The Phantom Of The Opera (1943)

After he has been dismissed from the Paris Opera House after 20 years, a violinist (Claude Rains) attempts to get his concerto published. But when he attacks the publisher (Miles Mander) for stealing his concerto, he gets acid thrown on his face. He hides out in the Paris Opera House and makes plans for the career of a young singer (Susanna Foster) he is infatuated with. Universal went all out for this extravagant remake of the 1925 Lon Chaney silent classic. This wasn't going to be another low budget Universal horror film! The budget neared two million dollars and the production design and costumes were detailed and done to perfection. It was a "prestigious" horror film to be sure. Unfortunately, we're treated to large chunks of poorly staged opera that only hold things up but even worse, that clunky baritone Nelson Eddy is barely tolerable when he sings but when he acts ..... where's Jeanette when you need her? Rains is fine but he seems almost peripheral to the film, too much opera and not enough Phantom! The film won Oscars for art direction and sound. Directed by Arthur Lubin. With Hume Cronyn, Edgar Barrier, Leo Carrillo, Jane Farrar and Steven Geray.