Phantom Of the Opera- Page 2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 7:39pm

Gerry on Broadway? No way! I agree that Gerry may be a good Phantom for the movies, but he would totally sink doing live theatre. You know there is a difference between singing live on stage (without retakes) and singing in a studio (where they can enhance your voice). Besides Broadway and movies are different artforms, in a way. Only a rare few can do both well.

So let's just keep Gerry in Hollywood and Hugh on Broadway. :)

~Rosalynn

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 8:05pm

Thanks Carolyn you always have the best info. I already knew the sound quality of the amazon clips was ****ty but it's nice to now its even better sounding in the film. SO is it possible that the tracks were hearing online arent even the ones on the final track? I want to hear ALW talk about Gearard I really do. Im anxious to know why HE though he was good for it. I have to say one more time I'm so glad its not being done operatically like Hugh Panaro or god forbid James Romick!

[CarolynW]

Posted: 11/16/04 at 11:26pm

To bell-arina, this is not the book nor the musical, it is the film. They can change the character a bit. So the Phantom can be like the other ones before not a singer, but a composer.

To bronxboundexpress:

The songs online and may not be the actual soundtrack, maybe they made them sound worse or the 2 CD set is more of the soudntrack.

Plus the mixing of the soundtrack could have been different they also may have recorded it at a different time, which is somewhat the idea I got from what Joel S. said. He said that Andrew changed the tracks of the film, because during the film Emmy had gotten more mature. So things can change. I do not know for sure, but I felt the songs sounded better than those online.

Yours,

Carolyn

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 9:49am

If they are going to change it and make him not a singer than they might as well change the entire story line to go with it--not to mention changing lines from the show (as I wrote above). I doubt Andrew Lloyd Webber would alter the film version of his musical that much.

[CarolynW]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 11:41am

Belle-arina, I should have said that in the other Phatnom films the he has always been a composer and teacher. They call him a teacher in the book. Not an opera singer. So Gerry does not have to be an opera singer. He sings very good int he film in my opinion.

This is ALWs musical, with changes. They had to change things for the film as it would be boring for those that do not even know about the stage production. This film has to appeal to the masses of movie goers not Phantom fans. Phantom fans, most anyway, want to see the film. They must now get other people to see the film. I think this could be a good turning point for movie musicals. I realize you want it to be exactly like the stage production, but that does not work on film.

They have changed lyrics and lines from the stage version in the film. They have inserted new scenes, they have a big set. They built an entire opera house for the film. I liked the film. ALW is happy with the outcome of the film from what I have been told. He worked hard on the music and Joel S. finally got to make this film. They both agreed on how they wanted it done as they co-wrote the screenplay.

The film is made and it has changes. If you do not like them that is your choice. There are a few that have not, but on the most part of the fans that have seen the film they like the changes.

Yours,

Carolyn

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 1:02pm

First of all, I haven't seen the movie, and therefore cannot possibly have an opinion on it either way (nor do I--re-read my post). I understand that there are always subtle changes made when I play is adapted for the screen.

HOWEVER: Andrew Lloyd Webber put a lot of enphasis on the power of the voice of his character (as did Susan Kay in her 1995 novel--Gaston Leroux eludes to it, but I am not near my copy of the book to give you exact quotes). I doubt that ALW would change the fact that the phantom uses the hypnotic power of his voice, because there is no reason to change that. I'm sure it will still be part of the plot, and it just won't be as effective if (and I'm saying IF) Gerard Butler's voice isn't as good. My comments were directed at a poster who was constantly making observations and theories on the plot and story that had absolutely no basis and were completely unwarranted. Please go back and read his posts where he states that Erik is only a good singer when he is around Christine (which is the one I was arguing when you replied to me) or the one in a previous post where he speculates that he may have been mentally challenged.
The purpose of my posts were to clarify integral parts of the story that almost NEVER change (the Phantom's voice being a source of power for him is mentioned in EVERY VERSION--especially ALW's), and had almost nothing to do with Gerard Butler or his portrayal in the movie.

[phantom phan]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 1:53pm

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I agree that an exact replica of stage production might not work in the movies, so if they have Hollywood-ize the story a bit to make it more appealing to the movie going masses, so be it. However, I don't think any sacrifices should be made when it comes to the music/singing because what draws me to TPOTO is music/singing. Yes, I love the story too but I wouldn't have seen it twice and wouldn't be making plans to see it again on Broadway if Hugh Panaro was replaced by a Phantom that couldn't sing as well.

My wife and I bought the cd at the show with the original cast members and we were disappointed because we didn't feel Michael Crawford's voice was nearly as good as what we had just heard from Hugh Panaro. From what we've heard from clips on the internet, I think we're going to face the same disappointment with the movie and the movie's soundtrack BUT we're still hoping that we're wrong. If not though, what are the chances of updating the stage musical cd to a recording of the current NY Broadway cast? ;o) I betcha it would out sell the original, if there was a choice. lol Come on, 7,000 performances...time for a facelift! lol

Updated On: 11/17/04 at 01:53 PM

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 2:14pm

Thanks for the post :)

Unfortunately there is little to no chance they will do a new recording of Phantom (besides the movie version). I love Hugh Panaro (although my favorite will always be Ciaran Sheehan--he was Raoul on Broadway and The Phantom in Toronto), and I agree that he would sound wonderful on the cast recording. However, it's very rare that they ever do other recordings.

