Flashback: Phantom Of The Opera (1925)

MoviesUniversal MonstersFlashback
Written By Chris Well

One of the first Universal Monster films, 1925’s The Phantom of the Opera is a silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra. The film was directed by Rupert Julian and starred “Man of a Thousand Faces” Lon Chaney in the title role. Appearing in a small role was Carla Laemmle (1909-2014), niece of producer Carl Laemmle, who played a small role as a “prima ballerina” in the film.

Phantom Of The Opera - Unmasking Scene (1925)

Buy the movie or watch it FREE on Amazon (Affiliate link)

Further reading:

Featured
Wait—The Rock got the DC movies canceled?
Wait—The Rock got the DC movies canceled?

If this is true, actor Dwayne Johnson tried working behind the scenes with his Black Adam movie. And his schemes to run the show made the whole DC movie series come crashing down…

Why a park ranger wrote the sci-fi western ‘Cash and Gravity’
Why a park ranger wrote the sci-fi western ‘Cash and Gravity’

A mind-bending sci-fi western bearing shades of The Murderbot Diaries: “Bad things are happening, BUT I don’t want to write about a hopeless world.”

Conan vs Masters of the Universe
Conan vs Masters of the Universe

Was He-Man actually made from canceled Conan the Barbarian toys?  Investigating just how much the original sword-wielder Conn the Barbarian really influenced He-Man.

Molly Tanzer on her SF / art heist mashup: “The speculative possibilities were fun to play with.”
Molly Tanzer on her SF / art heist mashup: “The speculative possibilities were fun to play with.”

The author talks about an intergalactic art heist by a group of underqualified misfits. What can go wrong? “At its heart, the novella is a meditation on ‘the culture of the copy.’”

Why saving comic book stores is important
Why saving comic book stores is important

The doc Shopping for Superman shares the history—and influence—of comic book stores. “See just how necessary support will be in keeping these shops open and available for future generations.”

Jonathan Maberry Sword & Sorcery: Complete Kagen the Damned
Jonathan Maberry Sword & Sorcery: Complete Kagen the Damned

The award-winning author known for writing zombies, outer space epics, thrillers, and more, now turns his attention to a different kind of hero. “He’s a civilized man pushed out of every aspect of his comfort zone.”

Godzilla: Happy Birthday to the Director Who Launched Kaiju Movies
Godzilla: Happy Birthday to the Director Who Launched Kaiju Movies

Japanese film director Ishirō Honda is one of the key figures who brought the world Godzilla—and the launch of kaijus as a whole movie category.

Glen Cook: Garrett, P.I.—dealing with gods, wizards, and vampires
Glen Cook: Garrett, P.I.—dealing with gods, wizards, and vampires

A private detective that has to face crooks, corruption, and—well, gods, vampires, wizards, elves, centaurs, and the like. These fantasies are totally for fans of detective fiction.

100 Supernatural Detective Series (Revising Again)
100 Supernatural Detective Series (Revising Again)

Want books that mix urban fantasy and crime fiction? Including books from Charlaine Harris, Kevin J. Anderson, plus Hellboy, Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, X-Files, Supernatural—and more.

Bewitched vs. I Dream of Jeannie: What’s the difference?
Bewitched vs. I Dream of Jeannie: What’s the difference?

What sets these two 1960s fantasy sitcoms apart? Bonus points when we talk about crossover details with pop rock legends Boyce and Hart! And The Monkees!

Interview: How ‘Woodstakes’ is Vampires vs Classic Rock
Interview: How ‘Woodstakes’ is Vampires vs Classic Rock

A spin on the Dracula legend vs the iconic rock festival. Darin S. Cape shares why he focused on the classic rock festival, his favorite vampire stories, and a surprising list of literary inspirations.

Superman: 13 Alternate Versions
Superman: 13 Alternate Versions

Few have reached the same heights as the Man of Steel. For Superman Day 2026, we look at various media where you can find stories about the Last Son of Krypton.

Ellery Adams talks Invasive Species: Horror in the Neighborhood
Ellery Adams talks Invasive Species: Horror in the Neighborhood

There’s a monster in the neighborhood. And she lives next door. “Circe meets Stranger Things. Throw in a helping of Desperate Housewives and that’s my book.”

Exploring the World of Robert E. Howard
Exploring the World of Robert E. Howard

Webmaster Ståle Gismervik on his website The World of Robert E. Howard—The Father of Sword & Sorcery. (Including how REH wrote so much more than just that one genre.)

Godzilla vs Lit (again): Dracula, Romeo & Juliet, Greek myths, more
Godzilla vs Lit (again): Dracula, Romeo & Juliet, Greek myths, more

The comic book series expands the drama where kaiju stomp on more figures from literature. “Get ready to explore exciting new and old territory Godzilla’s never gone before.”

Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/
Previous

Godzilla vs Kong: New Powers, Dual Plots?
Next

Flashback: ‘Hellboy’ (2004)