The Phantom of the Opera (Universal, 1925). Very Fine+ on Paper. Half Sheet (22" X 28").. ...

Description

The Phantom of the Opera (Universal, 1925). Very Fine+ on Paper. Half Sheet (22" X 28").
This legendary horror drama was one of Universal's earliest super-productions, preceded only by The Hunchback of Notre Dame two years earlier, and was a stark departure for the studio, which had primarily dabbled in B-movie territory since its humble beginnings in the first decade of the 20th century. Universal mogul Carl Laemmle, a notoriously shrewd man, embraced the opportunity to adapt Gaston Leroux's operatic tragedy in grand fashion, joining the ranks of DeMille and Fritz Lang in orchestrating one of the great epics of the silent screen. Lon Chaney was already known as The Man of a Thousand Faces, but in this film he transforms himself into what would become his most famous role as the title character of Gaston Leroux's classic novel. Chaney was famous for devising his own makeup, and in this film he raised his cheekbones by stuffing wadding inside his cheeks, used a skullcap to heighten his forehead and emphasize the Phantom's skull, glued his ears back, added rotten false teeth, coated his eyes and lips with greasepaint, and applied putty and inserted wires to shape his nose. It's even said that he applied egg membrane on his eyes to give them a cloudy look. The grotesque makeup certainly had its effect on unsuspecting theater goers, as no pictures of the final look were included in the promotional material. When the film premiered, audiences were shocked and terror-stricken when Christine ripped the mask from the Phantom's face. It was even reported that some audience members fainted upon seeing the monstrous makeup. The Phantom of the Opera was an incredible success, leading Universal Pictures president Carl Laemmle to greenlight other famous horror films, and their success solidified the studio's distinct contributions to the horror film that would continue into the early years of the sound era and beyond. Since the Phantom's face wasn't used in promoting the film, this poster instead highlights to two lovers, Christine Daae and Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, plus three inserted scenes from the movie. This exceedingly rare half sheet is in phenomenal condition, showing only a few slight creases and a chip in the top left corner, with airbrushing applied to the borders. Advertising one of the most famous silent films in history, this poster is sure to be a centerpiece of any collection.


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