Corrected entry: The events of the entire film are all derived from the fact that Claudin has a newly developed hand disorder and can no longer play difficult pieces on the violin or piano. In the scene just after Marie has threatened him that if she doesn't get the rent he'll be evicted, we see him playing his difficult composition on his piano, and it is made obvious that he is in pain. But in the scene where he has kidnapped Christine and taken her to his lair, he is playing the exact same piece with no hint of discomfort.
Phantom of the Opera (1943)
1 corrected entry
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
Starring: Claude Rains, Edgar Barrier, Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster
Continuity mistake: The Phantom's right eye only becomes disfigured once he's unmasked - it's normal the rest of the time.
Trivia: When Claudin thinks his concerto has been stolen, he goes into a frenzy and attacks the music publisher. The publisher's assistant, Georgette, stops the attack by splashing a tray full of powerful etching acid into Claudin's face. Oddly, Claudin does not recoil when she throws the acid; rather, he leans forward, as if to ensure that it the liquid strikes him full in the face. Which is precisely what happened. To avoid having to shoot the messy scene more than once, we see actor Claude Rains deliberately leaning into the splash for a thorough dousing.
Question: Did Claude Rains really play the piano here?
Answer: No, Claude Rains was not a trained musician. He was coached on how to play the violin and piano, but Rains' playing was dubbed over in post-production.
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Correction: Eric did not have a hand disorder at all. He played sub-par because he was disturbed that Christine wasn't there for the curtain call and the conductor was afraid it was his age so he laid him off. The trouble he had in his apartment was stress, not pain. And even if he was in pain from his hand, he would have forgotten it in joy of hearing his concerto being played and Christine seemingly agreeing to stay with him.
He DID have a hand disorder (probably arthritis). He tells the conductor that there is something wrong with the fingers on his right hand when he is questioned about why he was playing so poorly.