Brief Summary
This episode of "Showcase" on The Ampliverse revisits and analyzes the 2004 film adaptation of "The Phantom of the Opera." The hosts discuss the movie's plot, its historical context within musical theater, the performances, and its critical reception. They also explore the history of the Phantom story, including the original novel and various stage productions, and touch on Andrew Lloyd Webber's creative decisions and potential plagiarism.
- The hosts provide a detailed summary of the movie.
- They discuss the history and context of the Phantom story.
- They analyze the performances and the movie's critical reception.
Intro
The hosts introduce the episode, announcing their return to "The Phantom of the Opera" due to popular demand. They mention their original recording cast from March 31st, 2018, and joke about past discussions, including references to the movie "Contagion" and Gwyneth Paltrow's role in it.
Plot Summary
In 1870 Paris, a new opera house management faces a series of mysterious events linked to the "Opera Ghost." When the lead soprano, Carlotta, refuses to perform, Christine Daaé, a young dancer, takes her place and becomes a sensation. Christine is reunited with her childhood crush, Raoul, but their romance is threatened by the Phantom, who claims to be Christine's vocal teacher. The Phantom lures Christine to his lair, professes his love, and demands she be the star of the opera. When the managers refuse, the Phantom causes chaos, leading to a plan to capture him during a performance. The plan fails, and the Phantom captures Christine, forcing her to choose between a life with him or Raoul's death. Christine kisses the Phantom out of pity, which moves him to free them both. The Phantom disappears, leaving Christine to live her life with Raoul, but leaves a rose at her grave years later.
Molly's and RJ's Relationship to the Musical
Molly shares her history with "The Phantom of the Opera," noting she watched the movie in high school and visited the opera house in Paris. RJ discusses seeing the 25th Anniversary Concert and the movie for a previous "Showcase" episode. Both acknowledge the musical's significant presence in pop culture and its status as a quintessential Broadway experience.
Revisiting the Original Episode
RJ revisits their first episode on "Phantom," noting discussions about the movie's video quality, character ages, and drag race references. They joke about the "Time's Up" movement and their past commentary, highlighting the evolution of the show's dynamic with the addition of Molly.
History of Phantom
Adam discusses the origins of "The Phantom of the Opera," starting with Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, initially serialized in a Parisian newspaper. The novel is presented as a journalist's investigation into Christine Daaé's disappearance, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle. The hosts then discuss the real-life event that inspired the novel: a chandelier crash at the Paris opera house.
Differences Between the Book and Adaptations
Adam details the differences between the novel and its adaptations, including the length of Christine's captivity, the removal of the character the Persian, and the Phantom's motivations. The Persian is described as a key character in the novel, acting as an apologist for the Phantom and providing his backstory, but is often omitted or whitewashed in adaptations.
Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera
Adam introduces Ken Hill's 1976 version of "The Phantom of the Opera," which used original music and excerpts from the Faust opera. In 1984, Hill retooled the musical to use popular opera music with new English lyrics. Sarah Brightman was asked to play Christine but turned it down. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron McIntosh approached Ken Hill to turn his musical into a big West End production, but Lloyd Webber ultimately created his own version.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera
Adam discusses Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of "The Phantom of the Opera," which debuted in 1986. Webber contacted Cameron McIntosh to develop a new musical and suggested "Phantom." Webber found a secondhand copy of the out-of-print book and was swept up in the romance of the story. Webber's version emphasized the sexy angle of the Phantom.
Starlight Express
The hosts briefly discuss Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express," describing its plot involving trains on roller skates and its surprising ending where the characters rebel against a child's control. They mention its long-running production in Germany, where the local government subsidizes the musical due to its cultural importance.
Stage Production vs. Film
The hosts discuss the differences between the stage production and the film, noting that the chandelier falls at the end of Act One in the film, and the dream sequence and room of mirrors are unique to the movie. They also mention the Tony Awards won by the stage production, including Best Musical and Best Actor for Michael Crawford.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Plagiarism
Adam presents examples of Andrew Lloyd Webber's alleged plagiarism, including reusing his own song and similarities between "The Phantom of the Opera" and Pink Floyd's "Echoes." They also discuss a lawsuit by the Puccini estate, which was settled out of court, regarding similarities between Webber's music and Puccini's opera "La Fanciulla del West."
Joel Schumacher's Film
The hosts discuss Joel Schumacher, the director of the 2004 film, noting his previous work and his reputation. They detail the film's production, casting choices, and box office performance. Warner Brothers purchased the rights to the film in 1989, and Schumacher was attached to direct because Andrew Lloyd Webber liked his use of music in "The Lost Boys."
Love Never Dies
Adam summarizes the plot of "Love Never Dies," the sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera," which debuted in the West End in 2010 and was poorly received. The sequel is set 10 years after the original story, with Christine, Raoul, and their son Gustav invited to Phantasma on Coney Island, run by the Phantom. The plot involves gambling debts, a bet involving Christine's performance, and Meg kidnapping Gustav, who is revealed to be the Phantom's child, leading to Christine's death.
General Thoughts on the Movie
Molly praises the movie's visuals and defends Gerard Butler's performance, while RJ appreciates Joel Schumacher's melodramatic vision. They discuss the criticisms of Butler's singing and the movie's seriousness, but ultimately find it enjoyable.
The Love Triangle
The hosts discuss the love triangle between Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul, and the Phantom's relationship to Andrew Lloyd Webber. They analyze the moral implications of Christine's choice and the Phantom's actions, and the trope of choosing between a safe, boring partner and a dangerous, passionate one.
Accents and Performances
The hosts discuss the accents in the movie, noting the mix of British and American accents and Minnie Driver's Italian accent. They praise Patrick Wilson's performance as Raoul and discuss the visual language of the film.
Criticisms and Reviews
The hosts read and react to various criticisms and reviews of the movie, including those from Stella Papamichael of the BBC and Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly. They also discuss Roger Ebert's positive review, noting his appreciation for the film's spectacle despite disliking the stage musical.
MVP and Closures
The hosts name their MVPs for the episode: Minnie Driver, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson. They then share their closures, each picking a Golden Age musical for Andrew Lloyd Webber to redo. Molly chooses "Carousel," RJ picks "Oklahoma," and Adam selects "Bye Bye Birdie."
Outro
The hosts thank the listeners and promote their Discord channel, encouraging viewers to discuss the episode and the Lindsay Ellis videos. They provide social media handles and email addresses for feedback and announce the next episode's topic: "Newsies."
