April 19, 2023 • 47 mins
Hey everyone! We're back, and we're covering 2004's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, written and directed by the legendary Joel Schumacher. If you haven't been living under a rock, then you know that sadly, the curtain has fallen on Broadway's production of PHANTOM after an incredible 35+ year run. We talk about the show closing, what this musical means to us, Kate writing an essay on why Gerard Butler deserves better for this film, and how culturally impacted this musical has been to everyone around the world (and why we think it'll never truly die).
You can follow the podcast on Twitter at @HorrorTimePod and the hosts at @dykemadden and @ellemdesigns! If you like what we do, you can rate, review, and subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your favorites. Contact us at stophorrortime@gmail.com for any comments, questions, or movies you would like for us to cover!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
What's your favorite scary movie?
(00:27):
And if it's worthy of being in afilm and yes, The titles are
puns. I'm Elle, I'm Kate, welcome back
everyone, it's been, it's been acouple months.
I think I've been a while. Yeah, shit happens, life
happens, you know, but this thisis something I've been wanting
to do for a while and I picked it this month because it the add
(00:52):
up the its source material I'll say is closing on Broadway to as
we're recording. Hard enough.
As we're the day, we're recording its final performance,
it's Phantom of the Opera man. The musical, The longest-running
Broadway musical until somethingfucking surpasses it now.
(01:16):
Yeah, so I don't want to do thisa really long time.
This is, this is the 2004 movie.By the way, the 2004 musical
adaptation of it. Directed by Joel Schumacher my
guys. Yeah.
This this movie like, was like the blueprint for me, like it.
(01:37):
I, I saw it in theaters and it like changed my brain heavy and
it made me gay and all of this stuff.
All all the good things. It started by love for like
soprano women, I guess like, well, I'm pack all that.
But and so now L you had seen the musical and the stage
(01:58):
Musical and you've read the book, right?
Yes. But you hadn't seen this version
and I feel bad because you ratedit pretty loud letterbox.
I'm like, oh no, they didn't like it.
Um, it's not it's not like Because I had heard about it for
so long from my own parents who had seen it, because they'd seen
(02:18):
the musical more than I had. And they went and saw this when
it came out because it's like one of my dad's favorite
musicals. If he had any favorite musicals
and they just were like it's offand I just heard about that my
whole life. So I went in and was like, okay
(02:39):
I'm not going to have any kind of expectations.
Just cannot see where this goes and it's not really That bad, my
main issue is just the singing and it also does go on a bit
like it's not the worst thing I've ever heard but I'm just
like after hearing so many greatsingers in, you know, the main
three for so long. It's kind of just like, okay,
(03:04):
like yeah, could cut up worst voices but it's not a bad movie,
like not this like it's buttons.I would love to watch this with
Kate because I think this is to be very entertaining.
You would like to watch this if my roommate kept awake laughing
and who was that? Like, because I'm just, like,
doing my own commentary on it. And just like shouting out of
the screen, I would love to hosta Rowdy, screening of this
(03:27):
someday. Like they did with cats, which I
missed. Yeah, he's yeah.
Well, let's get into it. I mean, yeah, I is the basic
story of fan. Yeah, so yeah, should we say
that? Yeah, so it's a musical.
It's like in This Paris opera house and Christine the lead
(03:49):
character gets gets her big break on the stage when the the
house Diva quits because her jarlife keeps getting in Peril and
everyone's like, it's fine. That's one thing.
I kind of thought about in this watch specifically I'm like
Carla Carlotta supposed to be like an antagonist or whatever
(04:11):
but like she made some points like like this, it's not a safe
working environment, like be a diva for that, go off.
But anyways, and it's because she's so, Christine has been
trained by this mysterious musicteacher, is it her dead father?
And no, it's not. It's a creepy old man.
Um, and mean in the meantime, her childhood sweetheart played
(04:31):
by also am a man in his 30s. Yeah.
I would, I know you texted me like Emmy Rossum was how old
when they supposed to this. He didn't look it.
I don't know. I mean that that so that's
defense Squad is coming in here.I mean, that is why her singing.
(04:54):
Her voice doesn't even fully developed yet.
That's why she's not going to sound like a Broadway.
Soprano? Yeah, I know out of all of them,
she sounded the best. She sounded pretty good.
Like she was you drained, you didn't like Patrick Wilson's.
Well, his wife, his was fine because we're gonna have no
Gerard. Butler's was like out of the
three, his like, on the load. That's what we're talking about.
So, you know. Yeah, Patrick Wilson because
(05:15):
Raoul doesn't have much of life.Like a range in like how a
grandiose that the Phantom is? He's not like that.
So like his voice sounded reallylike it sounded just fine for
Raul you did a great job that's butter and and yeah Emmy Rossum
she did she was trained you knowas for Opera as a child and you
know she is still getting in her.
Oh what's the word free? She was.
(05:36):
She's still training and she's like, nervous, voice isn't fully
developed to wear it. It would be, but she did a
really great job for her technique is her technique and
her Uncie agent especially is like spot-on.
It just is literally not a fullydeveloped voice.
Yet, I'll send you a link of her.
I wish you would sing more. I wish you would do another
(05:56):
musical. I know like musical movie.
She did like one random like popalbum and she's done a few like,
Christmas recordings. Like I got her her version of
Carol of the Bells and Have Yourself, a Merry Little
Christmas or on by rotation every Christmas.
But yeah, we should do another one eye.
(06:16):
Well, I let my dream would be atthis is never going to happen
but I think and it would be terrible because Love Never
Dies. It's not a good show but I want
them to make a movie with this Kathy could just cuz I love
chaos. But we're really stretching it
because it's supposed to be 10 years later and this movies
almost got at this movies, almost 20 years old now, I can't
(06:38):
believe it. Um.
Oh but let's get. Okay.
This is just going to be a lot of rants I guess.
Let's get back to Gerard. Yeah.
Because I have to defend him because no one else will and
this has been my great life's work before.
Defending Russell, Crowe in Les.Miz I was defending Gerard
Butler in Phantom because here'sthe thing.
(06:59):
This is who Angela never wanted.This is who he envisioned.
This isn't. This isn't the kind of person
you could cast for a Broadway show because that's not
sustainable, right? Like you need, someone who can
do this eight, eight nights a week and an untrained actor,
can't do that, but he wanted a rock star and he got one like He
literally the like the agents. Like they were when they were
(07:23):
speaking to Angela wherever the like, can he sing or everything
moves in a rock band in law school, perfect.
Like that's all and he works so hard training for this role and
and I really did it suck. No other Phantom is like this
too because of that because of the like the raw quality that he
(07:44):
brings to it and like he makes choices.
I think like he really gets intothe darkness of the character I
think. Good like the anger moments that
he has and it's all very, I don't know.
And I genuinely think that his point of no return is the best
version. I think he's so good.
In that song it's like his best best work.
I think you're laughing. I think I'm just so glad that
(08:07):
you're is very you have you do make points for that.
I do my God that looks like I just say, I have some terrible
news for you. Cousin in 2021 interview that
Andrew Lloyd, Webber gave he thought that?
Yeah. Gerard was the most not the
greatest casting. Choice for for Phantom, and all
(08:28):
that's on him because I'm like on a mission.
So no, take-backsies, sorry. This is 0.
This is this, the bet. This is bad Cinderella era and
Weber talking. So, take it with a grain of
salt. He chose him, he cast him.
That's no, like, he's doesn't have a terrible voice.
(08:48):
Not at all. And I also do defend Russell,
Crowe's singing. And lame is like, so, But I
yeah, no. It's just, it's not just the
best voice that I've ever heard,but for what he like trained for
and what he did, I think he did an alright job.
He's good. Wow, I'm hungry.
I'm not saying he's awful terrible singer.
(09:10):
I'm just, I'm too used to hearing, like, like I heard Ben
Crawford, who's the playing the Phantom right now for the, for
the final performance and who he's been playing for, like, the
last year or two and listening to him?
And then, you know, obviously, rubbing her room.
Blue who made a lovely cameo in this movie and I was just laying
it was funny. So, just after hearing that for
(09:31):
so long, it's just kind of hard to like, say that, like, Gerard
stands up against them but for the movie, I think he does have
like a rock quality to him with the Phantom.
So I appreciate that a lot that he made up for like in not being
like the, most grandiose opera singer but he brought something
(09:55):
different. Went to the Phantom and I think
they all do. And they're all different
interpretations. Yeah.
And this like that, you really have to approach this as a movie
and not a stage show. Yeah, that's the thing.
That's a difference. Like it's a totally different
form like because you like and Ifeel like, people, forget that
something, what? I don't know.
I don't know. I think I might just be really
(10:19):
biased to is the other thing like I'm a snob about like, Ryan
Gosling singing in la-la land and shit like that, but maybe,
because that's supposed to be bea more conventional sounding
like like the the song style in that is more traditional
Broadway. And this is Rock, smoking rock.
This isn't an opera, even thoughit's called that.
What he's singing is rock music.But yeah, all of this is should
(10:43):
be taken with a grain of salt because I'm so fucking biased.
