Your hand at the level of your eyes…..
Okay, I am ninety-five percent certain that my family is very happy they are no longer subjected to my belting out every aria in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera whilst in the shower. It’s been over 18 years since I first fell in love with this haunting love story.
Only because I am obsessed, I have watched every version of Phantom of the Opera that has been produced and filmed for our viewing pleasure. Yes, there is more than one version of this masterpiece – I am here to walk you through your Phantom TV Guide and where you can watch now!
- The Phantom of the Opera (Joel Schumacher, 2005)
We all felt Christine’s struggle to choose between the dark and seductive phantom or the charming and protective Raoul de Chagny.
Emmy Rossum was sixteen years old at the time of filming and won the role of Christine by a landslide – she was supposed to be at a family gathering, but Joel convinced her to audition instead.
Emmy Rossum is classically trained in opera and theater. Before Phantom, she appeared in the movie The Day After Tomorrow and later found her way to fame in her lead role as Fiona Gallagher in the series Shameless.
Wilson and Butler were already established actors in Hollywood. Wilson had musical theater experience and starred in Oklahoma and The Full Monty. His performances earned him a Tony Award.
Wilson landed the role immediately after auditioning with Webber himself. According to casting, it was a “No-brainer” to cast Wilson as the dashing Viscount who sweeps Christine off her feet. He fit the profile for the romantic, athletic type “that made his casting, in a word, ideal.” (yes, I have this whole musical memorized).
Where to Watch
2. The Phantom of the Opera ( Dario Argento, 1998)
An introduction to Argento’s work, I loved this version of Phantom; it was the first time I saw it without it being a musical. Asia Argento and Julian Sands are cast as the lead duo.
Argento does not hold back on the horror, blood, and gore in this classic retelling of Leroux’s 1910 novel. But why should he?
If you’re okay with reading subtitles, you will enjoy this horrific retelling.
Where To Watch
3. Phantom of the Opera (1989)
That’s right. Freddy Krueger himself is now the Phantom of the Opera in this modernized version of our beloved love story.
Firstly, Christine Day is a music student at Juilliard and is looking for a piece to audition with. She finds a hidden score of Don Juan Triumphant in the campus archives, and the moment Christine hums the first note, she is transported back to the 19th century, where our tale begins.
The element of horror that Englund brings to the screen was mesmerizing and of course, horrifying all at once.
Where to Watch:
4. The Phantom of the Opera (1962)
In the midst of a gruesome murder, Heather Sears’ Christine Daae disappears with Herbert Lom’s Phantom to the underground of the opera house.
“A masterpiece of the macabre”
I’ve not personally watched this one yet, but I will add it to the watch list.
It reminds me of the old Batman series with Adam West.
If you’re interested in the trailer, click here.
Where to Watch
5. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Debuting as a landmark silent horror film in 1925, Lon Chaney horrified audiences across the country with his abhorrent appearance. The film may have been silent, but the audience was not!
Where to Watch
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