The 1943 version of The Phantom Of The Opera was filmed in Technicolor and I know I will get some grumbles about this but I feel they spent too much time on the opera scenes in which they could show off the magic of Technicolor rather than concentrate on the main characters of the story. Nonetheless, it is an ok film but not on the same level as Lon Chaney Sr's silent classic. This one has Claudin as the Phantom instead of Eric and whereas Eric is born disfigured, Claudin deformity comes as a result of a pan of acid thrown in his face. Claude Rains as usual turns in a good performance as the Phantom. There are only a couple of simularities between the 1925 original and the 1943 version. One is a variation of the chandelier scene. I really didn't care for the ending of this version. I felt the Chaney version was more dramatic. You kind of have to take this film at face value. It may sound like I do not like this film, but I do. It is just that I am a bigger fan of the original. After all, who couldn't like a Claude Rains film?