And like, I was like, literally in love with this man is like a
thirteen-year-old, not realizing, I was actually just
in love with Emmy Rossum, but like we had to unpack that well,
is there any way now that I got that defense out of the way
(11:04):
also, like the the other thing Ijust want to talk about for
this, especially as like, I'm sure, I'm sure everyone has
their opinions about the singing, even about his
performance, and all this stuff and, or even just, like choices
that were made in at adapting this foot.
Oh my God. Is this a fucking gorgeous?
Gorgeous movie to look, I am yeah.
(11:25):
Like, the production designer past jumped out with Joel
Schumacher because that's like where he got his start and
there's just such an attention to detail and it's just like, I
don't know, like movies used to have since.
Can you believe that like the leave?
Can you believe? Like, even just like the
entryway of the Opera House's? Fucking gorgeous.
(11:46):
The, the design of the layer. Like, how, like, how do you, how
would a blind, like a practical practical?
Like this? That, you would believe that
this man lives here and hides away here like just shit like
that. And also just like he just took
the time, like there's somethingthere's a there's like 12
(12:06):
seconds shot in like prima donnathat must have taken Like at
least a day to shoot of just like everyone outside of the
Opera House, all lined up for the, our nation Waits that
pulled it. It's like they would never do
that. Now that like know, who would
take the time to do that? I don't know.
Like you can just tell like I mean this is something that
they've been wanting to make since the 80s like Joel first,
(12:27):
top spoke to so ever like in thelate 80s about he had just made
Lost Boys And like wanted to make this and they were like oh
yeah this might not be the righttime because They wanted, they
didn't want it to get in the wayof like the musical, the stage
shows, traction, and popularity,hmm.
And so that's why they waited solong.
(12:48):
They're kind of like, well, it'stime now, I think.
And like, yeah, he directed a lot more movies and like, I'm
glad they waited all obviously, because this is such a big
production that I'm glad that Joe was more seasoned when he
did it, you know. Uh-huh.
And God, what? Like, he's always had an eye for
(13:10):
casting like been like, fightingfor unknowns, like, Lost, Boys,
going back to that. They were all unknown as they
were fucking kids that he pickedout and then here, like Patrick
Wilson was like a Broadway guy, Gerard it done some like bit
stuff, like British movies and stuff and then Amy was a literal
child. So this was kind of The Big
Break for all of them. I don't know, I'm talking too
(13:34):
much. What and what, what else?
I don't stood out for you or that.
You didn't like, what do you want to talk about here?
No, no, no. I thought it was the sets were
really gorgeous in the costumingwas done really well.
I wondered why I like they didn't have him like you know
when the Phantom comes down during masquerade he usually has
like that really gaudy red costume on with the skull.
(13:56):
I wonder if that was just like not working out because I was
like I miss that, I thought thatwas kind of cool, you know, but
it still worked out really well.Well, but no, yeah, it's a
really gorgeous set. I love that Joel Schumacher
wanted realism enough that he's like, let's just burn the
theater down. When we set the fire, burn it
down, burn it down. One shot, one kill.
(14:19):
Yeah, that was something that like, some of the theater
purists were like, why did they change the chandelier crash?
Because this is a movie. There's no, you don't like an
act 1 finale, and a stage. Musical is supposed to be big.
That's why the chandelier crash is there.
But at the end of a movie, you need a big climax.
It's okay. Yeah.
Yeah, that's what makes sense. If the changes he did make
sense. I also think the context of I
(14:41):
already mentioned, I love just Gerard's like singing employed
overturned, but the context is, is shifted and a bit different
in the movie. I don't know if you noticed
that, you know what I'm talking about.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because because, in the stage show,
Christine doesn't know. It's him.
It's just a wreck, his clothes hiding away.
(15:01):
Like, oh, I'm definitely Angie and it most of the song is her
like being in character and she doesn't realize it's him so she
like feels his mask at the end and gets all freaked out.
But in this, she knows him rightaway because he's not good at
disguising himself. And I just think it gives a
whole new different meeting to the song and I think it's great.
But anyways, I feel like the this is just a theory, I don't
(15:26):
know. You mentioned.
Why he didn't have the big cool like yeah.
Like the skull mask and mask? Yeah.
I think they're just wanted him to be sexy.
I think that's not that's not sexy.
How can I objectify this man? If he's in that, like they made
the man where butt pads, what you got to make up, sexy, that
(15:46):
that was my theory. Oh no.
Because I know Celebrate the bodies of men like good for him.
Stupid reason. Well, that's probably why, but
Patrick Wilson on a horse with like his shirt.
Bellowing. Oh my God.
Yeah, that is one of those, the flaws of the might one of my
personal gripes, with this movie.
(16:07):
Those they made real to cool. He's a laughter.
He's most the Chad Raul like have you think this boy like
she, I specially, you've read the book?
Write. When that man, would that wimp
be riding on bear? Are back horses and sword
fighting that is so pathetic. Like he's just late and she's
not even in like a fun like kindof pathetic way.
I'm just like this voice. Just like if she doesn't love
(16:28):
you I'm gonna kill myself. You know, like that kind of feel
like, but I actually fucking means it because he's just a
fucking twenty-year-old over here thinking the world's gone
to shit because his childhood sweethearts being weird with
him. So but no.
Yeah this this rowels much cooler like getting into a sword
fight with the Phantom like that's new.
I like that. So just throwing fireballs.
(16:49):
Adam. Yeah I like that.
They did a few Throwbacks to thebook with having him in that
layer with the like mirrors and then the water comes in because
that was a trap in the book. Hmm.
Just make Patrick Wilson. Also King and I was like cool
let's do it. Don't take don't take who and
(17:13):
also like when Phantom is takingChristine down to his lair for
the first time and she's on a black horse.
Looks like that was originally planned when they were making
the musical to like, lead her ona black horse for a bit before
they got on the boat. But they're like, this is not a
good idea for a musical because horses are kind of scary to deal
with. Yeah, that's another.
(17:34):
And that's also in the book. So I was also another throwback
to that. So, but I just love how, like,
so much of it was also like practical, like, the chandelier
was, at was a real as hell 17 feet, High, 13, and 2.2.
Why I hung with more than 20,000full cuts for barsky?
Crystal pendants? It took four months to construct
(17:56):
and five days to assemble and they use like a dollhouse for
like, the exterior of the Opera house, and then they would like
on the roof, they just edited the Phantom in, so he's not
actually there when Christian roll them on the roof.
So I'm just like, who would do that nowadays likes?
It feels like these. No one just really cares.
Like it's just like there was care in this movie and that's
(18:18):
what I think helps. Soooo, you know, with it and it
isn't really exactly a horror film because it's more based on
the musical, but it does have her ask elements to it.
So I'm like this. This fits galavant, it's fine.
But no, yeah it's oh yeah, I'm not sure.
I'm not trying to push this off as a horror movie.
I just wanted to do it. No, I think we should do it.
(18:40):
Absolutely should do it. It's rude is in horror.
Yeah. But there have also been there
are just so many different people that are considered for
the role. Like I think that even
Catherine, Zeta Jones turned down the role for Christine,
because she had just done Chicago.
So I'm like, that's crazy like just how different this whole
(19:01):
thing would be. That would have been just, I
love her but that would have been wrong.
Casting like in so many 00. Real so real.
But there have been like a million and five different
things done with the Phantom. Of course there's like the film
like one of the first ones was actually I think it was done in
(19:23):
Sweden. It's a lost film unfortunately,
because there was references it to other media in 1916 dusk is
fenced in opera house or dust Phantom their upper.
And then, of course, we all knowthe legendary one with Lon
Chaney in it. That's not not musical but
because it was silent film, but there's just like there were
(19:46):
musicals and, like film adaptations over in China.
There was one that was done as like an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit
cartoon, there was a French one German, you know, lots of
different cartoons. There's television adaptations
miniseries, adoptions. Oh, yeah, I think the last one
(20:08):
was an episode on The PBS TV series Wishbone.
It was called pantin at the Opera and I was like perfect
million stage Productions beforethe Famous Andrew Lloyd, Webber
one, and surprisingly, it also was done on radio, at least four
(20:32):
different times in the last time, was in 2007, on the BBC.
And so, they did James D'Arcy was part of it.
There were four parts. Dramatization to is the first to
feature, the original operatic, sequences described in the novel
recorded and orchestrated by composers.
(20:53):
There's also like like a shit ton of literature's that mention
or I just talks about it. One of the most famous being
Phantom by Susan K, which talks about Eric's life.
It's over 500 pages. Long talk about it's creating
some fanfic right there. Yeah, it's literally fanfic.
It's literally there's actually a book coming out this year,
(21:15):
called Angels mask, it's going to be book, one in the Phantom
Saga series, a Gothic Romance reinvention of Larose original.
I was like, I'll see you Fair, I'll be there.
There's also a, there's also children's literature.
