The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923): ***

Based on Victor Hugo’s novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is set in a troubled Paris under the harsh reign of Louis IX, with all the drama converging near the Notre Dame de Paris. Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) is the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame, under the Arch Deacon Claude Frollo (Nigel De Brulier) and serving his brother Jehan (Brandon Hurst). Quasimodo is misanthropic due to being shunned and reviled by the local Parisians, but Quasimodo begins to change after being treated kindly by the young Gypsy girl Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller), daughter of Clopin (Ernst Torrence) the leader of the Parisian criminals. Esmeralda has also caught the eye of Captain Phoebus (Norman Kerry), who is charmed by her dancing. However, Jehan lusts after Esmeralda also and plans various ways to get Esmeralda for himself.   

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The Phantom of the Opera (1925/30): *****

Who doesn’t know the basic premise of The Phantom of the Opera by this point? Thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name, Phantom is part of modern popular culture, especially in musical theatre where aspiring young sopranos try to hit the end notes of the titular song, often with little success and damaging nearby eardrums. But just in case. This first film adaptation (of many) of Gaston Leroux’s pulpy novel takes place at The Paris Opera House, which is opening their new season. When the Opera House’s leading prima donna Carlotta (Mary Fabian) suddenly falls ill, corps de ballet member Christine (Mary Philbin) quickly takes over her role with great success. Her childhood sweetheart Raoul (Norman Kerry) wants to marry her, but Christine’s mysterious musical tutor stands between their love. He is revealed to be the Phantom (Lon Chaney), who haunts the Opera House by scaring the ballerinas and murdering curious stage-hands, much to the annoyance of the Opera House’s management. Will Christine succumb to the will of the Phantom or will she escape from him and be united with Raoul? 

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