November 25, 2004. Copyright 2004, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Phantom of the Opera haunts movie theatres too
By Lis Ribbans

LONDON, November 25, Graphic News:  Based on Oscar-winning British composer Andrew Lloyd WebberÕs successful stage musical, The Phantom of the Opera is a dark and thrilling tale of unrequited love. It tells the story of a disfigured and malevolent musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the Paris Opera. After falling in love with the lovely young soprano, Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom adopts her as his protˇgˇ, determined by fair means or foul to turn her into a new star for the Opera.

Lloyd Webber, who wrote the screenplay for this $80m movie together with director Joel Schumacher, composed the original stage version for the London theatre in 1986, with Michael Crawford and Lloyd WebberÕs then wife, Sarah Brightman, in the leading roles. Since then the show, itself based on the 1910 French novel Le Fantome de LÕOpˇra by Gaston Leroux, has been performed worldwide to an estimated 52 million people.

Gerard Butler claims that before being cast in Phantom he hadnÕt sung since he was a boy. (He quickly hired a voice coach). The handsome 34-year-old Scot, a lawyer by training, got his movie breakthrough in the title role of Wes CravenÕs Dracula 2000, and is tipped as a future James Bond.

New York-born singer-turned-actress Emmy Rossum was still only 16 years old when Andrew Lloyd Webber found her Ņafter a long searchÓ for his Christine. Now 18, she made her debut at ManhattanÕs famous Metropolitan Opera at age seven, since when she has appeared in over 20 productions, including performances alongside Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Blessed not only with a remarkable voice, Rossum has the kind of camera-courting looks -- soft, broad smile, captivating eyes and waves of chestnut hair -- that have now put her on the fast track to screen success. 

Other cast members include: Patrick Wilson (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny); Simon Callow (Monsieur Andre); Miranda Richardson (Madame Giry) and Minnie Driver (Carlotta Guidicelli).
 
The 2004 movie -- shot at LondonÕs Pinewood Studios -- is by no means the first time the story has been told on film. As far back as 1925, Universal Pictures released Phantom of the Opera as a silent movie -- to such acclaim that it was re-released four years later with sound.
/ENDS


Release dates

December 10: UK
December 15: Spain
December 16: Germany, Switzerland (German speaking region)
December 17: Austria, Italy, Switzerland (Italian speaking region)
December 22: Belgium, United States (limited)
December 25: Sweden
December 26: Australia, Norway
January 6: Netherlands
January 7: Brazil
January 12: France, Switzerland (French speaking region)
January 14: Denmark
January 21: United States
January 29: Japan
February 4: Iceland
February 10: Argentina
February 11: Finland
February 17: Czech Republic