There is called the Phantom cat of the Opera that was made,
published in 2001, The Phantom of the post office that was for
(21:40):
a series called 43 old Cemetery.Road Phantoms, don't drive
sports cars, which is an Adventures of the Bailey School
Kids, which is a series I read in elementary school and
absolutely loved, or they did like adaptions just of the
entire book family Opera. So that way it could be read by
kids and the last one was in 2017, Muppets meet the classics,
(22:06):
The Phantom of the Opera, so that was, that's great.
Great, great novel right there. There's also comic strips that
have been done in French and also, Phantom of the Opera is
graphic novel. That was published just actually
a few years ago. Nonfiction, that talks about
like the film companion, as You have, there it is, you can see
(22:29):
it, but it came out in 2005, Phantom of the Opera, the face
behind the mask that was published in 93, and then second
edition in 2006 complete, Phantom of the Opera, Phantom of
the Opera essay. About the original novel, there
was a million translations done,there's music that's referenced
in it like Iron Maiden Nightwishthere's one called Fantasia it's
(22:52):
an orchestral interpretation created by Andrew and Julian
Lloyd Webber. There's actually a techno
version of the film of the Operatheme song that was made in
1992, the band, lacrimosa cover the title of it and it was also
even used on American Idol by one of the one of the more like
people that I kind of recognize their names, there's games of
(23:13):
it. There's so many references just
tossed in in different places. It's in like High School
Musical. It's mentioned in there.
It's mentioned in this. Mention as a picture of Michael
Crawford, on her fridge. Excellent.
There's an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, where that
(23:34):
talks about the Phantom of the Opera is kind of based around
that. Like there's even a statue of
the Red Death. Can be a suit on seen a few
times in the background. There's a bust of Lon Chaney
near the stage. There's it's mentioned in like
Fanny Family Guy, Married with Children.
There was an episode of The Mask, the Animated Series
Cyberchase Home Improvement Quest for Camelot, A Series of
(23:55):
Unfortunate Events factual the movie.
Not the not the Netflix miniseries.
So it's it's so like into culture.
It's just like we've its way into so many different
references. There's even games you can play
family Opera which is really crazy like and it was it like
(24:20):
didn't I'm not sure how much it took off until.
Angelo Lloyd Webber's musical because it was still popular
before then, but I wonder how much of it just like exploded
after the musical came out because it seems like a lot of
stuff really started happening, post 86.
(24:41):
So yeah, that's how crazy and into like, pop culture.
The Phantom of the Opera is, I'mpretty sure I have this, right?
That it's going over to Italy and Ramin Karimloo is going to
be The Phantom and I'm just likelucky ass people over there
because it's never been played over.
Yeah, he was like he was like heteased about it on social media
(25:06):
and like everyone thought maybe he was gonna come back for the
final performances or something and then he's just like, I'm
gonna be in Italy and that was abig.
No, it's a great musical. I love seeing it because, like
the last time I'd seen it, I think I was like a preteen or
something, so it's good. Actually remembering it this
(25:27):
time and actually seeing it about it.
Do you think those are? Go ahead and actually I kind of
seeing it live on 2 p.m. on a Wednesday.
It was actually really different.
I actually thought it was supposed to be at night and I
forgot what time hiking fought the taken form when they're in
my sauce. Sweatshirts look represent.
Hmm. What is it?
(25:48):
What do you think it is about it?
That has stood the test of time that everyone liked.
This is the longest running showon Broadway history.
What do you think it is? Honestly I think it's just like
this idea of this tragic guy noteven bad guy.
Just a tragic figure that like yeah does the bad things, he's
(26:12):
done some bad things but he eachanimals a lot of like you know
what he's been through wrongly and I think it's also because
it's not just, you know, the characters.
But also the fact that it's a really, I love the musical, I
love the music of it. I love the performances, the
sets, even just like the fake Opera that they're doing at the
(26:35):
beginning was written, so that way they actors could warm up
for like, the rest of the musical and it's just, it's
always fun to watch, you know? It's something I never get tired
of never get tired of hearing him to any of the music.
And it's just very, it's also one that does get stuck in your
head pretty easily. So, Andrew Lloyd, Webber was
(26:57):
really good with that. And also having, you know, just
this pure romance and this in, Christine has, and she's the
center of the story, because this wouldn't happen without
her, and she has like three loves in this, and it's like
her, father, you know, who's not, he's not there, but like,
he's definitely like hanging over in part of the story.
(27:21):
Or even if it's not physically and, you know, Raul just coming
back into her life, some up, eata piece of her past coming in
and then just this mysterious stranger that's been helping
her, that she believes is someone her father sent for her
after he passed that has been nothing but a help to her and
(27:41):
just been like, kind to her. And she has to slowly and she
slowly realizes. Now this guy's not who he is,
he's not who I thought he could be.
And I think that's also something that's tragic is that
you could see the things that could have been and the things
she thought he could have been, but it's just it was just too
little too late. And especially when you have
(28:04):
really, really good guys that play their role in like just
bring their own interpretations to each one, it definitely can
make it even more memorable. Sorry.
And I think that also it also with Christine kind of just like
having her, like she has a backbone, which is nice because
(28:26):
she does have to make the choices in the ends to like,
either condemned herself or savesave herself, and, and Raul.
And she does, she gives kindnessto someone who I don't think a
lot of people would consider doing such kindness after seeing
all the Murders. He's caused all the all the
(28:49):
feelings of fear and just unsafeto her, but she still gives him
kindness that no one else has showed him his entire life.
So it's tragic. It's really tragic.
And I think that people are kindof drawn to that.
It's kind of like he's town thatI recently saw its I think the
(29:11):
route the opening song was like it's the same story over and
over again. Again, it can't be changed, but
we still come back to it because, you know, it just tugs
at us in a way that I can't evenreally describe it just, it
really does. I could see it once a year for
the rest of my life and I would probably never get tired of it.
(29:31):
Honestly. Ya did.
Oh, you know, that those those robot but I just thought I
should ask especially because I know that like, especially
nowadays when you view somethingfrom a modern lens or like, have
to point out like The toxic problematic relationships in
(29:52):
this their romanticizing and it's like yeah I don't think
that's I don't think there's anyromanticize.
Yes on in here. No exact.
It's like some people's reactions to it by being like
because it's a cultic Broadway'sgreatest love story whatever.
And it's like this I mean This is Christine story.
(30:14):
It's not a love story and it's like, like you pointed out like
this, then it's her. Grappling with three different,
very types of love, I think. And choosing what's best for her
at least. I don't think Raul is good for
her either. But anyway, this is a team.
(30:34):
This is his where I reveal that it's team Meg.
Oh yeah, that's a mega 23. Yeah, yeah.
I just love it anyways. Well, that's so that that's a
good transition I think, is thismovie's gay.
This isn't a well, as a little Heather over and over arching
(31:00):
there, That was a little gay theway the Phantom tied up Rowell
and the in the layer I'm not gonna lie.
Hmm, why are you as a man's? Hang up, another man.
Well, I guess this is a heterosexual.
Love triangle, but it is campus.Fuck first.
(31:20):
It is. The Phantom is so flamboyant.
All the cape flips. Are you?
Oh, the glitter, the glitter in his, like, suits Lake?
He's fabulous. And this is, this is Joel
Schumacher obviously. So this is a it's a gay
director. Yeah, taking on this material.
So already this like that's his the views things and lays them
(31:42):
out is going to be different. Um, like I said, Opera is drag.
Okay. This is I'm just looking at my
notes. Yeah, I know you have like
Christine doing I guess this waslike what they did back then of
like her and drag playing like the page boy.
Yeah. In the Opera.
(32:03):
See. You got that.
You got my head so much wine. When I watch this, I was just
going to fuck off. But yeah there's I don't know
and it was my gay Awakening. So I counted is that I don't
know hahaha, she should have been with Meg.
She should have ended up with Meg.
That's my, that's my heart take I want to do like a Twilight
(32:27):
style shirt that just is team Megan.
It's her like in those pants at the end.
Exactly. Did you watch the deleted song?
I suggest you did, did you thinkare you glad they deleted it and
I they donated that. Yeah, it's a, it's a pretty song
but it has no business being in this show.
It's more of a like a yes. Tain's Phantom vibe in my
(32:50):
homeland but then it's like there's like they use them like
instrumental versions of it in the Movie.
And then like Minnie Driver, like recorded like a different
version of, it's like the same Melody, but different lyrics.
It displays at the end credits. And that's actually her singing.
She's not, she's not singing hisCarlotta.
Obviously, we didn't even talk about her.
(33:13):
Oh my God, she's great. That that's camp that Carlotta.
Absolutely, that fuck, yeah. What else?
So just some more just fun factsof like if you listen in the
score, you can hear like pieces.That will become songs for Love.
Never Die. God, I love that.
(33:37):
We're gonna make the movie. I'm gonna call Patrick Wilson
and ask if he wants to direct it.
Now that he's he's dipped his toe in the water with Insidious
5, he can do it, he can do it and be so bad.
It be so bad this is I don't know what's wrong.
Yeah, I read the plot for Love Never Dies and I was like damn.
(33:58):
Yeah, girl. Yeah, no Minnie, Minnie Driver
was great. He was great.
