WARNING!: As always, this page may be extremely spoiler heavy... If you didn't want to know, then don't blame me that you looked!
If the Phantom was talked about, or happened to put in a person appearance in a movie, you will find info about it here! No matter how brief, or down right stupid the sighting, I have included it. Also included are sightings of not only The Phantom himself, but Phantom of The Opera toys and masks and posters! Please note that this section does not include all the times that The Phantom has cameo or had a mentioned during television shows. This section will cover only the times that this has happened within a movie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1951) Hollywood Story
Dir: William Castle. Wri: Fred Brady. Cast: Richard Conte, Julie Adams, Richard Egan.
More information at: IMDB
I could be wrong, but I be live this may have been the very first movie to use footage from the Chaney Phantom. It was certainly one of the only times the Phantom made an appearance in the movies in the1950's. The scene used is Chaney's unmasking. I wish I could say that I've seen this movie, but to my surprise I've actually had some trouble finding it.
Where to Buy: I can not believe that Amazon.com doesn't have this, but it appears that they don't. Keep checking though, as you never know what might pop up. For now, your best bet is Ebay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1957) Man of A Thousand Faces
Dir: Joseph Pevney. Wri: Ralph Wheelwright, R. Wright Campbell. Cast: James Chagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer.
More information at: IMDB
This bio pic of the life of Lon Chaney, was actually one of my very first introductions to The Phantom. While the picture isn't always very accurate in it's depiction of Lon Chaney's life, and while the imitations of Chaney's greatest make - up achievements can leave something to be desired, This is still a great movie, and I love James Chagney as Lon. The famous unmasking is restaged in this movie, though pretty differently from how it appears in the silent film.
Merchandise: The box to the 1962 Aurora model kit bears a striking resemblance to James Chagney's Phantom. Just take a look!
Where to Buy: Amazon.com has it! Though its pretty expensive most of the time. For far to long, this had only been available on VHS, but I'm now happy to say that you can see it on DVD. Grab it here: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1962) The House on Bare Mountain
Dir: Lee Frost, Wes Bishop Wri: Denver scott. Cast: Bob Cresse, Laine Carlin, Leticia Cooper.
More information at: IMDB
When I said that, 'No sighting of The Phantom is to stupid,' in my introduction to this section, it was mainly to excuse how ridiculous it is to even add this particular entry. Someone wearing a Lon Chaney Phantom of The Opera mask is seen from time to time, in Wes Bishops, The House on Bare Mountain, is white shirt and black pants, getting his drink on. He doesn't really show up to much except to stumble around drunk for a few minuets during one of the party scenes. Blink, and you just might miss him! Unfortunately I have no idea who plays this drunk Phantom guy.
Where to Buy: This movie is available as a double feature with the film, Kiss Me Quick. Snag a copy here: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1964) Santo en el Museo de Cera "Samson in The Wax Museum"
Dir: Alfonso Corona Blake, Manuel San Fernando. Wri: Fernando Galiana, Julio Porter. Cast: El Santo, Claudio Brook, Ruben Rojo.
More information at: IMDB
Really fun Mexican wrestling movie starting the great El Santo, (Santo is Samson) The Silver Masked Man, about a mad scientist who is trying to create a deadly army of assorted beasties.... And guess who one of the beasties is? This mad scientist operates his evil plans in a wax museum, which just so happens to have a grand house of horrors. Within this house of horrors is a very short, unmasked, Mexican Phantom. (Who I think has a mustache?) From the disfigurement, he looks to have been modeled after the Claude Rains Phantom. I feel so bad for that actor...The other two characters stand by him and gab on and on about the darkness in men's souls and panther girls and secret laboratories... And this poor short Phantom dude just has to stand as still as possible and pretend that hems wax, while they tower over him. He does a pretty good job of it, but you can definitely read in his stance that he's just dying to move, or bat an eye lash or something. Poor tiny Phantom and his top hat of compensation.
Where to Buy: There are several DVD editions of this movie available. The movie has been dubbed in English. Here it is: Amazon.com
Special thanks to Oliver Haddo for this finding!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1970) Nightmare in Wax
More information at: IMDB
Oh this sighting is another one of my ridiculous ones... When I first heard about this movie, I was told that it was actually a cross between Phantom of The Opera and House of Wax films. (Which is a pretty hard call to make if you ask me.) While I personally don't think that there is any real Phantom connection here, the killer DOES briefly attack the female lead with a Lon Chaney Phantom mask. Its a actually a VERY strange scene because I mean, he's not actually wearing the mask, he just sort of, thrusts it into the frame, shakes it around a few times to make her scream, then holds it up just long enough so that we can see that yes, it is a Phantom mask, and then we cut to something totally different.... Odviously this is an extremely important moment in Phantom history. How could I possibly dream of leaving it out?!
