The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - 57 questions

Question: I've got a question about "The Point of no Return" scene. Is Christine just cleverly acting her role or does she mean what she is singing - "these shameless words"? Raoul is suspecting the second and the Phantom is, to some extent deceived, but what about Christine? The question is presumably open to interpretations, but it would be nice to know your opinion.

Question: Why does Christine unmask the phantom at the end of singing "Past the Point of No Return"?

Answer: Because at that point, as unlikely as it seems, pretty much everybody else thought that was still Piangi (whom the Phantom killed just before replacing him). Since Christine has been used as a lure, she had to show the others that he was there.

Question: The last few seconds in the movie - the rose with the ring lying beside Christine's grave - turns back to colour. I can't figure out the message behind. Can anyone help?

Answer: The rose tied with the black ribbon and the ring were left by the Phantom. The rose symbolizes the love the Phantom and Christine had for each other, and its turning to red shows that this love still exists beyond death.

Question: When the scene with the song "Why So Silent" takes place, how long has it been since anyone last saw/heard from the Phantom?

Answer: As said in Masquerade, "Six months of relief, of delight, of Elysian peace."

Question: This question might sound odd, but how has La Carlotta become so successful if a lot of people don't like her voice very much (as seen when she sings "Think of Me" before Christine tries)?

Answer: The fact that the "in the know" people don't like her doesn't mean that she doesn't have a huge public and make a killing at the box office. Think Britney Spears.

Question: After Christine chooses Raoul at the end of the movie, does the Phantom keep living in the opera house?

Answer: In a work of fiction, we can only know what is revealed to us. In the original novel, the Phantom's death notice appears in the paper three weeks after Christine leaves. The stage musical ends with his escape/disappearance. Only in this movie version are we given a hint that he might be alive years later.] [In a work of fiction, we can only know what is revealed to us. In the original novel, the Phantom's death notice appears in the paper three weeks after Christine leaves. The stage musical ends with his escape/disappearance. Only in this movie version are we given a hint that he might be alive years later.

Question: The Phantom refers to himself as Christine's "angel of music" in the song called "The Mirror". How did he know that Christine thought her father would send her an angel? Did he know her father?

Answer: As shown in the movie, Christine has spent time praying in the chapel as a child. It would not be unexpected for a child of such a young age to literally speak to her dead father in such situations, mentioning his promise in the process, thus allowing the Phantom to hear about it. In the book, though, it is understood that Mr. Daaé and the Phantom knew each other. By sending his daughter to the Opéra populaire after his death, he might have wanted the Phantom to look over her.

Question: What does the Phantom mean when he refers to Raoul as a "slave of fashion" (in the scene before the "Phantom of the Opera" song)?

Answer: Simply that he thinks Raoul is a fop that looks much nicer on the outside than he probably is on the inside. He's jealous and believes Raoul is using Christine.

Question: Madame Giry has history with the Phantom but she still seems to be frightened by him and wont let Meg go to his lair. Would the Phantom actually harm either of them?

Answer: Mme Giry is afraid of him because while she is his friend and his willing means of communication with the outside world, she knows full well of what he's capable. But unless she betrayed him, it's unlikely he'd harm her as she's the only friend he's ever known. And he would have no more reason to hurt Meg than he would anyone else: if she doesn't get in the way of his plans, she's safe. If her mother prevents her from going to the lair, it only because of the violence that will take place there momentarily.

Question: Why did the Phantom always ask for Box 5 to be open for him? I know he wanted to watch the play from it, but if someone wanted to find him (after the trouble he causes to make Christine the star of the plays), they would know exactly where to look for him during any play.

Answer: In Gaston Leroux's novel, box 5 has in its wall a secret passageway with special acoustic properties that allows him to watch shows without being seen while remaining hidden. That is why he picked that box and no one ever sees him in it. Legend even has it that a column in box 5 of the actual Opéra Garnier rings hollow when you knock on it.

Question: How does the Phantom get his salary? I know he tells Firmin, "Send it care of the Ghost by return of post," but what exactly does this mean? And also, what does he do with his salary?

Answer: Mme Giry acts as the intermediary. She brings the notes, so sending the money by return of post means the money should be given to her to pass it on. As for what he does with it, the luxury of his clothing and lair bears witness that he doesn't pile it. He spends it on anything that will bring beauty around him, whether it's a wig, a mask, clothes, furniture or anything else. And it wouldn't be surprising if a few bribes weren't given here and there.

Question: When I was growing up in the 90's I saw a movie at some point that was pretty much a spin off of Phantom. A man taught a young girl how to sing at his house and I believe he forced her to live with him.anyone know which film I may be talking about?

Answer: Rigoletto (1993). You can find information here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107961/

Question: I really liked the deleted song, "No One Would Listen". Is it available on any versions of the movie soundtrack? The one I've got only includes "Learn to be Lonely".

Answer: There are currently two versions of the movie soundtrack in English. A one disc version contains the primary songs from the movie and a two-disc version that includes a complete production, including dialog. Neither contains (sadly) the song, "No One Would Listen".

Question: A thought occurred to me and my mum after we had seen the film at the cinema. Mme. Giry and the Phantom are friends, and probably grew up seeing a lot of each other, and there is never any mention of Meg's father of Mme. Giry's husband. Is it possible the Phantom could be Meg's father?

Answer: For the movie, it's one theory that's been put forward. But it's unlikely, because of the lyrics of "No One Would Listen," where he pretty much says (among other things) that he's never been as close to anyone as to Christine.

Question: Why is there always a midget version of Piangi's character in the operas?

Answer: Midgets were common at the time in that type of shows, where they were used as a comic relief.

Question: During "Masquerade/Why so Silent" Raoul looks around and leaves, where does he go?

Answer: He goes off to get a sword. When he comes back, he has the weapon and was intending to fight the phantom.

Question: During the "Don Juan" opera, when do Christine and Raoul realize that it's the Phantom onstage, instead of the actor?

Answer: Christine recognises him as soon as he opens his mouth–you see her being slightly shocked. Raoul takes a bit more time, and it's not as obvious. I'd say when you see him getting half up, that's when it dawns on him, but that's open to interpretation.

Question: In the extras DVD of the deluxe boxset, there are a few videos of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman performing the opera (and from what I can tell the video looks from around the time or the original stage show). But it looks to be very much done for the camera (rather than just a recording of the show being performed live). Was the whole opera done in this way, using the original cast? And was it released? I can't find any reference to it at all on IMDB. If it has been released, where can I find it?

Answer: In 1986-1987, before the show actually premiered, a few songs featuring Sarah Brightman were released to promote it, including the signature theme, featuring both her and Steve Harley (and not, as is often assumed, Michael Crawford). Although the song is from the stage musical, the lyrics used were not the definitive ones and the accompanying video was specially recorded for promotion purposes and was not from the actual show.

Question: One mistake refers to Christine's "sexual awakening". Did she actually sleep with the Phantom of the Opera or did she just spend the night there?

Answer: She just spent the night there. The whole time while she was asleep he was playing music.

Question: Between what scenes did they want to put the deleted scene "No one would listen"?

Answer: According to the script, right after the Masquerade (you can see his costume lying on a chair).