PLUS: During the revival of JCS a few years ago, Tony Vincent, (who was the understudy for Judas until they realized how good he was and replaced the original Judas with him) had a HUGE following and was hands down better than the guy on the CD, and they didn't re-make the cast recording for him. Michael Crawford--although you didn't like him as much as Hugh Panaro--will forever be known as The Phantom, and he is so well loved by so many Phantom fans, that I doubt they would ever see a reason to re-record.

Sorry--I hope you're not too disappointed

[phantom phan]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 3:49pm

Nah, won't be too disappointed as long as I can keep scraping up money to hear Hugh! Hopefully he'll be around for a while as I'd love to have my mom come up from FL to see it. She's a big fan of Crawford's although she feels his best efforts didn't come out on the cd. I'd love to see what she thinks after hearing Hugh.

[theatreangel]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 3:59pm

I've heard a few songs from the movie and I think I'll have to join the ranks of people who aren't too pleased with Gerard's voice. He has an irritating, unpleasant, gravelly rock sort of voice. I'm sure some people like that style of singing, but I don't, and I don't think it's really suited to play the part of the Phantom, since there must be a reason that it's called The Phantom of the Opera.

[BlueRose]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:54pm

Well, I know that I don't suffer from the "proximity effect". I loved Gerard Butler's voice the first time I heard it. I think people have changed their opinions by listening because Gerard Butler does use a very different style and it is not what they are used to. I know it takes awhile for my ears to adjust. When I saw POTO on tour this summer it took me a good 20 minutes to adjust to the touring cast because all that I had heard before was the OLC recording. It didn't mean that the onstage cast was bad-my ears just needed to adjust to the fact that it was different from what was imprinted on my brain.

An interesting fact. On http://www.fabsboards.com/showthread.php?t=1924 someone posted saying they had seen a screening of the film and attended the Q&A with ALW. According to this person about 50% of the singing was recorded on set. WYWSHA was completely recorded live.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 9:29pm

jksjutyhjutjy

[beacon1]

Posted: 11/17/04 at 10:10pm

Here's the link:
http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=618728

Wed 12/15 08:45 PM HBO - EAST
Wed 12/15 11:45 PM HBO - WEST
Mon 12/20 10:45 PM HBO - EAST
Tue 12/21 01:45 AM HBO - WEST
Wed 12/22 07:15 PM HBO2 - EAST
Wed 12/22 10:15 PM HBO2 - WEST
Thu 12/23 05:45 AM HBO FAMILY - EAST
Thu 12/23 08:45 AM HBO FAMILY - WEST
Fri 12/24 05:00 PM HBO - EAST
Fri 12/24 08:00 PM HBO - WEST
Sat 12/25 10:45 PM HBO SIGNATURE - EAST
Sun 12/26 01:45 AM HBO SIGNATURE - WEST
Tue 12/28 03:55 AM HBO FAMILY - EAST
Tue 12/28 06:55 AM HBO FAMILY - WEST
Tue 12/28 02:00 PM HBO2 - EAST
Tue 12/28 05:00 PM HBO2 - WEST
Thu 12/30 10:15 AM HBO - EAST
Thu 12/30 01:15 PM HBO - WEST
Sat 1/1 01:45 PM HBO - EAST
Sat 1/1 04:45 PM HBO - WEST

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 1:04am

why does the HBO thing say Alan Cumming is in the movie? I know he was SUPPOSED to play one of the theatre owners but it fell through. Anyone know?

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:26am

Alan Cummings was supposed to be in the movie?? That would have rocked.

[Herbert_Von_Krolock]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 1:51pm

hm...I read one rumour somewhere that Alan Rickman was supposed to be the other manager but it also fell through..That would have been interesting. I'm not sure how true it is though

[Sally]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 2:10am

Carolyn,

<< Belle-arina, I should have said that in the other Phatnom films the he has always been a composer and teacher. They call him a teacher in the book. Not an opera singer. So Gerry does not have to be an opera singer. He sings very good int he film in my opinion.>>

and

<< I also never heard that the Phantom ever had to be a great singer. Most vocal coaches are not singers, at least mine was not.>>

The other films have nothing to do with this film, which is a film version of ALW's stage musical. Other films were adaptations of the novel of varing degrees of faithfulness and have had a lot of things in them, including the Phantom growing up with rats in one film and having his face ruined by acid when he was a middle aged man in another. The fact that other films have major changes from the original book is irrelevant.

He should be a good singer. He doesn't have to be an opera singer, but he should have a voice capable of virtually hypnotizing Christine. If they have changed the dynamics of the two characters so that the Phantom seduces Christine only with his hot bod, that is a major change from the stage musial, not just a change necessitated by turning a stage show into a film. Of course, there have to be changes in making the stage musical into a film, but I'm disappointed that they didn't choose a better singer. I have heard all of the tracks that are downloadable but haven't seen the film yet. Perhaps other things in the film will make up for what I hear as a disappointment at this point.

As Belle-arina quoted from the show's lyrics,


"but his voice filled my spirit with a strange sweet sound, and that night there was music in my mind....And through music my soul began to soar. And I heard as I've never heard before."


You like his voice and so do a lot of other people who have heard enough of it to have an opinion. The fact that you defend him by saying he's really just a composer and teacher, however, suggests that you think that although you like his voice, it isn't quite that of an "angel of music" whose voice could fill a young singer's spirit with a strange, sweet sound and fill her mind with music.

It's beginning to look like ALW and Joel Schumacher knew what they were doing in choosing a cast to appeal to the masses. Gerry Butler is drop dead gorgeous,and the film looks splendid. I'm beginning to think most movie goers will overlook it if the Phantom's singing is a rough in places and not well trained.