Phantom Variations
The Adaptations of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, 1925 to the Present
Published on 1. June 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
199 pages
978-0-7864-4265-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book examines the themes and variations of Phantom of the Opera, exploring the story's appeal to multiple generations through numerous incarnations. After discussing Gaston Leroux's original 1910 novel, the work turns first to Phantom on film from Lon Chaney's 1925 Phantom through Dario Argento's 1998 film. Stage versions of Phantom are then covered in detail, including Webber's spectacular 1986 production and its lesser-known predecessors and competitors, and those that followed. A final section looks at novels and miscellaneous adaptations ranging from erotic fiction to a Donald Barthelme short story.
Reviews / Votes
"fascinating reading"-ARBA; "engaging and incredibly informative...will be of interest to any Phantom fan"-Rue Morgue.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
notes, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
298 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-4265-2 (9780786442652)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ann C. Hall is a professor in the English department at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. She also serves as president of the Harold Pinter Society.
Content
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Skull Beneath the Skin
1. MASKING AND UNMASKING: GASTON LEROUX'S ORIGINAL PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1910)
2. DARKNESS MADE VISIBLE: THE PHANTOM ON FILM
Defining the Phantom: Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera (1925)
The Feminist Phantom: Claude Rains's Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Taming of the Phantom: Hammer Films' Wholesome Phantom of the Opera (1962)
Phabulous Phantom: Brian De Palma's Glam Rock Parody The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Decoys in the Danube: The TV Miniseries of Phantom of the Opera (1983)
Nightmare at the Opera: Freddy Krueger Meets The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Red Phantom: Ronny Yu's Chinese The Phantom Lover (1995)
"When You Hear My Thoughts, You'll Know Where to Go": Dario Argento's Handsome Phantom (1998)
3. SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE: STAGE VERSIONS OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The Precursor Phantom: Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera (1984)
Phantom Rivalries: Arthur Kopit's Forgotten Phantom on Stage (1991) and Screen (1990)
Kopit's Phantom: The Television Version
Spectacular Phantom: Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom on Stage (1986) and Screen (2004)
The 2004 Film Version of the Lloyd Webber Musical
That Phantom in Vegas
Phantom of the Midwest: John Kenley and Robert Thomas Noll's Phantom of the Opera (1988)
A Phunny Phantom: The Pinchpenny Phantom of the Opera (1988)
Flexible Phantom: Bruce Falstein's Phantom of the Opera (1990)
The Invisible Phantom: Joseph Robinette and Robert Chauls's Phantom of the Opera (1992)
4. VARIATIONS ON THE THEME: NOVELS AND MISCELLANEOUS VERSIONS OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The Romantic Phantom: Susan Kay's Phantom (1991)
Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple: Frederick Forsyth's The Phantom of Manhattan (1999)
A Chapter Book Phantom: R.L. Stine's Phantom of the Auditorium (1994)
A Steamy Phantom: Colette Gale's Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of "The Phantom of the Opera" (2007)
Phantom of the Short Story: Donald Barthelme's "The Phantom of the Opera's Friend" (1981)
Conclusion: The Phantom's Future
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Skull Beneath the Skin
1. MASKING AND UNMASKING: GASTON LEROUX'S ORIGINAL PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1910)
2. DARKNESS MADE VISIBLE: THE PHANTOM ON FILM
Defining the Phantom: Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera (1925)
The Feminist Phantom: Claude Rains's Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Taming of the Phantom: Hammer Films' Wholesome Phantom of the Opera (1962)
Phabulous Phantom: Brian De Palma's Glam Rock Parody The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Decoys in the Danube: The TV Miniseries of Phantom of the Opera (1983)
Nightmare at the Opera: Freddy Krueger Meets The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Red Phantom: Ronny Yu's Chinese The Phantom Lover (1995)
"When You Hear My Thoughts, You'll Know Where to Go": Dario Argento's Handsome Phantom (1998)
3. SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE: STAGE VERSIONS OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The Precursor Phantom: Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera (1984)
Phantom Rivalries: Arthur Kopit's Forgotten Phantom on Stage (1991) and Screen (1990)
Kopit's Phantom: The Television Version
Spectacular Phantom: Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom on Stage (1986) and Screen (2004)
The 2004 Film Version of the Lloyd Webber Musical
That Phantom in Vegas
Phantom of the Midwest: John Kenley and Robert Thomas Noll's Phantom of the Opera (1988)
A Phunny Phantom: The Pinchpenny Phantom of the Opera (1988)
Flexible Phantom: Bruce Falstein's Phantom of the Opera (1990)
The Invisible Phantom: Joseph Robinette and Robert Chauls's Phantom of the Opera (1992)
4. VARIATIONS ON THE THEME: NOVELS AND MISCELLANEOUS VERSIONS OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The Romantic Phantom: Susan Kay's Phantom (1991)
Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple: Frederick Forsyth's The Phantom of Manhattan (1999)
A Chapter Book Phantom: R.L. Stine's Phantom of the Auditorium (1994)
A Steamy Phantom: Colette Gale's Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of "The Phantom of the Opera" (2007)
Phantom of the Short Story: Donald Barthelme's "The Phantom of the Opera's Friend" (1981)
Conclusion: The Phantom's Future
Notes
Bibliography
Index