The Phantom of the Opera: Movie

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by KLPDaisy
When my mom and I saw it, we both thought that the older woman was Madame Giry, although I do think it's kind of weird how Mme. Giry is older than Raoul, yet 49 years later, he looks A LOT older than her.

Maybe Raoul's been ill...or depressed since Christine died....maybe they had a son and he died in the war?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by ASUADPi
Okay I have the liberetto and Raoul is supposed to be 70 at the time of the auction. Now the years in the play are different than the movie. The auction takes place in 1905 (in the movie it is 1919). The movie takes place in 1870 (the play in 1881). Either way Christine is supposed to be 16 at the time (1870 or 1881).

The liberetto doesn't say anything about Mme. Giry being there. So, I put on the soundtrack and even in the soundtrack the auctioneer states "thank you madame".

Okay, just using logic here. The phantom can't be more than 35. Mme. Giry is, at most, five years older. So she would be around 40. Meg is probably the same age as Christine, so 16. The phantom is obviously still alive at the end of the movie, so it is only feasible that Mme. Giry would still be alive.

In the movie it is definately Miranda Richardson at the auction. Everytime I've seen it on stage it has been Mme. Giry, so I have to assume Miranda was playing Mme. Giry and not an older Meg.

Hope I made some sort of sense in my craziness.

If Raoul is supposed to be 70 years old in both the stage production and the movie, then Raoul is much younger in the movie version (21) than on stage (46?!!!!!)...the play makes it sound like Christine is Raoul's trophy wife whereas in the movie she is his first

[ASUADPi]

Okay looking at the liberetto again and listening to the movie soundtrack here's what I came up with.

Okay in Think of Me, Rauol's lines were changed. In the play he sings:

what a change you're really not a bit the gawkish girl that you once were...

In the movie he sings:

long ago it seemed so long ago how young and innocent we were

So just because of that it seems "feasible" that he is 46. But geez why is a 46 year old going after a 16 year old. I understand that during the 1800's it wasn't uncommon for an older man to marry a way younger woman, but talk about cradle robbin'.

I don't think they would have been able to "get away" with that in the movie and that's why his age and the lyrics were changed.

(okay I seriously have no life and no wwwaaaaayyyyy too much about this play)


Oh wait, looking further at the liberetto and at the dialogue. Raoul states that he met her (Christine) when he was 14. So now I'm utterly and completely confused. There is no way he could meet her at 14 and him be 46 when she is supposed to be 16. Does anyone know how old she is actually supposed to be? I'm reading The Phantom of the Opera right now and I think Gaston Leroux made her 16 (now this is according to my friend who has read the book, I'm only on chapter two).

I'm just now utterly confused. LOL.

[Taualumna]

I checked my POTO CD (original London recording) and it takes place in 1905 (auction) and 1861, making Raoul 26, not 46.

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by Taualumna
I checked my POTO CD (original London recording) and it takes place in 1905 (auction) and 1861, making Raoul 26, not 46.

See that makes sense. The liberetto I was looking at is in this POTO book that I bought years ago (it talks about the book, first movie and then ALW musical). Weird.


Makes more sense if he were 26 not 46. I think the editor of my POTO book missed that little mistake. (Albeit a 20 year mistake).

Boy do I feel stupid. I completely forgot that the liberetto was with my London cast recording. Blonde moment.

[DeltAlum]

In the final analysis (which this certainly won't be), Sir Lloyd-Webber has never been one to worry too much about plot and/or historical accuracy.

In fact, it seems to me that he is really about remarkable music, and everything else takes second seat.

That's OK, isn't it?

This ain't history -- it's theatre.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
In the final analysis (which this certainly won't be), Sir Lloyd-Webber has never been one to worry too much about plot and/or historical accuracy.

In fact, it seems to me that he is really about remarkable music, and everything else takes second seat.

That's OK, isn't it?

This ain't history -- it's theatre.

DA, I respect ya, but gotta disagree with ya. I think his music is the most unremarkable part of any ALW show.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by lifesaver
DA, I respect ya, but gotta disagree with ya. I think his music is the most unremarkable part of any ALW show.

No prob. Absolutely fair. I disagree, but will admit that it is tainted by a fair amount of commercialism -- if that taints things.

He has had some good and some not so good. By and large, I like his music -- and I do like Phantom a lot.

Then again, I may be the only GCer who ever saw Whistle Down the Wind. I think it was on Broadway for about a week.

You haven't seen anything, though, until you've seen British actors doing Oklahoma accents in a theatre in London. Scary.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by DeltAlum

You haven't seen anything, though, until you've seen British actors doing Oklahoma accents in a theatre in London. Scary.

Sounds really !

I've seen pictures from Miss Saigon programs from non-North American productions, and I've found that the actors playing American characters didn't give off an "American vibe" to me......I don't know...they just didn't "look right".....I don't know how that works...anyway......

[orchid2]

Growing up, I had a bit of classical vocal and piano training... and became obsessed with Phantom... and for as long as I can remember I have wanted to see a real performance! I knew the soundtrack so well, and when I'd listen to it I would imagine what it must look like on stage.

My mom and I went to see it a few days ago... and it was, in a word, FABULOUS. I loved it, and cried so much throughout the whole thing. It was better than I dreamed it would be. Beautiful and lush costumes, music, and sets. Talented singers, and *wow* effects.

As a side note to someone who posted earlier, I wanted to say that even from the beginning of the movie I thought that the older woman in the auction with Raoul must've been Meg Giry... I figured that Mme was probably long dead by then since Meg and Christine were around the same age. (And I didn't know that Raoul was supposed to be 46, I figured he was only a few years older than Christine). I've never read the book or seen the musical in person though.

Since all the flashbacks in the movie come from Raoul, do yall feel like this is actually his memories and his story?

Any Webber/POTO fans will love it! Go see it now

[Taualumna]

Raoul isn't 46. He's 26 in the musical (stage) and 21 in the movie. I haven't read the novel, so I'm not sure how old he is in that. I'm guessing he's in his 20s in the book as well.

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Raoul isn't 46. He's 26 in the musical (stage) and 21 in the movie. I haven't read the novel, so I'm not sure how old he is in that. I'm guessing he's in his 20s in the book as well.

I'm actually reading the book right now and he is exactly 20 years old. Christine I believe, although they haven't said, is still about 16.

hijack: Highly recommend the book to all those out there.

For those of you that like the Phantom of the Opera, I would suggest reading the book Phantom by Susan Kay. It chronicles the life of the Phantom from the day he was born until he dies. This is the only book and it's absolutely wonderful. It fills in some gaps that the musical and movie don't explain. Also, the book's conclusion is exceptionally good and adds a twist to the musical/movie.

[ZTABullwinkle]

My boyfriend and I saw this movie last Saturday. I LOVED IT! I am not sure why there is so much technical talk about the movie. Why can't you just enjoy the fact that a Broadway musical made a succesful move to the movie screen???

The actor who played Raoul is from Norfolk, VA. I was a bit partial....BUT man can he sing.

So to get off my soapbox, just enjoy the movie! It was great, with great singers. That is all I have to say without getting all technical about it.



PS - I don't mean for this post to offend anyone in any way. Just my humble opinion!

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by ZTABullwinkle


The actor who played Raoul is from Norfolk, VA. I was a bit partial....BUT man can he sing.

He can sing can't he?!?

Oh and man is he GORGEOUS!!!!!

First HOT Raoul I've ever seen. The stage actors tend to have great voices but not have the great "looks" (at least the ones who came here).



I've now seen the movie three times. I absolutely adore. I don't think I will ever get sick of the play or the movie