Oh yeah. The the hand of the level of
your eye. That's always been a book.
Throw it back. Yeah.
Because that's how he gets you with the Noose rahl.
(34:19):
Did not take that advice. No, I didn't lose her dumb ass.
Yeah. Like that, that final later seem
to is like, that's kind of what I'm talking about.
Was like the rawness of like Gerard's performance.
It's like he's at, he's at his breaking point.
He's not gonna sound beautiful. And like it's a way that he does
on Broadway. Like yeah, I'm obsessed with the
(34:42):
what is it down the path Into Darkness.
Because he's got four, I don't know.
I'm about that's Camp his performance in this is can't but
he's so dedicated there's not a hint of irony to and he's so
dedicated to this and I think that's why I like Like, I'm a
(35:03):
stand to this day, like I saw plane and it was a masterpiece.
And I will always, unless something is revealed about him,
that's bad. Always be going to see Gerard
Butler movies because I know that he has that sensitivity in
him and the ability like the willingness and ability to do
something like this and not lookback on it and it's gonna be
like, oh God, yeah, that musicalI did, like he's still like when
(35:24):
he's asked about he's like, oh yeah, I don't know.
Good for him. So that's the takeaway.
The takeaway is that you should have been with Meg.
The takeaway is that I want a awesome to do more musicals
again. That's all any last words.
Isn't? Oh yeah.
(35:45):
This it's such a good musical. I'm very sad that it is going
off Broadway though. I have a feeling it's going to
crop up again not too far in thefuture just simply because I
think it can't Stay off Broadway, or at least it would
see it would be a touring Musical.
Yeah, it'll yeah they'll still be Productions.
(36:07):
Like there was how many years ago I don't know, like five or
six years ago, there was like a touring production that was like
all new staging which was like abig deal because like how up
because of how I'm serious because of how iconic, like how
princes like staging was like itwas completely different and
(36:28):
since I was a fucking dork and it seen it so many times, I was
able to stop the differences andbut it worked and so yeah, maybe
maybe like you were saying this might be the final version of
that original like staging and production.
But But there's room to grow here, I think.
Oh yeah. And it's also it's also a
(36:50):
musical that's very tied closelywith my family because my
grandpa on my dad's side used toplay piano and the last song you
ever played on the piano was music of the night.
So whenever it that song plays my dad gets a little emotional
about it and My my uncle's husband, he adored this.
(37:18):
I think this is one of his favorite musicals to, and he is
sadly passed away. So, this movie is did, and it
always G always, every time Christine's singing at her, her
father's gra always gets me. Like, no matter what I tried, I
just like, go back in there tearof it always gets me so bad.
It's just, it's a very emotionalmusical to which I think is why
(37:39):
it also stands so well. Yeah.
So much feeling with it. If anybody wants to know my dad
who does not, he's not like he'll go out and watch a musical
by himself, but if my mom's like, hey, let's go see this.
He'll be like, okay, I'll come along the first time they ever
saw, Phantom of the Opera was in1994 and the guy that was
(38:02):
playing the Phantom at the time,was named Grant Norman.
And my dad says that in any Phantom that he's heard from the
stage door that he see, Incense,it's been really hard to measure
up to him because apparently, hewas like, so super good, and he
played in the UK and US tours, which was a really rare thing I
(38:23):
guess, but he heard Ben Crawford.
He's like, oh damn, he's like really close.
And I was like, huge compliment here from a man who doesn't go
to musicals often. So if you ever eat, there's
Grant Norman's. Audio is on YouTube.
If you, if anybody's curious look him up, he has a great
voice. Considering that was my team 94
(38:44):
and stuff. That's still a pretty good
audio. They never no one ever did
record a physical copy of the him performing.
There's pictures of him as the Phantom and he's been singing
some Phantom songs that like charity events and stuff
recently. So he's still going.
But he has that. He's a great voice and I wish I
(39:06):
could have heard him as the Phantom, but if they could have
done official out, And with him that would have been even
better, but I'm just like, yeah,my dad loves theater when like
when he loves theater, it's realspecific.
So, I hope that they do tour again because I know that I
think my parents would love to see Phantom of the Opera again,
(39:28):
even though it's closing up hereand Broadway.
Yeah, that reminded me. That my like, my mom had a
connection to this, too, becauseit was the last like musical.
She saw with her mom, and like that.
So she Associates with the Wishing, You Were Somehow Here
Again with her. To because like she's sitting
next to her mom, knowing she's dying and like, walking that
happened, must have been insane.I know, and God music of the
(39:50):
night, I am not immune to that. Oh my like you, I've seen this a
thousand times. And during my viewing I hadn't
even had one yet. And I was like sitting there
just like enveloped and like almost crying and how beautiful
this song I do want to give a quick, I know we've been talking
a lot. I want to give a quick shout-out
to Charles Hart to who did the lyrics for this?
(40:11):
And like he was only like 25 when he wrote about this, and
it's some of the most gorgeous lyrics ever like, it's I think
that adds another element to Thebeauty of all of it.
And obviously, I don't think he ever worked with Andrew again,
because he usually uses Tim Ricewho I mas.
O menos about, why? Yeah, the lyrics are fucking
(40:34):
gorgeous. I don't know.
They are there really raw feelings?
And Another part of why it's stylist.
It's like very like, especially because I think a lot of people
can relate to Christine, you know, when she's with her at her
father's grave site or when she's with someone, she really
cares about and also, just like it's very when it's just like
(40:55):
very, like, Mom bass stick with,like family Opera.
It's just like, it's out there. Like it's also a like enveloped
you brings you in. You know, and when it is time to
be more quiet, it is. And so I think it knows when
it's like, it's like to be loud and to be spectacular like with
masquerade. And then to have like a quieter
moment, which is really nice. I really appreciate that too.
(41:19):
Well, that's that so I know you had your notes for the movie but
I'm glad are you glad we watchedit at least.
Yeah. I had a good time with it.
I had a good time with it. So it's not like a movie or it's
like God. I wish I had my hours back of
that but no out of love to watchthis with you one day.
Absolutely. That's on the bucket list name
(41:41):
it. Yeah, anytime okay.
God, we haven't recorded in two months.
I'm sure there's a lot. Oh God, you want to do it?
We can just do a quick. I know your your eyes are
attacking you so we can just quickly run down if you want.
(42:03):
Sure, sure. Sure what do what those last.
You need a good movies are watched.
Oh my God. It was back in February.
Oh, I watched so many goddamn movies.
It's my no, you don't have to talk about everything.
Shout out to the third man for being awesome.
Yeah. Yeah.
Women talking won best adapted, screenplay victim, fantastic
(42:31):
movie. If you haven't seen it, please
watch it. If you loved Kurt Russell in the
thing, you're gonna love him in Escape From New York, and he
wears an eyepatch and let black tank top and he looks great
movie made for the gays. Shout out to the piano red
shoes, Elephant Man, which is like the most straightforward
David Lynch movie I've ever seen.
(42:53):
Dean and also very, very sad movie and picnic at Hanging
Rock, also, fantastic film. And I've just been reading the
same book since like February. So not been really in that
department. It's a long, the Western book
which I haven't. I don't really read a lot but I
have like a list of all the Pulitzer Prize winners and I'm
(43:14):
like, I want to try to read someof these and that was when I saw
at the library and I was like there's one I'll try so.
Hmm. What about you, what?
You been up to, um, but I've hadtwo weeks off of work for spring
break. So I've just been watching a lot
of shit. I did.
I saw the Pope's Exorcist yesterday.
That's all croaking Cinema. Thank you and then I watched
(43:41):
Connie and Carla which is all time faves now let's talk but
not aging so problematic shit. But 0 is the same years.
The Opera what a year for Cinema.
Oh yeah. I've watched a lot.
The main thing that's brought inmy brain now is I watched all of
HBO's Perry Mason and have made it my personality.
Now, Della Street is the new lesbian love of my life.
(44:09):
Yeah, there's lesbians this. Chris chalk.
John Lithgow's, there for a minute courtroom drama.
What, what what's not to like and that one light, or he's like
something. Something like, I've been
something twice and cooler once and I'm a quarter Welsh and
queer. Only ones, I was like, what did
he say? What'd he say?
(44:31):
I guess he was. Yeah, he like got kicked out of
the Army in the war for like gayshit and then they just never
addressed it again. And I'm like can we Circle back
to what he just said? Della get him to say yes, sir,
sir sir sir. Hello hello.
Yeah. Yeah, love it.
Anyways, but I'm glad we got to do this.
(44:55):
Um, so yeah. You can pick something next time
since I'm hu Tuesday. No, you're fine.
I'm glad I finally watched it. So I can cross that off my list
of movies. I've always wanted to watch just
takes forever for me to get through them.
So, shout out to Phantom, on Broadway, you will be missed
(45:17):
greatly, and hopefully we will. See you in the tour's.
My dear so. Well you can find me at Dyke
Madden on Twitter. You can find me at LM designs on
Twitter and we have a Twitter for the podcast.
Horror time, pod, sorry, we haven't updated in a while.
