The Phantom of the Opera

Other mistake: During the gypsy fair, when the young Phantom is hurriedly pulling the bag back over his head, you can see the actor's face from the side, through the bars of the cage. There is no deformity, even though the angle of the shot shows the top right of his face, where the mask is always worn later. Even moreso: his deformity is bumpy, and the side of his face is all baby smooth.

Other mistake: When the opera cast is rehearsing "Hannibal," Carlotta is asked to sing "Think of Me" for the new owners. She begins singing the song in the musical key of F Major, but is then interrupted by the falling oleo. A while later, when Christine is singing this same song for the owners (to fill in for Carlotta), she begins singing the song in the key of D Major (which is 2 whole musical keys lower). Assuming that's the result of the Phantom's tuition (there's no other plausible explanation for the change), the orchestra conductor of the opera couldn't know that Christine needed to sing the song in a lower key. This is also the case since it seems that everyone nearby is very surprised by Christine's beautiful singing, because they had never heard her sing a solo before.

Other mistake: At the end of the movie we can see Christine's grave. The inscription on her tombstone is in English and she is even called "Countess de Chagny" instead of "Comtesse." But the entire story takes place in France, and all the other signs and posters besides this grave are in French. There is no reason whatsoever why the inscription should be in English instead of in French, especially considering that the closeness between the words countess and comtesse would make the title easily recognisable even by non-French speakers.

Other mistake: While running to the rooftop, Christine always leads Raoul. She is the first to get up the stairs, and there's no room for him to pass her without her stopping her frantic pace (which she shows no sign of doing), yet somehow ends up only rushing out the door after Raoul does. (01:06:30)

Sereenie

Other mistake: During "Don Juan Triumphant" Christine and Meg have MUCH less make up on than any other members of the cast, which is I suppose used to separate them and make them more noticeable, but on a stage that big it would be required to have a lot of makeup just like everyone else, because otherwise the audience can't see your face.

Other mistake: When the manager comes into the lobby for "Notes", there is a man mopping the floor. The mop is completely dry.

Other mistake: When the phantom sings behind Christine's mirror in her dressing room, she starts to walk towards it, entranced. It's obvious he is behind the mirror, and it's a one-way mirror. But, when she touches his hand, wouldn't the mirror have to be opened up? They act like she can just walk into the mirror. (00:30:55)

The Phantom of the Opera mistake picture

Deliberate mistake: As Christine approaches the Phantom in his lair (just after he has abducted her), we see that she is wearing very dark black eye-shadow. Back in the dressing room after coming off stage, as she talks to Raoul, we saw her face in close up and she was not wearing any eye-shadow at all, even though the Phantom leads her through the mirror just after she has managed to slip on a robe over her undergarments and she has not yet changed to go out to supper (Raoul says she is to be ready in 2 minutes). Her hair becomes 'bigger' and wilder, too. The change in her appearance is a reference to her descending (voluntarily, I might add - he didn't drag her through that mirror) into the Phantom's dark existence and to her sexual awakening. (00:28:45 - 00:37:10)

More mistakes in The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom: Softly, deftly, music shall carress you. Hear it, feel it, Secretly possess you.

More quotes from The Phantom of the Opera

Trivia: The candles that light instantly as they emerge from the water in the Phantom's Lair were not computer effects - special air-sensitive candles were used. Luckily, the scene was captured well in the first take, as when they tried to re-shoot the scene the candles wouldn't work again.

More trivia for The Phantom of the Opera

Question: During point of no return, the phantom has no disguise on. If everyone was after him, why didn't anyone stop the performance and capture the phantom?

Answer: During "Point of No Return, " the Phantom shares a stage with the very vulnerable Christine. He is still masked, though it is a mask other than his trademark white face covering. The Phantom is well known as a murderer and an escape artist. This is the the equivalent of a hostage situation. To rush the stage might risk lives, and everyone in the know is proceeding with caution. During the song, we do get glimpses of police moving about, and Raoul and others looking concerned, subtly signaling one another and considering their next move. The stage crew seems confused. The dancers go on with the show. And law enforcement officers await the right moment to advance. It also gives us the opportunity to enjoy a dramatic musical number that rushing the stage would interrupt.

Michael Albert

More questions & answers from The Phantom of the Opera

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