MAXIMILIAN SCHELL AS THE PHANTOM

Maximilian Schell follows the non-traditional route of the Phantom. Sandor is a gifted yet temperamental conductor and husband of the operatic newcomer Elaine Carven (Foster) he is enraged when the obnoxious Baron approaches her. The Baron ends up ruining her debut, and distraught she commits suicide. A devastated Sandor confronts the critic responsible for her terrible review, and in the ensuing struggle kills him. He also sets fire to the house and himself accidentally and tries to put it out with what he thinks is water but is really developing or etching acid.

Carried underground by his long time friend and servant this Phantom after his convalescence assumes the duties of a proper Phantom. Sandor also keeps his wife’s body near him, keeping a strange vigil over it. When newcomer Maria (also played by Foster) shows up, he sees a chance to win for her the fame his wife never knew. He falls in love with her, and in little time becomes threatening towards the other men in her life. He soon kidnaps her, where she commences to behave wildly. In the end, in despair over having lost her, he drops to his death with the chandelier.

Foster does well in both roles, giving the role a quiet sense of stability. As Maria she comes to study eagerly under the Phantom, trusting him despite his strange appearance. After he threatens her director/lover, she acts completely different. However the least believable part of the movie is when the heretofore stalwart Maria starts to shriek run from her teacher of many months. She carries on so in the unmasking scene, and afterwards acts unhinged. Sandor still loves Maria, but she coldly refuses him and burns his mask in mockery.

The end of the film is rather sad, since the Phantom chooses to die rather than to live without love. The setting here of Budapest seems incidental and has no real affect on the film other than to excuse the manager’s speech listing a long line of Opera Phantoms. Overall this is a good film with strong acting, but there are a few slight inconsistencies such as the virtuous Maria choosing to sleep with her director and her carrying on when she is with the Phantom. But Schell is excellent in his role, and his performance alone would make it worth seeing.

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