....I Tried so hard to get a good screen shot of this, but each time I fail miserably. I doubt anyone is going to go out and buy this one after my description above so I guess your just going to have to take my word for it, lol.
Where to Buy: This is available on both VHS and DVD. VHS copies are usually super cheap. Get it here: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1976) The Return of The Pink Panther
More information at: IMDB
Dir: Black Edwards Wri: Black Edwrads, Frank Waldman. Cast: Peter Sellers, Herbert lom, Lesley-Anne Down
Aside from playing The Phantom in the 1962 Hammer Horror version, Herbert Lom is most famous for having played Inspector Dreyfus in some of the best of the Pink Panther movies. During The Return of The Pink Panther, Herbert Lom plays the organ in one scene. Some people feel that he may have been imitating his own performance as The Phantom, in this scene.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1981) The Munsters Revenge
Dir: Don Weis. Wri: Norm Liebmann, Ed Hass. Cast: Fed G wynne, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo. (Bob Hastings plays Uncle Phantom of The Opera.)
More information at: IMDB
This film may represent the only time in my entire life that I've wanted to murder The Phantom of The Opera. As nice it is to see the Phantom included into the family tree of The Munsters, Bob Hastings plays him as such an annoying character, that one can actually become embarrassed while watching him. This Phantom LOVES to sing. To the absolute horror of all those around him, he takes any opportunity he can find to hit the highest notes humanly possible, breaking ever glass object around him. Still, he does actual have a pretty big role, and even ends up as one of the heroes, saving Marilyn and her little boyfriend from being suffocated in a human size bell jar. This movie is pretty unbearable, and yet, it does have a few very funny performances - in particular, that of Sid Caesar, the villain, who really is hilarious. Despite my fairly poor opinion of this movie, I've certainly sat through it enough times to have my head examined... If your a Munsters fan, or a Phantom Phan searching for every appearance under the sun, this is definitely one you must not miss.
Where to Buy: Now available on VHS and DVD Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1988) WaxWorks
Dir/Wri: Anthony Hickox. Cast: Zach Gallign, Deborah Foreman, Michelle Johnson.
More information at: IMDB
A one eyed Phantom, (Like Herbet Lom!) shows up briefly as one of the sculptures in a wax museum, where all the displays are actually portals into fictional worlds. Unfortunately we don't get to step inside of The Phantom portal, the way we do some of other characters, like Dracula and The Marque De Sade, but the Phantom does have a scene all his own, and it is pretty cute... One of the kids gets really excited by the mask The Phantom is wearing, because he says that it was the exact mask that the Phantom wears in the movie, 'Curse of The Opera.' (I love how this movie actually invented into own Phantom movie... And he even goes on to say that there have been several others.) The Wax work owner is apparently appalled that anyone would want to make a Phantom of The Opera movie, and says in disgust:
"They made a movie about The Phantom of The Opera?....*Pushes the kid into the Phantom Portal of Doom* They'll make a movie about anything now adays!"
I've always thought that this movie is a bit more of a Phantom spoof than most people give it credit for. Besides the fact that that we see the life size wax figure of the Phantom, there is also another character named Raoul (Although in this movie, Raoul is an evil Egyptian Mummy.), and the leading female character is named Sara Brightman! It may well be coincidence, but it hasn't stopped me from reasoning that its all a... Conspiracy! No, no, I'm only joking. But still, it is a funny coincidence.
Where to Buy: Available on both DVD and VHS at Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1990) Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Dir: Joe Dante. Wri: Chris Columbus, Chales S. Haas. Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover.
More information at: IMDB
One of The Gremlins is horrible disfigured by another Gremlin, when he has a beaker of acid labeled, 'Do not throw in face' tossed his way. After screaming in pain for a moment, he immediately starts wearing a mask to hide his shame. Later on in the movie, we even get a nice reenactment of the unmasking, where one of the female Gremlins (Or at least, one of the Gremlins dressed up as a female.) unmasks our Gremlin Erik while he plays on a big pipe organ. Really adorable movie, and a very adorable scene. I've tried to spot several times if they actually disfigured The Gremlin Erik at all, but I really can't tell. I guess looking like a Gremlin was enough.
Fun Fact!: This is one of the last times I can think of where The Phantom was disfigured by acid in a movie.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1991) Killer Tomatoes Eat France
Dir: John De Bello Wri: John De Bello, Costa Dillion. Cast: Tom Katsis, John Astin, Bill LaFleur.
