2008 Woodie Awards
Film Makes Strong Transition from Stage to Silver Screen
Lauren Abruzzo
Issue date: 1/19/05 Section: A&E
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After celebrating 18 years of stage performances, The Phantom of the Opera has made its way into movie theaters worldwide, proving to be a timeless classic for years to come.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's enduring tale of a masked phantom who lives in a Paris opera house is beautifully rendered on the big screen with flowing 18th century gowns, enormous ballroom sets and a giant crystal chandelier.
After years of debate and planning the movie version of this seven Tony Award-winning musical embraces the audience from the opening scene, as the chandelier is raised to the ceiling of the opera house and brings the movie to life.
By casting new comers Emmy Rossum as Christine, Gerard Butler as the Phantom, and Patrick Wilson as Raoul, director Joel Schumacher and Warner Brothers was hoping to reach a younger audience who may be unfamiliar with the play, as well as the 52 million people worldwide that have already become immersed it its magic.
Rossum (Day After Tomorrow) could not have been more perfect for the part of the young protégé Christine. Only 18 years old, Rossum has a powerfully beautiful voice that almost makes it hard to imagine its coming out of such a petite young woman.
Butler (Dracula) portrayed an amazingly beautiful version of the Phantom. After years on stage audiences have come to know Michael Crawford as the one and only Phantom, but Butler makes you soon forget that was ever another.
But it's not the actors that make the movie as much as it is the music.
Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Conductor and musical Supervisor Simon Lee handpicked more that 100 musicians from all over Europe for the recording session at London's famous Abbey Road Studios.
Favorites "Angel of the Night," "Think of Me," "All I Ask of You," and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," are just a few of the chilling songs beautifully brought to life on screen.
Audiences of all genders and ages will love this everlasting story full of great musical numbers, love, sword fights, and disfigured murders with tempers.
Already nominated for three Golden Globes, Phantom is bound to become a classic as well as leave you singing on the way out the door and for years to come.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's enduring tale of a masked phantom who lives in a Paris opera house is beautifully rendered on the big screen with flowing 18th century gowns, enormous ballroom sets and a giant crystal chandelier.
After years of debate and planning the movie version of this seven Tony Award-winning musical embraces the audience from the opening scene, as the chandelier is raised to the ceiling of the opera house and brings the movie to life.
By casting new comers Emmy Rossum as Christine, Gerard Butler as the Phantom, and Patrick Wilson as Raoul, director Joel Schumacher and Warner Brothers was hoping to reach a younger audience who may be unfamiliar with the play, as well as the 52 million people worldwide that have already become immersed it its magic.
Rossum (Day After Tomorrow) could not have been more perfect for the part of the young protégé Christine. Only 18 years old, Rossum has a powerfully beautiful voice that almost makes it hard to imagine its coming out of such a petite young woman.
Butler (Dracula) portrayed an amazingly beautiful version of the Phantom. After years on stage audiences have come to know Michael Crawford as the one and only Phantom, but Butler makes you soon forget that was ever another.
But it's not the actors that make the movie as much as it is the music.
Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Conductor and musical Supervisor Simon Lee handpicked more that 100 musicians from all over Europe for the recording session at London's famous Abbey Road Studios.
Favorites "Angel of the Night," "Think of Me," "All I Ask of You," and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," are just a few of the chilling songs beautifully brought to life on screen.
Audiences of all genders and ages will love this everlasting story full of great musical numbers, love, sword fights, and disfigured murders with tempers.
Already nominated for three Golden Globes, Phantom is bound to become a classic as well as leave you singing on the way out the door and for years to come.