(45:39):
Life is crazy. I'm trying to find a place to
live so I can move out and finally have a cat and I work
full time. So I'm just like tired every day
but we should be back next monthand hopefully we should all be a
little more stable and it's calmand we will see you guys then.
(46:00):
So, thanks for listening to us. Talk about a Phantom of the
Opera movie. It was a lot of fun.
So until then we'll see you later.
What's your favorite scary movie?
(00:27):
And if it's worthy of being in afilm and yes, The titles are
puns. I'm Elle, I'm Kate, welcome back
everyone, it's been, it's been acouple months.
I think I've been a while. Yeah, shit happens, life
happens, you know, but this thisis something I've been wanting
to do for a while and I picked it this month because it the add
(00:52):
up the its source material I'll say is closing on Broadway to as
we're recording. Hard enough.
As we're the day, we're recording its final performance,
it's Phantom of the Opera man. The musical, The longest-running
Broadway musical until somethingfucking surpasses it now.
(01:16):
Yeah, so I don't want to do thisa really long time.
This is, this is the 2004 movie.By the way, the 2004 musical
adaptation of it. Directed by Joel Schumacher my
guys. Yeah.
This this movie like, was like the blueprint for me, like it.
(01:37):
I, I saw it in theaters and it like changed my brain heavy and
it made me gay and all of this stuff.
All all the good things. It started by love for like
soprano women, I guess like, well, I'm pack all that.
But and so now L you had seen the musical and the stage
(01:58):
Musical and you've read the book, right?
Yes. But you hadn't seen this version
and I feel bad because you ratedit pretty loud letterbox.
I'm like, oh no, they didn't like it.
Um, it's not it's not like Because I had heard about it for
so long from my own parents who had seen it, because they'd seen
(02:18):
the musical more than I had. And they went and saw this when
it came out because it's like one of my dad's favorite
musicals. If he had any favorite musicals
and they just were like it's offand I just heard about that my
whole life. So I went in and was like, okay
(02:39):
I'm not going to have any kind of expectations.
Just cannot see where this goes and it's not really That bad, my
main issue is just the singing and it also does go on a bit
like it's not the worst thing I've ever heard but I'm just
like after hearing so many greatsingers in, you know, the main
three for so long. It's kind of just like, okay,
(03:04):
like yeah, could cut up worst voices but it's not a bad movie,
like not this like it's buttons.I would love to watch this with
Kate because I think this is to be very entertaining.
You would like to watch this if my roommate kept awake laughing
and who was that? Like, because I'm just, like,
doing my own commentary on it. And just like shouting out of
the screen, I would love to hosta Rowdy, screening of this
(03:27):
someday. Like they did with cats, which I
missed. Yeah, he's yeah.
Well, let's get into it. I mean, yeah, I is the basic
story of fan. Yeah, so yeah, should we say
that? Yeah, so it's a musical.
It's like in This Paris opera house and Christine the lead
(03:49):
character gets gets her big break on the stage when the the
house Diva quits because her jarlife keeps getting in Peril and
everyone's like, it's fine. That's one thing.
I kind of thought about in this watch specifically I'm like
Carla Carlotta supposed to be like an antagonist or whatever
(04:11):
but like she made some points like like this, it's not a safe
working environment, like be a diva for that, go off.
But anyways, and it's because she's so, Christine has been
trained by this mysterious musicteacher, is it her dead father?
And no, it's not. It's a creepy old man.
Um, and mean in the meantime, her childhood sweetheart played
(04:31):
by also am a man in his 30s. Yeah.
I would, I know you texted me like Emmy Rossum was how old
when they supposed to this. He didn't look it.
I don't know. I mean that that so that's
defense Squad is coming in here.I mean, that is why her singing.
(04:54):
Her voice doesn't even fully developed yet.
That's why she's not going to sound like a Broadway.
Soprano? Yeah, I know out of all of them,
she sounded the best. She sounded pretty good.
Like she was you drained, you didn't like Patrick Wilson's.
Well, his wife, his was fine because we're gonna have no
Gerard. Butler's was like out of the
three, his like, on the load. That's what we're talking about.
So, you know. Yeah, Patrick Wilson because
(05:15):
Raoul doesn't have much of life.Like a range in like how a
grandiose that the Phantom is? He's not like that.
So like his voice sounded reallylike it sounded just fine for
Raul you did a great job that's butter and and yeah Emmy Rossum
she did she was trained you knowas for Opera as a child and you
know she is still getting in her.
Oh what's the word free? She was.
(05:36):
She's still training and she's like, nervous, voice isn't fully
developed to wear it. It would be, but she did a
really great job for her technique is her technique and
her Uncie agent especially is like spot-on.
It just is literally not a fullydeveloped voice.
Yet, I'll send you a link of her.
I wish you would sing more. I wish you would do another
(05:56):
musical. I know like musical movie.
She did like one random like popalbum and she's done a few like,
Christmas recordings. Like I got her her version of
Carol of the Bells and Have Yourself, a Merry Little
Christmas or on by rotation every Christmas.
But yeah, we should do another one eye.
(06:16):
Well, I let my dream would be atthis is never going to happen
but I think and it would be terrible because Love Never
Dies. It's not a good show but I want
them to make a movie with this Kathy could just cuz I love
chaos. But we're really stretching it
because it's supposed to be 10 years later and this movies
almost got at this movies, almost 20 years old now, I can't
(06:38):
believe it. Um.
Oh but let's get. Okay.
This is just going to be a lot of rants I guess.
Let's get back to Gerard. Yeah.
Because I have to defend him because no one else will and
this has been my great life's work before.
Defending Russell, Crowe in Les.Miz I was defending Gerard
Butler in Phantom because here'sthe thing.
(06:59):
This is who Angela never wanted.This is who he envisioned.
This isn't. This isn't the kind of person
you could cast for a Broadway show because that's not
sustainable, right? Like you need, someone who can
do this eight, eight nights a week and an untrained actor,
can't do that, but he wanted a rock star and he got one like He
literally the like the agents. Like they were when they were
(07:23):
speaking to Angela wherever the like, can he sing or everything
moves in a rock band in law school, perfect.
Like that's all and he works so hard training for this role and
and I really did it suck. No other Phantom is like this
too because of that because of the like the raw quality that he
(07:44):
brings to it and like he makes choices.
I think like he really gets intothe darkness of the character I
think. Good like the anger moments that
he has and it's all very, I don't know.
And I genuinely think that his point of no return is the best
version. I think he's so good.
In that song it's like his best best work.
I think you're laughing. I think I'm just so glad that
(08:07):
you're is very you have you do make points for that.
I do my God that looks like I just say, I have some terrible
news for you. Cousin in 2021 interview that
Andrew Lloyd, Webber gave he thought that?
Yeah. Gerard was the most not the
greatest casting. Choice for for Phantom, and all
(08:28):
that's on him because I'm like on a mission.
So no, take-backsies, sorry. This is 0.
This is this, the bet. This is bad Cinderella era and
Weber talking. So, take it with a grain of
salt. He chose him, he cast him.
That's no, like, he's doesn't have a terrible voice.
(08:48):
Not at all. And I also do defend Russell,
Crowe's singing. And lame is like, so, But I
yeah, no. It's just, it's not just the
best voice that I've ever heard,but for what he like trained for
and what he did, I think he did an alright job.
He's good. Wow, I'm hungry.
I'm not saying he's awful terrible singer.
(09:10):
I'm just, I'm too used to hearing, like, like I heard Ben
Crawford, who's the playing the Phantom right now for the, for
the final performance and who he's been playing for, like, the
last year or two and listening to him?
And then, you know, obviously, rubbing her room.
Blue who made a lovely cameo in this movie and I was just laying
it was funny. So, just after hearing that for
(09:31):
so long, it's just kind of hard to like, say that, like, Gerard
stands up against them but for the movie, I think he does have
like a rock quality to him with the Phantom.
So I appreciate that a lot that he made up for like in not being
like the, most grandiose opera singer but he brought something
(09:55):
different. Went to the Phantom and I think
they all do. And they're all different
interpretations. Yeah.
And this like that, you really have to approach this as a movie
and not a stage show. Yeah, that's the thing.
That's a difference. Like it's a totally different
form like because you like and Ifeel like, people, forget that
something, what? I don't know.
I don't know. I think I might just be really
(10:19):
biased to is the other thing like I'm a snob about like, Ryan
Gosling singing in la-la land and shit like that, but maybe,
because that's supposed to be bea more conventional sounding
like like the the song style in that is more traditional
Broadway. And this is Rock, smoking rock.
This isn't an opera, even thoughit's called that.
What he's singing is rock music.But yeah, all of this is should
(10:43):
be taken with a grain of salt because I'm so fucking biased.
And like, I was like, literally in love with this man is like a
thirteen-year-old, not realizing, I was actually just
in love with Emmy Rossum, but like we had to unpack that well,
is there any way now that I got that defense out of the way
(11:04):
also, like the the other thing Ijust want to talk about for
this, especially as like, I'm sure, I'm sure everyone has
their opinions about the singing, even about his
performance, and all this stuff and, or even just, like choices
that were made in at adapting this foot.
