Just watched the 1943 version of Phantom of the Opera. It was sort of hilarious. I mean, the operatic parts of it were actually operatic and Christine actually could sing, unlike any other version of Christine I've ever heard. But for some reason the filmmakers completely changed the story almost beyond recognition... instead of the original plot: disfigured genius loves girl and helps her to become opera singer (through murder and manipulation) and tries to make her love him, but, after lots and lots of drama she instead is saved from his machinations by her childhood sweetheart; in this version the Phantom's obsession with Christine is not really explained - he acts weirdly around her, but since he's over 50 it's just creepy without being even the slightest bit appealing. Raoul, instead of being her childhood sweetheart, is the chief of police - his rival is the opera company's baritone. These two are meant to provide comic relief: they look the same, often speak and move in unison and I suspect that, since Christine actually chooses her career over love, they end up strolling off into the sunset together quite happily. The amount of gay undertones here... it's just silly! Besides, the Phantom is killed off by a rockslide and promptly forgotten about. What's going on?!
Oh, and there's a director or backstage manager (or something, his role is never explained) who keeps insisting that the 'ghost' has a long nose and a red beard (he doesn't). I really don't understand.
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