The movie tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opéra House, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with a young soprano, the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera.
Despite outdated acting techniques and staging, this is a must-see for all cinema buffs, as make-up genius Lon Chaney's Phantom is a Hall of Horror landmark.
Kerry is a colorless hero, Philbin contents herself with being pretty and becoming terrorized at the Phantom, and Chaney is either behind a mask or grimacing through his fiendish makeup.
The atmosphere matches Chaney's performance perfectly. His grotesque appearance is achieved with wires, cotton balls, and eye-dilating chemicals, but his character, as usual, is animated from within.