Oh my God. Is this a fucking gorgeous?
Gorgeous movie to look, I am yeah.
(11:25):
Like, the production designer past jumped out with Joel
Schumacher because that's like where he got his start and
there's just such an attention to detail and it's just like, I
don't know, like movies used to have since.
Can you believe that like the leave?
Can you believe? Like, even just like the
entryway of the Opera House's? Fucking gorgeous.
(11:46):
The, the design of the layer. Like, how, like, how do you, how
would a blind, like a practical practical?
Like this? That, you would believe that
this man lives here and hides away here like just shit like
that. And also just like he just took
the time, like there's somethingthere's a there's like 12
(12:06):
seconds shot in like prima donnathat must have taken Like at
least a day to shoot of just like everyone outside of the
Opera House, all lined up for the, our nation Waits that
pulled it. It's like they would never do
that. Now that like know, who would
take the time to do that? I don't know.
Like you can just tell like I mean this is something that
they've been wanting to make since the 80s like Joel first,
(12:27):
top spoke to so ever like in thelate 80s about he had just made
Lost Boys And like wanted to make this and they were like oh
yeah this might not be the righttime because They wanted, they
didn't want it to get in the wayof like the musical, the stage
shows, traction, and popularity,hmm.
And so that's why they waited solong.
(12:48):
They're kind of like, well, it'stime now, I think.
And like, yeah, he directed a lot more movies and like, I'm
glad they waited all obviously, because this is such a big
production that I'm glad that Joe was more seasoned when he
did it, you know. Uh-huh.
And God, what? Like, he's always had an eye for
(13:10):
casting like been like, fightingfor unknowns, like, Lost, Boys,
going back to that. They were all unknown as they
were fucking kids that he pickedout and then here, like Patrick
Wilson was like a Broadway guy, Gerard it done some like bit
stuff, like British movies and stuff and then Amy was a literal
child. So this was kind of The Big
Break for all of them. I don't know, I'm talking too
(13:34):
much. What and what, what else?
I don't stood out for you or that.
You didn't like, what do you want to talk about here?
No, no, no. I thought it was the sets were
really gorgeous in the costumingwas done really well.
I wondered why I like they didn't have him like you know
when the Phantom comes down during masquerade he usually has
like that really gaudy red costume on with the skull.
(13:56):
I wonder if that was just like not working out because I was
like I miss that, I thought thatwas kind of cool, you know, but
it still worked out really well.Well, but no, yeah, it's a
really gorgeous set. I love that Joel Schumacher
wanted realism enough that he's like, let's just burn the
theater down. When we set the fire, burn it
down, burn it down. One shot, one kill.
(14:19):
Yeah, that was something that like, some of the theater
purists were like, why did they change the chandelier crash?
Because this is a movie. There's no, you don't like an
act 1 finale, and a stage. Musical is supposed to be big.
That's why the chandelier crash is there.
But at the end of a movie, you need a big climax.
It's okay. Yeah.
Yeah, that's what makes sense. If the changes he did make
sense. I also think the context of I
(14:41):
already mentioned, I love just Gerard's like singing employed
overturned, but the context is, is shifted and a bit different
in the movie. I don't know if you noticed
that, you know what I'm talking about.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because because, in the stage show,
Christine doesn't know. It's him.
It's just a wreck, his clothes hiding away.
(15:01):
Like, oh, I'm definitely Angie and it most of the song is her
like being in character and she doesn't realize it's him so she
like feels his mask at the end and gets all freaked out.
But in this, she knows him rightaway because he's not good at
disguising himself. And I just think it gives a
whole new different meeting to the song and I think it's great.
But anyways, I feel like the this is just a theory, I don't
(15:26):
know. You mentioned.
Why he didn't have the big cool like yeah.
Like the skull mask and mask? Yeah.
I think they're just wanted him to be sexy.
I think that's not that's not sexy.
How can I objectify this man? If he's in that, like they made
the man where butt pads, what you got to make up, sexy, that
(15:46):
that was my theory. Oh no.
Because I know Celebrate the bodies of men like good for him.
Stupid reason. Well, that's probably why, but
Patrick Wilson on a horse with like his shirt.
Bellowing. Oh my God.
Yeah, that is one of those, the flaws of the might one of my
personal gripes, with this movie.
(16:07):
Those they made real to cool. He's a laughter.
He's most the Chad Raul like have you think this boy like
she, I specially, you've read the book?
Write. When that man, would that wimp
be riding on bear? Are back horses and sword
fighting that is so pathetic. Like he's just late and she's
not even in like a fun like kindof pathetic way.
I'm just like this voice. Just like if she doesn't love
(16:28):
you I'm gonna kill myself. You know, like that kind of feel
like, but I actually fucking means it because he's just a
fucking twenty-year-old over here thinking the world's gone
to shit because his childhood sweethearts being weird with
him. So but no.
Yeah this this rowels much cooler like getting into a sword
fight with the Phantom like that's new.
I like that. So just throwing fireballs.
(16:49):
Adam. Yeah I like that.
They did a few Throwbacks to thebook with having him in that
layer with the like mirrors and then the water comes in because
that was a trap in the book. Hmm.
Just make Patrick Wilson. Also King and I was like cool
let's do it. Don't take don't take who and
(17:13):
also like when Phantom is takingChristine down to his lair for
the first time and she's on a black horse.
Looks like that was originally planned when they were making
the musical to like, lead her ona black horse for a bit before
they got on the boat. But they're like, this is not a
good idea for a musical because horses are kind of scary to deal
with. Yeah, that's another.
(17:34):
And that's also in the book. So I was also another throwback
to that. So, but I just love how, like,
so much of it was also like practical, like, the chandelier
was, at was a real as hell 17 feet, High, 13, and 2.2.
Why I hung with more than 20,000full cuts for barsky?
Crystal pendants? It took four months to construct
(17:56):
and five days to assemble and they use like a dollhouse for
like, the exterior of the Opera house, and then they would like
on the roof, they just edited the Phantom in, so he's not
actually there when Christian roll them on the roof.
So I'm just like, who would do that nowadays likes?
It feels like these. No one just really cares.
Like it's just like there was care in this movie and that's
(18:18):
what I think helps. Soooo, you know, with it and it
isn't really exactly a horror film because it's more based on
the musical, but it does have her ask elements to it.
So I'm like this. This fits galavant, it's fine.
But no, yeah it's oh yeah, I'm not sure.
I'm not trying to push this off as a horror movie.
I just wanted to do it. No, I think we should do it.
(18:40):
Absolutely should do it. It's rude is in horror.
Yeah. But there have also been there
are just so many different people that are considered for
the role. Like I think that even
Catherine, Zeta Jones turned down the role for Christine,
because she had just done Chicago.
So I'm like, that's crazy like just how different this whole
(19:01):
thing would be. That would have been just, I
love her but that would have been wrong.
Casting like in so many 00. Real so real.
But there have been like a million and five different
things done with the Phantom. Of course there's like the film
like one of the first ones was actually I think it was done in
(19:23):
Sweden. It's a lost film unfortunately,
because there was references it to other media in 1916 dusk is
fenced in opera house or dust Phantom their upper.
And then, of course, we all knowthe legendary one with Lon
Chaney in it. That's not not musical but
because it was silent film, but there's just like there were
(19:46):
musicals and, like film adaptations over in China.
There was one that was done as like an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit
cartoon, there was a French one German, you know, lots of
different cartoons. There's television adaptations
miniseries, adoptions. Oh, yeah, I think the last one
(20:08):
was an episode on The PBS TV series Wishbone.
It was called pantin at the Opera and I was like perfect
million stage Productions beforethe Famous Andrew Lloyd, Webber
one, and surprisingly, it also was done on radio, at least four
(20:32):
different times in the last time, was in 2007, on the BBC.
And so, they did James D'Arcy was part of it.
There were four parts. Dramatization to is the first to
feature, the original operatic, sequences described in the novel
recorded and orchestrated by composers.
(20:53):
There's also like like a shit ton of literature's that mention
or I just talks about it. One of the most famous being
Phantom by Susan K, which talks about Eric's life.
It's over 500 pages. Long talk about it's creating
some fanfic right there. Yeah, it's literally fanfic.
It's literally there's actually a book coming out this year,
(21:15):
called Angels mask, it's going to be book, one in the Phantom
Saga series, a Gothic Romance reinvention of Larose original.
I was like, I'll see you Fair, I'll be there.
There's also a, there's also children's literature.
There is called the Phantom cat of the Opera that was made,
published in 2001, The Phantom of the post office that was for
(21:40):
a series called 43 old Cemetery.Road Phantoms, don't drive
sports cars, which is an Adventures of the Bailey School
Kids, which is a series I read in elementary school and
absolutely loved, or they did like adaptions just of the
entire book family Opera. So that way it could be read by
kids and the last one was in 2017, Muppets meet the classics,
(22:06):
The Phantom of the Opera, so that was, that's great.
