The Phantom of the Opera

Comte Philippe de Chagny discovers Christine Daaé's singing talent at a county fair and sends her to his friend Gérard Carrière, director of the Parisian opera. However, just when she arrives, Carrière is dismissed. His successor, the arrogant Alain Choleti, refuses to allow a woman of low birth perform in his opera, but graciously employs Christine as gadrobiere for his primadonna wife Carlotta, who's installed as first singer. He also battles the Phantom, an unknown figure in the catacombs below, granted privileges by Carrière. Christine becomes the Phantom's protégé, unaware that her being his muse makes him increasingly dangerous.

The Phantom of the Opera (1990) is an American miniseries created by Arthur Kopit for NBC. Adapted from the novel by Gaston Leroux, this two-part gothic romance follows Christine Daaé (Teri Polo), a young singer discovered at a county fair and sent to Paris, where she lands a humble post as dresser to the diva Carlotta Choleti (Andréa Ferréol) at a grand opera house. Her life runs on the unseen support of a masked figure who lives in the catacombs beneath the stage, a man known only as the Phantom and played by Charles Dance. Burt Lancaster appears as the former opera director Gérard Carrière, while Adam Storke plays Count Philippe de Chagny, a nobleman who watches Christine's rise with growing concern. The engine of the story is a fragile new career pressed against a hidden admirer whose devotion grows ever more possessive. Told across two long episodes with a lavish belle epoque look, the series moves through backstage intrigue, glittering performances and dark underground corridors. Its tone is melodramatic and brooding, with a romantic sweep that suits fans of Jane Eyre and Dangerous Liaisons and of the 1925 silent version of the same tale.

• The Phantom of the Opera (1925)gothic romance with a tormented masked figure haunting an opera house, lush period melodrama
• Jane Eyre (1996)gothic romantic melodrama built on obsession and a doomed love triangle
• Dangerous Liaisonsperiod romance with a secret obsessive lover and operatic emotional excess

Created by

Arthur Kopit

Release Date

1990-03-18

Episode runtime

168 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (49)

What is The Phantom of the Opera about?

A county fair singer is secretly groomed by a masked figure in the catacombs beneath a Parisian opera house, where her rising fame draws his dangerous obsession.

What is The Phantom of the Opera like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Phantom of the Opera as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Phantom of the Opera violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Phantom of the Opera as mild.

Which shows are like The Phantom of the Opera?

Shows with a similar feel include The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Jane Eyre (1996), and Dangerous Liaisons.

How long is The Phantom of the Opera?

The Phantom of the Opera: 1 season, 2 episodes.

Is The Phantom of the Opera still running?

No, The Phantom of the Opera has ended.