Phantom of the Opera

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Phantom of the Opera

1943

1h 32m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

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22 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Talented Christine (Susanna Foster) is unaware that her singing lessons are being funded by a secret admirer, Enrique (Claude Rains), a mysterious violinist with a disfigured face. Christine's colleagues become suspicious when mysterious accidents start occurring at the Paris Opera House, as the deaths coincide with her meteoric rise to stardom. Christine's suitors, Raoul (Edgar Barrier) and Anatole (Nelson Eddy), brave the dark recesses of the opera house to find the true culprit.

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Critics Consensus

Though it lives beneath the 1925 version, Claude Rains plays title character well in this landmark color version of the classic tragedy.

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Marc Horton

Edmonton Journal

Aug 10, 2026

1/4

It's not campy enough to be interesting and the performances are dull, dull, dull.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 28, 2023

3/4

While Lon Chaney Sr. remains the best (and most frightening) Phantom, Claude Rains lands in the place position for his more sympathetic handling of the role.

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Alan French

1428 Elm

Oct 12, 2018

2.5/4

The cinematography remains gorgeous to this day, and the sets are pretty. It is a picture of opulence. On that front, the film remains a success

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Dan Jardine

All Movie Guide

Nov 13, 2015

Lon Chaney created such an empathetic villain that it was nearly impossible not to root for him

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Paul Chambers

Movie Chambers

Oct 26, 2014

A

Rains, one of my favorite actors, gives a superb interpretation of the mysterious recluse.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Mar 8, 2008

4/5

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 13, 2026

Phantom of the Opera = a *4* star Movie!

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Jinnifer F

@RT68322444 Sep 3, 2026

This is good just as good as the 1925 version.

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Jade W

@giveemsomethingto_jade Jun 28, 2026

Honestly the only reason it deserves even one star is due to the romance between the two men.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage Sep 6, 2025

Mostly all long opera performances with Claude Rains carrying the beginning and end. Arthur Lubin's direction is so flat and stagey that he wastes all these beautiful sets, gowns, cinematography, lighting, hairstyling, makeup, and music. What an odd way to direct Phantom of the Opera by turning it into mostly a drama. It's not very romantic and all the horror is gone. Claude Rains is fantastic as a sympathetic version of the Phantom, but he's barely in the movie! He looks like he really cares about Christine. Nelson Eddy sings powerful opera singer Garron, but he cannot really act well. He's so much of this movie. Susanna Foster is pretty and can sing, but not in an engaging way. Her acting is terribly boring. Edgar Barrier is awful at acting as the captain of the guard Raoul. He's in way too much of this one. Jane Farrar is a stunning redhead, who is more gorgeous than Susanna Foster. She should have been Christine. Her powerful operatic voice is prettier than Foster's. She should have been Christine! What strange casting! In short, Phantom of the Opera (1943) lacks the romance of the 2004 version as well as the horror of the 1925 monster movie classic.

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Queralt T

@RT48282939 Mar 9, 2025

This adaptation focuses more on Christine's relationship with Raoul (who is somehow a policeman?) and Anatole (a random singer) and their dispute to win Christine's heart. In the mix we can find Erik, bue he is quite irrelevant. A little bit disappointed. But even so I enjoyed the music, scenes and performances, so no need to complain. As a music student, the Lizt "cameo" was very fun. Sit back and enjoy, Phans.

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Julian S

@akajulianscott Jan 23, 2025

A richly vibrant adaptation, more melodrama than horror, but undeniably effective.

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Arthur Lubin

Director

Claude Rains

Enrique Claudin

Nelson Eddy

Anatole Garron

Susanna Foster

Christine Dubois

Edgar Barrier

Raoul D'Aubert

Jane Farrar

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Synopsis

Talented Christine (Susanna Foster) is unaware that her singing lessons are being funded by a secret admirer, Enrique (Claude Rains), a mysterious violinist with a disfigured face. Christine's colleagues become suspicious when mysterious accidents start occurring at the Paris Opera House, as the deaths coincide with her meteoric rise to stardom. Christine's suitors, Raoul (Edgar Barrier) and Anatole (Nelson Eddy), brave the dark recesses of the opera house to find the true culprit.

Director: Arthur Lubin
Producer: George Waggner
Screenwriter: Samuel Hoffenstein, John Jacoby, Gaston Leroux, Eric Taylor
Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment, MCA/Universal Home Video, MCA, Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 1943, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2014
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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