# Phantom of the Opera: odd film line **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834 "2005-06-18T19:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/1 "2005-06-18T19:43:32Z")
In the film version of PTO, which is only worth seeing for a couple scenes including the giant “Masquerade” number, the caretaker of the phantom says to the viscount that she’ll take him to the phantom, but she reminds him to always keep his hand or fist up near his eye. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/2 "2005-06-18T19:46:40Z")
The Phantom has the Punjab Lasso, which he uses to strangle people. Keeping your hand up in front of your face will make it difficult for him to kill you with the lasso. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/3 "2005-06-18T19:54:03Z")
Ok, what’s a Punjab Lasso? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/4 "2005-06-18T20:00:53Z")
Essentially it is a noose (rope loop) on the end of a fishing wire. He’ll loop your neck, and then pull you up in the air, and it will look like you are being hung without anything supporting the rope. He does it to Raoul at the very end, and also to the guy who worked behind stage towards the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/5 "2005-06-18T20:14:46Z")
Dr. Hess from Cyber Marrionettes? ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/6 "2005-06-18T21:22:11Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > Essentially it is a noose (rope loop) on the end of a fishing wire. He’ll loop your neck, and then pull you up in the air, and it will look like you are being hung without anything supporting the rope. [grammar nitpick] Pictures are _hung_; people are _hanged_. [/grammar nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/7 "2005-06-18T21:49:27Z")
Well, _some_ people are hung. The ‘hand at the level of your eyes’ bit was also in the book, for the same reason- to keep the Phantom from hooking the lasso around one’s neck. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/8 "2005-06-18T21:50:41Z")
[Terry Pratchett nitpick] “… Did you know Doctor Undershaft was strangled before he was hung?” “Hanged,” said Bucket, without thinking. “People are hanged. Dead meat is hung.” “Indeed?” said Salzella. “I appreciate the information. Well, poor old Undershaft was strangled, apparently. And then he was hung.” [/TP nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/9 "2005-06-18T23:41:32Z")
> [@drhess](#): > > In the film version of PTO, which is only worth seeing for a couple scenes including the giant “Masquerade” number, I just have to say I disagree. Not the movie of the year or even the week but I rather liked it all the same. Probably because I really liked the Phantom and was rooting for him. The girl was pretty, too. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/10 "2005-06-19T03:41:50Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I just have to say I disagree. Not the movie of the year or even the week but I rather liked it all the same. > > Probably because I really liked the Phantom and was rooting for him. The girl was pretty, too. I liked it, but I thought the play was better. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/11 "2005-06-19T03:56:05Z")
I thought Masquerade was a low point in the film. But overall I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/12 "2005-06-19T03:57:03Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I liked it, but I thought the play was better. Well, yes. No doubt about that. But the movie did a pretty good job of translating it onto screen. Plus I really liked the effect of having everything “modern day” be in black & white while all the era of the Phantom was in beautiful color. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/13 "2005-06-19T04:18:00Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I thought Masquerade was a low point in the film. I thought it was pretty neat how this was woven back into the Finale. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/14 "2005-06-19T04:59:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I just have to say I disagree. Not the movie of the year or even the week but I rather liked it all the same. > > Probably because I really liked the Phantom and was rooting for him. The girl was pretty, too. Mm, no, sorry, won’t buy it. Andrew Lloyd Webber, as far as I’m concerned, should be watched for the music. The plots are generally pretty silly (okay, this is true about a lot of Broadway, except Webber doesn’t usually write music that sounds Broadway). The minor plot differences between play and movie weren’t a big deal, that happens. But the singing? The singing was horrid on so many levels. This takes place an opera, and is largely about music- not pop music or Broadway music, but real music. We would be tempted to assume that the people at an opera would know how to sing, and maybe even sing with Italian vowels. Apparently not. Anything vocal in this song uses bad Broadway-esque tone, and it doesn’t work. Broadway tone never translates well to serious vocal music. It sounds bad, especially with the supposedly music-obsessed phantom. Christine Daie’s solo bit on stage was almost as bad- the actress obviously wasn’t singing (you can’t get those high notes with that sort of mouth-shape), but the actual vocalist wasn’t great either. Then we have those bits that were sung in the play, but spoken/whispered in rythm in the movie… Pardon the semi-rant. I wasn’t impressed by the movie, even though Christine is definitely hot. And yes, I’m a choir snob. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/15 "2005-06-19T05:13:35Z")
For any who like the Phantom, might I recommend [The Angel of the Opera.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1883402468/104-5820955-6306364?v=glance) ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/16 "2005-06-19T05:18:56Z")
> [@eustachian≠fallopian](#): > > But the singing? The singing was horrid on so many levels. The guy who played the Phantom was simply crap. Colm Wilkinson \> Michael Crawford \> bathroom noises I make \> Gerald Butler Thank you, I’ll be here all week. **Rat** , I’ve just placed an order for the book. I needed something to flush the taste of _Lo’s Diary_ out of my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/17 "2005-06-19T05:22:36Z")
🆒 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/18 "2005-06-19T05:22:51Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I thought Masquerade was a low point in the film. > > But overall I liked it. Agreed. Although I could have managed to at least stand it if it weren’t for the freakin’ VOGUING! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/19 "2005-06-19T05:24:25Z")
> [@Stark Raven Mad](#): > > The guy who played the Phantom was simply crap. > > Colm Wilkinson \> Michael Crawford \> bathroom noises I make \> Gerald Butler Mmm…Colm Wilkinson singing… Although he’s so identified with Jean Valjean in my mind that when I heard his _Impossible Dream_ I was seeing Frances Ruffele as Pancho Sanza. Which is as disturbing as it sounds, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834/20 "2005-06-19T05:34:46Z")
His Phantom (Canadian cast recording) is my favorite, of all the ones I’ve heard. Incredibly, incredibly evil. Another upside of the recording is Sarah Brightman’s non-presence therein. I even prefer Emmy Rossum’s Christine over hers. **eustachian≠fallopian** - that _is_ Rossum singing in the film (she’s had a bit of classical training, IIRC) - but they dubbed her over with herself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phantom-of-the-opera-odd-film-line/308834.md?page=2)