The Phantom of the Opera

Universal Pictures, 1925. Three sheet poster, linen-backed, framed. It is hard to imagine that The Phantom of the Opera, in its various incarnations before its 1925 release, went through several directors, massive editing, two dreadful audience previews, two reshoots, and even a romantic comedy plot before it became the jewel of Universal Pictures that it remains to this day. Lon Chaney, in arguably his greatest role, expertly created the makeup that proved to be the most accurate and loyal to the book, more so than any other film version. The unmasking scene in which Chaney's monstrous visage was revealed prompted 1925 audiences into screaming fits. The haunting and atmospheric cinematography, the lavish and exhaustively precise sets, and Chaney's moving yet frightening performance all assemble to create the definitive interpretation of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel. This sumptuously illustrated three sheet poster is possibly the only one of its kind still in existence.
Overall: 42 x 81 in.; poster: 41 x 78.5 in.