Herbert Lom as the Phantom

Herbert Lom as the Phantom portrays a powerful and driven composer who lives only for two things, to have his revenge, and find a woman worthy to sing his music. Lurking beneath the British playhouse, he moodily reigns over his domain with his silent partner, a viciously tempered mute who spared his life. This Phantom wishes for revenge against the man who stole his music, and bides his time listening to the performers above. All is fine until the fateful day he hears Christine sing and then his heart melts for she must be the one to perform his work.

Lom is the most realistic Phantom of the new breed, looking just dreadful covered in muck and God-knows-what from beneath the music house. He wears a mask that covers his entire face except for one eye, and his voice is strangely muffled by it. His hands are blackened with disease, and his clothes are filthy. This Phantom seems to care little for his appearance, as the viewer might well expect from someone living apart from the world. He also seems sadly aware that he has little time left before his illness takes his life.

Perhaps that is why he starts escalating his campaign against the world above, even boldly appearing in person to the singers and staff. But he is a good man and defends Christine’s honor from the start, warning her of his lordship’s rather unsavory auditioning practices. He never asks her, not even once to love him, perhaps because he senses what little time he has left. It would be a very cruel trick indeed if she did love him only to lose him so quickly.

Heather Sears portrays a Christine that’s bright and capable, seemingly aware that all the men around her do and say isn’t fair to her as a woman. That’s not to say she needs rescued. When she is with the Phantom in his lair she holds up bravely, although he is of the old school of musical teaching where Maestro truly meant master, and he slaps her silly at one point hoping his lesson will sink in. Poor Christine seems a bit aghast at this rough treatment, but bears up splendidly.

A must see film, as the music is hauntingly close to modern musicals in styling.

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