Rupert Julian's classic silent has got everything! An actor capable of carrying the toughest role ever written, beautiful scenery, real-life drama, sentiment and romance. The climax of Phantom of the Opera is an extended series of chasings and battues, resulting in the dramatic (and gruesome) death of our protagonist. A breathtaking piece of early cinema that stands the test of time like no other. Immediately after this scene, the crew moves to the roof of the Opera building and Chaney takes place on top of the Apollo statue. The grimaces of Chaney seem to look right through the other partygoers and his search for Christine is relentless. The masked bal, which the Phantoms attends as the `Red Death' is an outstanding horror sequence and truly atmospheric. At least 3 sequences in the 1925 Phantom of the Opera are legendary and still astonishing after almost 80 years. His deformed appearance isn't explained and neither is shown how he falls for the beautiful, shy Christine. Here, Erik is said to be an escaped madman whereas he merely only was a hurt romanticist in later versions. The biggest difference between this first version and the later remakes lies in the roots of the Phantom. Her appreciation soon turns into fear when she finds out her benefactor is the horribly scarred Phantom of the Opera. The until then unknown singer is thankful and meets her `master' in the catacombs. He helps her career a little and threatens to kill the prominent singer Carlotta if she doesn't hand over the her role in Faust to Christine. After all these years of dwelling in the opera, he has fallen in love with the unsuccessful singer, Christine. Deep down the catacombs of the Parisian Opera building, the phantom reigns in forgotten dungeons and underground lakes. The film itself is depressing and dark, with terrific photography and settings.

And justified! Even though this role was played by many respectable actors afterwards (like Claude Rains, Herbert Lom and Robert Englund) Lon Chaney is and remains the one and only Phantom of the Opera.

Lon Chaney starred in over 150 films (most of them silent ones) but he'll always be remembered best for his personification of Erik, the Phantom. One of the most eminent horror films ever made and perhaps even the most famous silent horror movie from that time.

The phantom of the opera imdb