Great, great novel right there. There's also comic strips that
have been done in French and also, Phantom of the Opera is
graphic novel. That was published just actually
a few years ago. Nonfiction, that talks about
like the film companion, as You have, there it is, you can see
(22:29):
it, but it came out in 2005, Phantom of the Opera, the face
behind the mask that was published in 93, and then second
edition in 2006 complete, Phantom of the Opera, Phantom of
the Opera essay. About the original novel, there
was a million translations done,there's music that's referenced
in it like Iron Maiden Nightwishthere's one called Fantasia it's
(22:52):
an orchestral interpretation created by Andrew and Julian
Lloyd Webber. There's actually a techno
version of the film of the Operatheme song that was made in
1992, the band, lacrimosa cover the title of it and it was also
even used on American Idol by one of the one of the more like
people that I kind of recognize their names, there's games of
(23:13):
it. There's so many references just
tossed in in different places. It's in like High School
Musical. It's mentioned in there.
It's mentioned in this. Mention as a picture of Michael
Crawford, on her fridge. Excellent.
There's an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, where that
(23:34):
talks about the Phantom of the Opera is kind of based around
that. Like there's even a statue of
the Red Death. Can be a suit on seen a few
times in the background. There's a bust of Lon Chaney
near the stage. There's it's mentioned in like
Fanny Family Guy, Married with Children.
There was an episode of The Mask, the Animated Series
Cyberchase Home Improvement Quest for Camelot, A Series of
(23:55):
Unfortunate Events factual the movie.
Not the not the Netflix miniseries.
So it's it's so like into culture.
It's just like we've its way into so many different
references. There's even games you can play
family Opera which is really crazy like and it was it like
(24:20):
didn't I'm not sure how much it took off until.
Angelo Lloyd Webber's musical because it was still popular
before then, but I wonder how much of it just like exploded
after the musical came out because it seems like a lot of
stuff really started happening, post 86.
(24:41):
So yeah, that's how crazy and into like, pop culture.
The Phantom of the Opera is, I'mpretty sure I have this, right?
That it's going over to Italy and Ramin Karimloo is going to
be The Phantom and I'm just likelucky ass people over there
because it's never been played over.
Yeah, he was like he was like heteased about it on social media
(25:06):
and like everyone thought maybe he was gonna come back for the
final performances or something and then he's just like, I'm
gonna be in Italy and that was abig.
No, it's a great musical. I love seeing it because, like
the last time I'd seen it, I think I was like a preteen or
something, so it's good. Actually remembering it this
(25:27):
time and actually seeing it about it.
Do you think those are? Go ahead and actually I kind of
seeing it live on 2 p.m. on a Wednesday.
It was actually really different.
I actually thought it was supposed to be at night and I
forgot what time hiking fought the taken form when they're in
my sauce. Sweatshirts look represent.
Hmm. What is it?
(25:48):
What do you think it is about it?
That has stood the test of time that everyone liked.
This is the longest running showon Broadway history.
What do you think it is? Honestly I think it's just like
this idea of this tragic guy noteven bad guy.
Just a tragic figure that like yeah does the bad things, he's
(26:12):
done some bad things but he eachanimals a lot of like you know
what he's been through wrongly and I think it's also because
it's not just, you know, the characters.
But also the fact that it's a really, I love the musical, I
love the music of it. I love the performances, the
sets, even just like the fake Opera that they're doing at the
(26:35):
beginning was written, so that way they actors could warm up
for like, the rest of the musical and it's just, it's
always fun to watch, you know? It's something I never get tired
of never get tired of hearing him to any of the music.
And it's just very, it's also one that does get stuck in your
head pretty easily. So, Andrew Lloyd, Webber was
(26:57):
really good with that. And also having, you know, just
this pure romance and this in, Christine has, and she's the
center of the story, because this wouldn't happen without
her, and she has like three loves in this, and it's like
her, father, you know, who's not, he's not there, but like,
he's definitely like hanging over in part of the story.
(27:21):
Or even if it's not physically and, you know, Raul just coming
back into her life, some up, eata piece of her past coming in
and then just this mysterious stranger that's been helping
her, that she believes is someone her father sent for her
after he passed that has been nothing but a help to her and
(27:41):
just been like, kind to her. And she has to slowly and she
slowly realizes. Now this guy's not who he is,
he's not who I thought he could be.
And I think that's also something that's tragic is that
you could see the things that could have been and the things
she thought he could have been, but it's just it was just too
little too late. And especially when you have
(28:04):
really, really good guys that play their role in like just
bring their own interpretations to each one, it definitely can
make it even more memorable. Sorry.
And I think that also it also with Christine kind of just like
having her, like she has a backbone, which is nice because
(28:26):
she does have to make the choices in the ends to like,
either condemned herself or savesave herself, and, and Raul.
And she does, she gives kindnessto someone who I don't think a
lot of people would consider doing such kindness after seeing
all the Murders. He's caused all the all the
(28:49):
feelings of fear and just unsafeto her, but she still gives him
kindness that no one else has showed him his entire life.
So it's tragic. It's really tragic.
And I think that people are kindof drawn to that.
It's kind of like he's town thatI recently saw its I think the
(29:11):
route the opening song was like it's the same story over and
over again. Again, it can't be changed, but
we still come back to it because, you know, it just tugs
at us in a way that I can't evenreally describe it just, it
really does. I could see it once a year for
the rest of my life and I would probably never get tired of it.
(29:31):
Honestly. Ya did.
Oh, you know, that those those robot but I just thought I
should ask especially because I know that like, especially
nowadays when you view somethingfrom a modern lens or like, have
to point out like The toxic problematic relationships in
(29:52):
this their romanticizing and it's like yeah I don't think
that's I don't think there's anyromanticize.
Yes on in here. No exact.
It's like some people's reactions to it by being like
because it's a cultic Broadway'sgreatest love story whatever.
And it's like this I mean This is Christine story.
(30:14):
It's not a love story and it's like, like you pointed out like
this, then it's her. Grappling with three different,
very types of love, I think. And choosing what's best for her
at least. I don't think Raul is good for
her either. But anyway, this is a team.
(30:34):
This is his where I reveal that it's team Meg.
Oh yeah, that's a mega 23. Yeah, yeah.
I just love it anyways. Well, that's so that that's a
good transition I think, is thismovie's gay.
This isn't a well, as a little Heather over and over arching
(31:00):
there, That was a little gay theway the Phantom tied up Rowell
and the in the layer I'm not gonna lie.
Hmm, why are you as a man's? Hang up, another man.
Well, I guess this is a heterosexual.
Love triangle, but it is campus.Fuck first.
(31:20):
It is. The Phantom is so flamboyant.
All the cape flips. Are you?
Oh, the glitter, the glitter in his, like, suits Lake?
He's fabulous. And this is, this is Joel
Schumacher obviously. So this is a it's a gay
director. Yeah, taking on this material.
So already this like that's his the views things and lays them
(31:42):
out is going to be different. Um, like I said, Opera is drag.
Okay. This is I'm just looking at my
notes. Yeah, I know you have like
Christine doing I guess this waslike what they did back then of
like her and drag playing like the page boy.
Yeah. In the Opera.
(32:03):
See. You got that.
You got my head so much wine. When I watch this, I was just
going to fuck off. But yeah there's I don't know
and it was my gay Awakening. So I counted is that I don't
know hahaha, she should have been with Meg.
She should have ended up with Meg.
That's my, that's my heart take I want to do like a Twilight
(32:27):
style shirt that just is team Megan.
It's her like in those pants at the end.
Exactly. Did you watch the deleted song?
I suggest you did, did you thinkare you glad they deleted it and
I they donated that. Yeah, it's a, it's a pretty song
but it has no business being in this show.
It's more of a like a yes. Tain's Phantom vibe in my
(32:50):
homeland but then it's like there's like they use them like
instrumental versions of it in the Movie.
And then like Minnie Driver, like recorded like a different
version of, it's like the same Melody, but different lyrics.
It displays at the end credits. And that's actually her singing.
She's not, she's not singing hisCarlotta.
Obviously, we didn't even talk about her.
(33:13):
Oh my God, she's great. That that's camp that Carlotta.
Absolutely, that fuck, yeah. What else?
So just some more just fun factsof like if you listen in the
score, you can hear like pieces.That will become songs for Love.
Never Die. God, I love that.
(33:37):
We're gonna make the movie. I'm gonna call Patrick Wilson
and ask if he wants to direct it.
Now that he's he's dipped his toe in the water with Insidious
5, he can do it, he can do it and be so bad.
It be so bad this is I don't know what's wrong.
Yeah, I read the plot for Love Never Dies and I was like damn.
(33:58):
Yeah, girl. Yeah, no Minnie, Minnie Driver
was great. He was great.
Oh yeah. The the hand of the level of
your eye. That's always been a book.
Throw it back. Yeah.
Because that's how he gets you with the Noose rahl.
(34:19):
Did not take that advice. No, I didn't lose her dumb ass.
Yeah. Like that, that final later seem
to is like, that's kind of what I'm talking about.
Was like the rawness of like Gerard's performance.
