1:12:01
but underwent surgery in April 1927.
1:12:04
A urinary infection set in
and he died on April 15 at age 59.
1:12:09
When Return of the Phantom
was announced in 1925,
1:12:12
Universal boasted that Leroux
had been so happy with their film
1:12:15
that he'd developed a sequel
before his death.
1:12:18
In truth, Universal paid off the second
Madame Leroux the sum of $3,000.
1:12:23
When art director Alexander Golitzen
began planning his chandelier,
1:12:27
he looked but could find
no trace of the 1925 original.
1:12:32
He built his new chandelier
out of practical materials,
1:12:35
since plastic was not available,
probably due to the war.
1:12:39
The chandelier was a large miniature,
scaled three inches to one foot,
1:12:44
so that it was actually used as a hanging
miniature placed in front of camera,
1:12:48
with the angle and camera movement
making it appear larger on screen.
1:12:55
Phantom of the Opera
is frequently criticised
1:12:57
for its lack of over-the-top thrills.
1:13:01
"I wanted the horror" said Arthur Lubin
1:13:03
"but I think the studio
really wanted a musical."
1:13:06
"They made the decision that if you want
Claude Rains, you must do as he wants."
1:13:11
"Before Claude would sign,
he wanted to talk to me."
1:13:14
"He refused to have his face scarred
like Lon Chaney."
1:13:17
"His argument was
that if his public saw him like that,
1:13:20
he would never be able
to play leading roles again."
1:13:24
Lubin went on to say "That was
our big problem in the beginning."
1:13:27
"We wanted him to always be seen
with the scarred face,
1:13:31
but Claude wouldn't allow it."
1:13:32
"There was a great deal of argument
about it and testing of his damn mask."
1:13:37
The eventual compromise that
Jack Pierce would work out with Rains
1:13:41
allowed one side of Rains' face
to display acid burns.
1:13:45
The phantom
would remain masked throughout,
1:13:48
his disfigurement glimpsed
only for a moment at the picture's end.
1:13:57
The chandelier was duplicated
in a Styrofoam-like material