More information at: IMDB
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1992) Batman Returns
Dir: Tim Burton. Wri: Bob Kane, Daniel Waters. Cast: Micheal Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer.
More information at: IMDB
In this very brief Phantom appearance, someone dressed up as Red Death comes walking down a stairs case in true Lon Chaney fashion during the Masquerade ball scene.
Where to Buy: I would be surprised if you found a place where you couldn't buy this. Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1993) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Dir: Stuart Gillard. Wri: Keven Eastman, Peter Laird.
More information at: IMDB
One of the Turtles makes a Phantom of The Opera joke to one of the villains.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1995) Forget Paris
Dir/Wri: Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz. Cast: Billy Crystal, Debr Winger, Joe Mantegna.
More information at: IMDB
The Billy Crystal character and his wife go to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of The Opera. (Sorry, no footage from the show is ever shown.) The wife loved it, but Billy hated it and said that "Music of The Night" sounds like "School Days."
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1996) Darkman III: Die Darkman, Die!
Dir: Bradford May. Wri: Michael Colleary, Mike Werb. Cast: Jeff Fahey, Arnold Vosloo, Darlanne Fluegel.
More information at: IMDB
Darkman actually is partially based off of The Phantom of The Opera. He something of a mix between The Phantom, Jekyll and Hyde and maybe a little bit of Frankenstein mixed in for good measure. In this, the third film in the series, one of the cops makes a comment about The Phantom of The Opera based on a description that someone had given him of Darkmans face.
This was not the best of the Darkman movies, but I highly recommend the first one. Great movie and amazing monster makeup.
Eventually, this site will have a whole page on all of The Darkman movies.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2003) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Dir: Stephen Norrington. Wri: Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neil. Cast: Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson.
More information at: IMDB
The villain in this film as called 'The Phantom', and is clearly trying to impersonate our Phantom. He turns out to be a Phantom in disguise however, later in the film.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2004) Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Dir: Brad Silberling. Wri: Daniel Handler, Robert Gordon. Cast: Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning.
More information at: IMDB
The character, Lemony Snicket, is seen reading a news paper with Chaney's Phantom on the front cover!
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2004) Rest in Pieces: A Portrait of Joe Coleman Documentary about the Artist Joe Coleman.
More information at: IMDB
Again in the tradition of no sighting being to stupid, I happened to spot the fact that Joe owns a few copies of The Aurora model kit of The Phantom of The Opera. Joe Coleman happens to be one of my very favorite artist of all time, so I didn't need any convincing in adding this great documentary to my list of movies. Everyone should see this films... Though of coarse, maybe not or the Phantom appearance, haha...
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2004) Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
Dir: Danny Leiner Wri: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garcés
More information at: IMDB
The first time I saw this movie was during a class on Asian culture... Can you believe that!? Anyway, there is a character is this movie named Freakshow, who is hideously disfigured with huge masses of pusstulating grossness all over his face. As time goes by, we learn that Freakshow is married. The way his wife is introduced absolutely alludes to The Phantom. She is introduced to us from behind, as she plays an organ, her face hidden from view. The atmosphere is totally built up so that you expecting to see a woman as terribly disfigured as her husband. But of course, shes actually is beautiful and ready for some hot lovin'. So... The Phantom never actually appears in this movie, but he is clearly being reference.
Have I gone off the deep end with this one?... Maybe.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2004) Inside Deep Throat
Dir: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato.
Adding this entry gives me a warm fuzzy feeling... I hope it isn't crabs. Anyway- This is a great documentary about the famous and infamous porno film, Deep Throat. During one scene they are walking down Time Square and there is a big Phantom of The Opera poster for the Andrew Lloyd Webber version. Its a sexy moment.
Where to Buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2004) Touch The Sound - A Sound Journey With Evelyn Glennie
Dir: Thomas Riedelsheimer
Documentary film, about the life and work of Evelyn Glennie, a world renowned percussionist who is also happens to be stone deaf. During an early scene, Mrs. Glennie is walking around outside (Not sure where.) And on the side of a near by building is an advertisement for the ALW Phantom of the opera musical. Interesting to find a reference to Phantom, (No matter how pathetic is may be...) in a movie about such an incredible real life musician.
Where to buy: Amazon.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All photos © of their respective owners - no infringement is intended. This is simply a fan site dedicated to Phantom of The Opera movies, and is meant for educational purposes only. If you feel that your images have been used unfairly, please contact me at Oldphan@hotmail.com, and changes will be made immediately.