[6]

Hammer Film’s loose adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s story focuses on revenge and doesn’t really touch upon the subversive romantic potential between the Phantom (Herbert Lom) and Christine (Heather Sears). Since that’s kind of the whole point, the film largely misses the mark. But as usual with Hammer Films, I like the production design and general atmosphere — especially the Phantom’s underground lair. Herbert Lom is good in flashbacks that depict the Phantom’s backstory, but less so in the present-day scenario. Maybe it’s because the cheap mask obscures his performance. It’s nice to see Michael Gough, who usually plays kindly uncles, as the devious theatre owner who betrayed the Phantom and started the fire that disfigured him.