It's like he's at, he's at his breaking point.
He's not gonna sound beautiful. And like it's a way that he does
on Broadway. Like yeah, I'm obsessed with the
(34:42):
what is it down the path Into Darkness.
Because he's got four, I don't know.
I'm about that's Camp his performance in this is can't but
he's so dedicated there's not a hint of irony to and he's so
dedicated to this and I think that's why I like Like, I'm a
(35:03):
stand to this day, like I saw plane and it was a masterpiece.
And I will always, unless something is revealed about him,
that's bad. Always be going to see Gerard
Butler movies because I know that he has that sensitivity in
him and the ability like the willingness and ability to do
something like this and not lookback on it and it's gonna be
like, oh God, yeah, that musicalI did, like he's still like when
(35:24):
he's asked about he's like, oh yeah, I don't know.
Good for him. So that's the takeaway.
The takeaway is that you should have been with Meg.
The takeaway is that I want a awesome to do more musicals
again. That's all any last words.
Isn't? Oh yeah.
(35:45):
This it's such a good musical. I'm very sad that it is going
off Broadway though. I have a feeling it's going to
crop up again not too far in thefuture just simply because I
think it can't Stay off Broadway, or at least it would
see it would be a touring Musical.
Yeah, it'll yeah they'll still be Productions.
(36:07):
Like there was how many years ago I don't know, like five or
six years ago, there was like a touring production that was like
all new staging which was like abig deal because like how up
because of how I'm serious because of how iconic, like how
princes like staging was like itwas completely different and
(36:28):
since I was a fucking dork and it seen it so many times, I was
able to stop the differences andbut it worked and so yeah, maybe
maybe like you were saying this might be the final version of
that original like staging and production.
But But there's room to grow here, I think.
Oh yeah. And it's also it's also a
(36:50):
musical that's very tied closelywith my family because my
grandpa on my dad's side used toplay piano and the last song you
ever played on the piano was music of the night.
So whenever it that song plays my dad gets a little emotional
about it and My my uncle's husband, he adored this.
(37:18):
I think this is one of his favorite musicals to, and he is
sadly passed away. So, this movie is did, and it
always G always, every time Christine's singing at her, her
father's gra always gets me. Like, no matter what I tried, I
just like, go back in there tearof it always gets me so bad.
It's just, it's a very emotionalmusical to which I think is why
(37:39):
it also stands so well. Yeah.
So much feeling with it. If anybody wants to know my dad
who does not, he's not like he'll go out and watch a musical
by himself, but if my mom's like, hey, let's go see this.
He'll be like, okay, I'll come along the first time they ever
saw, Phantom of the Opera was in1994 and the guy that was
(38:02):
playing the Phantom at the time,was named Grant Norman.
And my dad says that in any Phantom that he's heard from the
stage door that he see, Incense,it's been really hard to measure
up to him because apparently, hewas like, so super good, and he
played in the UK and US tours, which was a really rare thing I
(38:23):
guess, but he heard Ben Crawford.
He's like, oh damn, he's like really close.
And I was like, huge compliment here from a man who doesn't go
to musicals often. So if you ever eat, there's
Grant Norman's. Audio is on YouTube.
If you, if anybody's curious look him up, he has a great
voice. Considering that was my team 94
(38:44):
and stuff. That's still a pretty good
audio. They never no one ever did
record a physical copy of the him performing.
There's pictures of him as the Phantom and he's been singing
some Phantom songs that like charity events and stuff
recently. So he's still going.
But he has that. He's a great voice and I wish I
(39:06):
could have heard him as the Phantom, but if they could have
done official out, And with him that would have been even
better, but I'm just like, yeah,my dad loves theater when like
when he loves theater, it's realspecific.
So, I hope that they do tour again because I know that I
think my parents would love to see Phantom of the Opera again,
(39:28):
even though it's closing up hereand Broadway.
Yeah, that reminded me. That my like, my mom had a
connection to this, too, becauseit was the last like musical.
She saw with her mom, and like that.
So she Associates with the Wishing, You Were Somehow Here
Again with her. To because like she's sitting
next to her mom, knowing she's dying and like, walking that
happened, must have been insane.I know, and God music of the
(39:50):
night, I am not immune to that. Oh my like you, I've seen this a
thousand times. And during my viewing I hadn't
even had one yet. And I was like sitting there
just like enveloped and like almost crying and how beautiful
this song I do want to give a quick, I know we've been talking
a lot. I want to give a quick shout-out
to Charles Hart to who did the lyrics for this?
(40:11):
And like he was only like 25 when he wrote about this, and
it's some of the most gorgeous lyrics ever like, it's I think
that adds another element to Thebeauty of all of it.
And obviously, I don't think he ever worked with Andrew again,
because he usually uses Tim Ricewho I mas.
O menos about, why? Yeah, the lyrics are fucking
(40:34):
gorgeous. I don't know.
They are there really raw feelings?
And Another part of why it's stylist.
It's like very like, especially because I think a lot of people
can relate to Christine, you know, when she's with her at her
father's grave site or when she's with someone, she really
cares about and also, just like it's very when it's just like
(40:55):
very, like, Mom bass stick with,like family Opera.
It's just like, it's out there. Like it's also a like enveloped
you brings you in. You know, and when it is time to
be more quiet, it is. And so I think it knows when
it's like, it's like to be loud and to be spectacular like with
masquerade. And then to have like a quieter
moment, which is really nice. I really appreciate that too.
(41:19):
Well, that's that so I know you had your notes for the movie but
I'm glad are you glad we watchedit at least.
Yeah. I had a good time with it.
I had a good time with it. So it's not like a movie or it's
like God. I wish I had my hours back of
that but no out of love to watchthis with you one day.
Absolutely. That's on the bucket list name
(41:41):
it. Yeah, anytime okay.
God, we haven't recorded in two months.
I'm sure there's a lot. Oh God, you want to do it?
We can just do a quick. I know your your eyes are
attacking you so we can just quickly run down if you want.
(42:03):
Sure, sure. Sure what do what those last.
You need a good movies are watched.
Oh my God. It was back in February.
Oh, I watched so many goddamn movies.
It's my no, you don't have to talk about everything.
Shout out to the third man for being awesome.
Yeah. Yeah.
Women talking won best adapted, screenplay victim, fantastic
(42:31):
movie. If you haven't seen it, please
watch it. If you loved Kurt Russell in the
thing, you're gonna love him in Escape From New York, and he
wears an eyepatch and let black tank top and he looks great
movie made for the gays. Shout out to the piano red
shoes, Elephant Man, which is like the most straightforward
David Lynch movie I've ever seen.
(42:53):
Dean and also very, very sad movie and picnic at Hanging
Rock, also, fantastic film. And I've just been reading the
same book since like February. So not been really in that
department. It's a long, the Western book
which I haven't. I don't really read a lot but I
have like a list of all the Pulitzer Prize winners and I'm
(43:14):
like, I want to try to read someof these and that was when I saw
at the library and I was like there's one I'll try so.
Hmm. What about you, what?
You been up to, um, but I've hadtwo weeks off of work for spring
break. So I've just been watching a lot
of shit. I did.
I saw the Pope's Exorcist yesterday.
That's all croaking Cinema. Thank you and then I watched
(43:41):
Connie and Carla which is all time faves now let's talk but
not aging so problematic shit. But 0 is the same years.
The Opera what a year for Cinema.
Oh yeah. I've watched a lot.
The main thing that's brought inmy brain now is I watched all of
HBO's Perry Mason and have made it my personality.
Now, Della Street is the new lesbian love of my life.
(44:09):
Yeah, there's lesbians this. Chris chalk.
John Lithgow's, there for a minute courtroom drama.
What, what what's not to like and that one light, or he's like
something. Something like, I've been
something twice and cooler once and I'm a quarter Welsh and
queer. Only ones, I was like, what did
he say? What'd he say?
(44:31):
I guess he was. Yeah, he like got kicked out of
the Army in the war for like gayshit and then they just never
addressed it again. And I'm like can we Circle back
to what he just said? Della get him to say yes, sir,
sir sir sir. Hello hello.
Yeah. Yeah, love it.
Anyways, but I'm glad we got to do this.
(44:55):
Um, so yeah. You can pick something next time
since I'm hu Tuesday. No, you're fine.
I'm glad I finally watched it. So I can cross that off my list
of movies. I've always wanted to watch just
takes forever for me to get through them.
So, shout out to Phantom, on Broadway, you will be missed
(45:17):
greatly, and hopefully we will. See you in the tour's.
My dear so. Well you can find me at Dyke
Madden on Twitter. You can find me at LM designs on
Twitter and we have a Twitter for the podcast.
Horror time, pod, sorry, we haven't updated in a while.
(45:39):
Life is crazy. I'm trying to find a place to
live so I can move out and finally have a cat and I work
full time. So I'm just like tired every day
but we should be back next monthand hopefully we should all be a
little more stable and it's calmand we will see you guys then.
(46:00):
So, thanks for listening to us. Talk about a Phantom of the
Opera movie. It was a lot of fun.
So until then we'll see you later.
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