay; Joel Schumacher · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Gerard Butler · The Phantom; Emmy Rossum · Christine Daaé; Patrick Wilson · Raoul de Chagny; Miranda Richardson · Madame Giry; Minnie Driver · Carlotta Giudicelli; Simon Callow · Gilles André; Ciarán Hinds · Richard Firmin; Victor McGuire · Ubaldo Piangi
- Genres
- musical; romantic drama
- Themes
- obsession; identity; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- romantic; spectacle
- Setting
- Paris, 1870-1919
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; historical; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber (musical) and Gaston Leroux's novel, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.
- Franchise connections
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the visuals and acting, particularly the performances of the lead actors, but criticism towards the writing, direction and unnecessary deviations from the source material. It received a positive reception from the audience.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 33% · scale: percentage · review count: 171; Metacritic · score: 40 · scale: 100 · review count: 39
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Art Direction · nomination; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Song ("Learn to Be Lonely") · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Original Song ("Learn to Be Lonely") · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · nomination; Saturn Award · Best Performance by a Younger Actor · win; Saturn Award · Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film · nomination; Saturn Award · Costume Design · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot entirely at Pinewood Studios.; Gerard Butler had no singing experience and was provided with music lessons prior to filming.; The film's production was delayed for years due to Andrew Lloyd Webber's divorce and Joel Schumacher's busy career.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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