THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
aka ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Year: 2004
USA: Warner Bros Pictures
UK: Entertainment Film Distributors
Cast: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Simon Callow, Ciaran Hinds, Kevin R McNally, Victor McGuire, Murray Melvin, Jennifer Ellison, James Fleet, Imogen Bains, Miles Western, Judith Paris, Halcro Johnston, Paul Brooke, Oliver Chopping, Alison Skilbeck, Lee Sellers, Ramin Karimloo, Chris Overton, Jesika Cannon, Annabel Porter, Laura Hounsom, Lucy Casson, Lorraine Stewart, Jose Tirado, Jonathan D Ellis, David Langham, Margaret Preece
Director: Joel Schumacher
Countries: USA / UK
USA & UK: 143 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for brief violent images
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate violence and obsession theme
USA Release Date: 22 December 2004 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 10 December 2004


Synopsis

His voice calls to her, nurturing her extraordinary talents from the shadows of the opera house where innocent chorus girl Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) makes her home. Only ballet mistress Madame Giry (Miranda Richardson) knows that Christine's mysterious "Angel of Music" is actually the Phantom (Gerard Butler), a disfigured musical genius who haunts the catacombs of the theatre, terrifying the ensemble of artists who live and work there.

When temperamental diva La Carlotta (Minnie Driver) walks out in the middle of a dress rehearsal for the company's latest production, the theatre's eager new managers (Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds) have no choice but to thrust Christine into the spotlight.

Her mesmerizing opening night performance captivates both the audience and the Phantom, who devotes himself to casting his protege as the opera's next star. But he is not the only powerful man to be awed by the young soprano, as Christine soon finds herself courted by the theatre's wealthy patron, the Vicompte Raoul de Chagny (Patrick Wilson).

Though she is enthralled by her charismatic mentor, Christine is undeniably drawn to the dashing Raoul, enraging the Phantom and setting the stage for a dramatic crescendo in which soaring passions, fierce jealousies and obsessive love threaten to drive the fated lovers past the point of no return.

Directed by Joel Schumacher from a screenplay by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Joel Schumacher, the film is produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber.