Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Alexandra (class of 2026) and features the 2004 film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. Thanks, Alex!
The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)
This is the 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s infamous 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, which is considered to be one of the most iconic productions of all time. It is the longest-running show in Broadway history, and second longest in West End history, indicating how well audiences have taken it over the years. The show ended its run in 2020 in London and in 2023 in New York, which has seen many viewers looking to the movie. For those who have not seen the musical, the film is an amazing way to experience the amazing songs and storytelling done by Webber. The movie tells how a woman, Christine, becomes the obsession of a disfigured man, the Phantom, who lives below the Paris Opera House.
One of my favorite things about the movie is the amount of involvement Andrew Lloyd Webber had with the entire process of production as well as the selection of the actors. It allowed his vision to match that of the vision of the musical, giving the movie the right feel. For those who have seen the musical, it is a great watch since it has so many similarities while also having elements not possible in a musical. For those who have not seen the musical, the movie version is a great introduction to the greatness of the musical and can make the plot a bit easier to comprehend on the first watch.