The Phantom of the Opera Companion

by Martin Knowlden

One of the most successful musicals of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” has been running for 20 years on Broadway and on London’s West End. It has dazzled more than 100 million people in 22 countries, and went on to become a major feature film. This pictorial companion is the definitive account of the award-winning masterpiece. It traces the Phantom legend from its origins in historical fact through numerous artistic incarnations to the present-day theater production and film. Arranged in three parts, the first introduces the reader to Gaston Leroux’s classic story, while the second part offers a unique insight into the acclaimed theater production, with backstage photos and commentary from the director, designers, and crew. The final section, which contains the original screenplay, looks at the making of Joel Schumacher’s film, introducing the cast and featuring exclusive photos and interviews. A splendid celebration of a classic story and its many incarnations. This ravishing volume features the complete original screenplay and more than 150 color images from both the film and theater productions worldwide. Now in an elegant and affordable smaller-format edition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Musicals, Film, Plays, Historical Romance, Theatre

150 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2007

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Our lives are one masked ball."
From Phantom of the Opera book.



This story holds such a special place in my heart.

It was my mom's favorite show. It was high on my list too.

Again and again, we'd make that trip into NYC, to the theatre district, that magical place of lights, where the neon signs blared their titles, and we'd happily file into the mezzanine to see the Music of the Night.

We could FEEL it sitting beside us. We could TASTE the magic.

Wonderful. The music, still today, after all these years, sends chills down my spine.

Is there anything more grand than a wonderful Broadway show in the city that never sleeps?

[Electricblue]

The 2004 version movie is my favorite with Gerard Butler and Emmy rossum. Gerard has a deep and raspy voice, which is seductive. Emmy rossum's voice is the voice of an angel, for which she plays christine. Emmy plays christine which is the phantom muse. Over all this was my favorite movie. I can't wait to read this book.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutly love this movie!! it's just sad that the phantom never gets a girl. :(

[cobwebbing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This deserves four stars if only because I guffawed really hard at how many times the word "sexy" or variations thereof showed up in the script.

But, the overbearing attention to the Phantom's sexiness aside, this has some really lovely photographs and info that echoes The Complete Phantom of the Opera. All in all good for what it is and a decent resource but I'd definitely point you to that other book if you're more interested in the stage musical as opposed to the movie.

[Claire Hennessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the 2004 film. The majority of the book is the films screenplay so there is little room for background information. The book still finds room, however, to include sections about the original book and early adaptations.
This is a good book for those who are interested in the film but there is not a lot of background to the play and previous adaptations if that is what you are after.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first: it was the musical which added acceptable target Piangi and turned Erik as "sensual" figure to fans who turn their noses to this film but say that fat man shouldn´t be Phantom because he must be attractive. Headdesk. (This is sadly growing trend: pretty, bland canon-rape LND goes to Hell in the handbasket by making Phantom as hunky single dad in the middle of character rapes and boring domestic drama.) This is making-of-book - completed with script - and both gorgeously illustrated and enjoyable to movie fans, like me. All those sets, costumes, photography and magnificent roses make sumptuous entertainment and the story is enjoyable and even touching. (I can´t, unfortunately, speak for Gerry´s and Emmy´s voices, because I have no musical training - their singing carries gorgeous music to me perfectly, nothing more, nothing less, and ironically, while I´m sure he is much better singer than Butler, Michael Crawford´s voice has always been too high for me.) Yes, Gerik - like Merik (musical-Erik) - is murderer, kidnapper, extortionist, vain and shallow - no likable man. He is also abused, suffering and tragic, like a mad animal in a trap. Having moral compass, I sympathisize with him and his victims.

[K.taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the Phantom of the Opera with Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler a couple of times now. I'm also going to go see the musical live at the Venetian in Las Vegas for my birthday in June so I wanted to brush up on the story. This book isn't so much the story, as told by Gaston Leroux, but more about the movie version (that's why it's the companion), but for fans of the movie, this is a must. Can I say I fell in love with the Phantom? Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera doesn't go into Erik's background so much, nor does this book, which I was hoping. As far as the love story, the version I LOVE is written by YA author Kailin Gow in the Phantom Diaries. I just finished that version, and can't wait for book 2.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, Parker found this at the library for me... :) It was really cool.

I actually like to learn how movies and musicals were made, and this book showed somed really cool behind the scenes stuff.

It also had the complete original screenplay to the movie, which was awesoome. :)

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book

[Kayla Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It really takes you behind the scenes of the producing of the movie and includes outstanding illustrations and pictures.

[Izzie Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin really. Its for fans of the musical and movie (obviously). Fun to follow it with the film, but maybe thats just me.

[Kitten Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will never accept the movie version of this no matter who was involved in making it. Once you've seen it live you never will either. Although it is really neat seeing the screenplay.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a big fan of movie guides. If Phantom's your thing, this is a definite must-read.