about the movie...

CAST

Gerard Butler .... The Phantom
Emmy Rossum .... Christine
Patrick Wilson .... Raoul
Miranda Richardson .... Madame Giry
Minnie Driver .... Carlotta
Ciarán Hinds .... Firmin
Simon Callow .... Andre
Victor McGuire .... Piangi
Jennifer Ellison .... Meg Giry
Murray Melvin .... Reyer
Kevin McNally .... Buquet
James Fleet .... Lefevre
Imogen Bain .... Carlotta's Maid
Miles Western .... Carlotta's Wigmaker
Judith Paris .... Carlotta's Seamstress
Halcro Johnston .... Passirino

The Story

His voice calls to her, nurturing her extraordinary talents from the shadows of the opera house where innocent chorus girl Christine Daae (EMMY ROSSUM) makes her home. Only ballet mistress Madame Giry (MIRANDA RICHARDSON) knows that Christine's mysterious "Angel of Music" is actually the Phantom (GERARD BUTLER), a disfigured musical genius who haunts the catacombs of the theatre, terrifying the ensemble of artists who live and work there.

When temperamental diva La Carlotta (MINNIE DRIVER) walks out in the middle of a dress rehearsal for the company's latest production, the theatre's eager new managers (SIMON CALLOW and CIARAN HINDS) have no choice but to thrust Christine into the spotlight.

Her mesmerizing opening night performance captivates both the audience and the Phantom, who devotes himself to casting his protégé as the opera's next star. But he is not the only powerful man to be awed by the young soprano, as Christine soon finds herself courted by the theatre's wealthy patron, the Vicompte Raoul de Chagny (PATRICK WILSON).

Though she is enthralled by her charismatic mentor, Christine is undeniably drawn to the dashing Raoul, enraging the Phantom and setting the stage for a dramatic crescendo in which soaring passions, fierce jealousies and obsessive love threaten to drive the fated lovers past the point of no return.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Odyssey Entertainment, a Really Useful Films / Scion Films production of a film by Joel Schumacher, The Phantom of the Opera, starring GERARD BUTLER, EMMY ROSSUM, PATRICK WILSON, MIRANDA RICHARDSON and MINNIE DRIVER.

Directed by JOEL SCHUMACHER from a screenplay by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & JOEL SCHUMACHER, the film is produced by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. The executive producers are AUSTIN SHAW, PAUL HITCHCOCK, LOUISE GOODSILL, RALPH KAMP, JEFF ABBERLEY, JULIA BLACKMAN and KEITH COUSINS. The co-producer is ELI RICHBOURG.

The director of photography is JOHN MATHIESON; the production designer is ANTHONY PRATT; the film is edited by TERRY RAWLINGS, A.C.E.; the costume designer is ALEXANDRA BYRNE; the visual effects supervisor is NATHAN MCGUINNESS; and the choreographer is PETER DARLING.

The music is by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, lyrics by CHARLES HART, and additional lyrics by RICHARD STILGOE. The music co-producer is NIGEL WRIGHT. The music supervisor and conductor is SIMON LEE. Originally produced for the stage by CAMERON MACKINTOSH & THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP. Based upon the novel "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra" by GASTON LEROUX. Stage play directed by HAROLD PRINCE.