#BILL NIGHY WAS IN A PHANTOM OF THE OPERA MOVIE IN 1989?

[scottishoctopus]

Has the Captain ever considered dressing as the Phanton of the Opera for Halloween? Being an edgy lovestruck organ player and all haha

"Phantom of the-- ? Edgy? What the devil are ye talkin' about, seagull?" Jones raises a brow.

[fanofspooky]

Does Bill Nighy count as a Scream King?

He doesn’t have a whole lot of horror movie credits but he’s still a king in my book

Scream King - Bill Highy

[phantomnostalgist]

The version that gave me literal nightmares, aged 16 - Robert Englund as Erik Destler in the 1989 movie, directed by Dwight H Little.  Pictures are from a UK VHS, around the late 90s. 

This was the only Phantom movie my local (or most other) video rental shop had back when I first fell in love with the story. I couldn’t even track down the Chaney version. So I rented this one as soon as I saw it, and was not prepared, lol. That night, every time I closed my eyes to go to sleep, there was Englund’s Phantom, face falling off, leering at me. 

As it was the only screen version I had access to, I rented it several times anyway. I think after my third viewing the nightmares wore off. Though the blurb’s claim that “Robert Englund is the definitive Phantom of the Opera” is of course bollocks, I did really enjoy several things about the film. I generally love horror (as I discovered once horror movies stopped giving me nightmares), and all kinds of sequences are very well done. I love that it includes the graveyard violin scene, music from Faust, and the Red Death, and it’s well shot. I wish they’d gone with sticking closer to the story rather than giving him and Faust-like backstory, and making him an irredeemable serial killer... but it’s a slasher. And given that, I think Englund gave an excellent performance - many moments where you can see the love light up in his eyes, and also, sex appeal. Well, that’s a matter of taste, and he loses it at the end, but in some bits, Destler is hot. I liked the score, too, particularly the “Your eyes see but my shadow” song.

Also it’s the first time I remember noticing and loving Bill Nighy in a movie. And I liked Jill Schoelen, who was also excellent in The Stepfather.

Again, I haven’t actually watched it in years now, but given how mediocre most movie adaptations of Phantom are, the fact I’d happily watch it again says plenty!  

[ofbeautsandbeasts]

The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

I recently watched the movie after having not seen it in over a decade. I have many thoughts on it now that I’ve watched numerous PotO adaptations over the years.

First, let’s talk about what it has going for it (There will be minor spoilers below). One thing that’s novel is the material Erik chooses to use for his masks. That certainly ups the horror aspect a lot. O.O;; Plus, Erik’s witty one-liners and subsequent murders are surprisingly satisfying...in that he swiftly and expertly takes out his victims who were -- more often than not -- self-serving jerks. Furthermore, I really like that there are quite a few canon things about Erik, such as:

His masterpiece is called Don Juan Triumphant.

He uses a “lasso” (actually a bullwhip but close enough) and is skilled at hand-to-hand combat.

He dresses as the Red Death and twists the wrist of a fool who wants to take off his mask.

He engages in ventriloquism.

He gives a ring to Christine that binds her to him.

He mesmerizes Christine at the graveyard with his violin playing.

He’s genuinely into Christine’s singing. 

So that’s neat. I don’t really mind the whole Present to Past to Present thing. It’s kind of fun to see Robert Englund play a stereotypical New York opera composer. Plus, I like that there was that whole segment of Faust. And you can’t go wrong with having Bill Nighy in your cast.

As for the cons of the film, they had to do it on an 80s slasher budget, so the sets and special effects definitely could’ve been improved with more money. Also, the actress who played Christine could’ve been better. As sweet as she seems, I feel like she was miscast.

Now I’m going to write how I would’ve changed the movie to make it better in my opinion. I’ll put it under the cut since there will be BIG SPOILERS below.

1. When Erik has the flashback to when he made the deal with the devil, it shouldn’t be all dreamy and mellow. It should be more intense. Like...maybe he should be playing his music at a bar or inn and everyone boos him offstage and he runs off into the night crying and eventually bumps into the devil in some dark alley (who is NOT played by a dwarf because wtf?) and then he makes the deal with him. Yes, it’s totally cliche but maybe...it’s preferable in this instance?

2. There should be some kind of chandelier crash. Perhaps when Richard and Inspector Hawkins are fighting Erik in his lair, Richard gets stabbed and staggers away while Erik cuts a rope that makes a chandelier fall on him. (I mean if he’s gonna die in a gruesome way anyway, might as well make it more iconic?) Or if that’s too cruel, how about...when Christine shatters the mirror, instead of pushing a candelabra that breaks it, she undoes one of the two ropes holding up a chandelier and the chandelier comes swinging full force into the mirror?

3. When Carlotta dies, it would’ve been more epic if the soup had actually been Frog Leg Soup and then Carlotta’s severed head is on the last silver platter with a domed lid and when it’s revealed, everyone is stunned into silence at first -- then Carlotta’s jaw drops open and a frog croaks loudly before hopping out and then everyone erupts into mass hysteria.

4. The climax should’ve been much bigger. This is how it should’ve gone: Christine bursts out of the building and sees the nearby trashcan fire and runs to it. She dramatically rips the music sheets into pieces as Erik shrieks with every tear. Then she takes the floppy disk and pries it apart before tossing it in the fire. The camera cuts to Erik bursting into flames (or disintegrating in some other ghastly way) while groaning horribly to his demise. 

^ Look at that perfectly good fire that they chose not to utilize.

5. And if you must have a cheesy “surprise” ending, then what about this: Christine is walking by some shops the next day, her mood is distracted. Her scarf accidentally falls on the sidewalk as she’s passing by. Richard (the Raoul character) picks it up and says, “Pardon me, miss, you dropped your scarf.” She turns around and when her eyes meet his, her heart skips a beat and she blushes, realizing she’s meeting 20th Century Richard for the first time.

Yep, maybe it’s too saccharine an ending for a horror movie, but that’s why it’s great...because it totally catches you off-guard and also brings everything full circle.

Well, feel free to chime in with your two cents ^_^

[movies-derekwinnert]

The Phantom of the Opera ** (1989, Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Alex Hyde-White, Bill Nighy) - Classic Movie Review 5103

The Phantom of the Opera ** (1989, Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Alex Hyde-White, Bill Nighy) – Classic Movie Review 5103

This 1989 big-screen remake of the famous Gaston Leroux novel had a convoluted production history. It was to be directed by John Hough and released by Cannon Films but Menahem Golan’s new 21st Century Film Corporation picked it up, after Cannon filed for bankruptcy and Golan fell out with partner Yoram Globus. Hough was replaced by Dwight H Little and it is now credited as written by Duke…

[todayinhorrorhistory]

Happy birthday, Bill Nighy Happy birthday, Bill Nighy Born December 12, 1949 Nighy has starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Phantom of the Opera (1989), three of the five Underworld movies (pictured), and I, Frankenstein to name just a few