Fear the Chandelier in "Phantom of the Opera"-Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV, we have a pre-Christmas present for you- with a character who was part of the Universal roster of horror even before the advent of talkies! This time he is portrayed by a distinguished actor who can perfectly embody the heartbreak, fury, and insanity of- “The Phantom of the Opera”!

This is the 1943 Technicolor version based on the oft-remade story written by Gaston Leroux about brilliant musician/composer Erique Claudin, whose compositions have sadly been unpublished. His string playing with the Paris Grand Opera has started to become noticeably less precise, and, since he cannot match the perfection expected by the orchestra, the only thing to do is to let him go. Barely surviving from day to day to begin with, he is not only without a way to pay his own bills -but also about to fail in his anonymous sponsorship of Christine, a talented and beautiful young opera star. Claudin, who is obsessed with the sweet talented woman, has secretly been acting as her benefactor, paying for expensive vocal lessons to help her become the great star he knows she has the potential to become! The lovely vocalist has also attracted two rival suitors- the opera’s male star, baritone Anatole, and the local police inspector, Raoul. None of them even suspect Claudin’s hidden passion for Christine!

Claudin feels he must find a way to continue to help Christine train to become a top diva- and meets with more frustration frustrated when a music publisher is indifferent to his proudest composition, based on an old folk song from his youth. He goes to ask that he return his work if he will not publish it. The publisher remains obstinate, and very dismissive of the poor composer- but, as fate would have it-a famous composer has his looked at his manuscript in an adjoining room, and has decided to help bring Claudin's masterwork to the world. He plays it on the piano, and, when Claudin hears it, unaware of what the situation is, flies into a rage- thinking that the publisher has stolen it! He leaps to attack the heartless publisher- only to have the man's assistant try to end his assault with the only weapon available- a pan of caustic acid used to etch the printing plates for musical scores. She throws it in Claudin’s face- and he screams and flees in pain- with his only means of escape from the gendarmes - and the burning pain- being the waters of the sewers beneath the streets!

As time passes, the opera house has begun having unusual problems- costumes, including a mask, are missing- food stored there has disappeared -and a set of keys that opens every door in the opera house is gone as well! One of the opera's managers brings up an old superstition, that a legendary ghost roams the opera house and might be responsible! Around the same time, Christine, alone in a dressing room hears a mysterious voice- telling her that she is destined to become the opera’s greatest star- with "his" assistance.

The occurrences become more serious when it appears the opera’s top diva has been- to use the popular phrase- slipped a “mickey”, allowing Christine to step in to fill her role. The suspicious diva jumps to the conclusion that there is a plot to phase her out and replace her with Christine! The situation becomes more sinister when a mysterious masked figure- the “Phantom” himself- appears, and threatens anyone who stands in the way of Christine’s career with death! Soon, every gendarme available joins Christine's baritone beau and the amorous police inspector in an attempt to protect the singer and the opera house, and capture the Phantom- as he attempts to make good on his threats, driven by his crazed love for Christine-and yet endangering the young singer herself!

This version of the Phantom tale certainly has differences from the silent Lon Chaney film, though it shares the exact same elaborate Paris opera house set built for the first film- presenting it for the first time in dazzling Technicolor! The Phantom, portrayed by the great Claude Rains, is a more sympathetic figure than Chaney's Phantom (a story element still present in the famed modern musical)- and he brings the same sort of mix of pathos and madness to this role as he did to "The Invisible Man". Nelson Eddy, at the time one of the prominent musical film stars in the business, best remembered today for his film duets with Jeanette McDonald, is the starring baritone who adores Christine. We’ll fill you in on him and other familiar faces in the cast- plus- tell you about an original casting plan that didn't happen- which would have changed the film dramatically (and comedically...)! You'll also get a reprise of Sven performing a classical composition that many viewers really feel is one of the top performances in the Goolie repertoire! Plus- there will be seasonal shtick, the Sven Squad auditioning for places in the opera, two special guest stars (one at the door!) and more.

The curtain goes up on the "Phantom of the Opera" tonight at 8pm eastern/pacific, 7 central. You can check for exact time and channel for the show in your area in your local listings, or at www.metv.com. You can join in on the live commenting during the show on both Bluesky and Twitter/X- on either, you can use the hashtag #svengoolie. In the Chicago area this morning, viewers of our sister station, WCIU, the U, can get a second helping of “Dinosaurus!" at 11 am.

Make sure you check out “Kerwyn’s Christmas Corner” here on our website next week- as we wish all of you happy holidays and great times with your family and friends...and don't miss tonight's opera house performance on MeTV! It will bring the house down...or, at least, the chandelier!