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• Great Performance from Herbert Lom

  • Dan Grissom
  • 8/12/12

  You probably know Herbert Lom as Inspector Clouseau's boss from the Pink Panther movies, but I first saw him as the title role in this 1962 Hammer Films remake. This film scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. I couldn't even get past the opening credits the first time it came on TV. Herbert Lom gives one of my favorite performances of all-time in any role. That may be stretching it a bit but I really truly enjoy his incredible performance. At first he scares the audience and then he solicits pity. This is one of my favorite Hammer films. Four stars!

• A VERY GOOD VERSION....

  • Michael Steven
  • 5/20/12

  Herbert Lom was NOT the first choice for the role of The Phantom,in this version of Gaston Leroux's tale of mystery.It was CARY GRANT.For some reason,Grant enjoyed this story,& TOLD his manager that he wanted to play in this film.His manager advised him that were he to play in this film,NOBODY would take him seriously again.There was a time when most top notched actors were advised NOT to perform in "FRIGHT FILMS".That it could tarnish their credibility as a serious actor.Well............I guess that nobody told Barrymore,Rains,Rathbone,Oldman,DeNiro,Price,& many others,about this. Herbert Lom,who as of this writing is STILL with us,in my opinion,gave a VERY touching & sympathetic performance.Per my critique of the 1925 version with Lon Chaney,Erik the Phantom is born hideous.So hideous,that his own mother couldn't bare the sight of him.In this version,The Phantom's looks are destroyed by acid.Michael Gough who would later in his career would play Alfred Pennyworth,(BRUCE WAYNE'S BUTLER)in the first 4 Batman films,plays a music publisher,that you love to hate.From what I gather,Terence Fischer really put his all into this picture.He was VERY disappointed when the critics at the time,didn't look too favorably upon this film. WELL,THIS CRITIC HAS & STILL ENJOYS THIS VERSION.AS WELL AS THE CLAUDE RAINS VERSION.More on that later.I first came across this version in 1966,& it NEVER FAILS!CHECK IT OUT.

• The Phantom of the Opera

  • Diane Theis
  • 1/11/12

  The 2004 version is the best I have ever seen. The music was phenominal. The cast was fantastic. Thank you.

• Phantom of the Opera (1962)

  • Kathy
  • 10/12/10

  Next to the Phantom of the Opera (2004) this is my favorite. I love the reason behind his disfigurement even better than the 2004 version. It made so much more sense to me and I was disappointed when I saw the 2004 versions reasoning. Of course that was the only thing that disappointed me. Just a great movie with a pretty good cast.Herbert Lom did a great job. Love the eerie-ness of the underground scenes and when he is mysteriously speaking to Christine in her dressing room. Very well done for a 60's rendition of the film.

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