The Phantom of the Opera
Few works of French literature resonate with audiences like Le Fantôme de l'Opéra , or as it's better known in English, The Phantom of the Opera . Written by Gaston Leroux, the story of a horribly disfigured, homicidal specter that haunts a Parisian opera house who falls in love with an up-and-coming singer has captivated audiences and influenced pop culture for over a century and shows no signs of slowing down. Gaston Leroux 1st edition cover of the French version by Adolphe Cossard First adapted into a film version in 1916 ( Das Phantom der Oper ) of which all copies have been lost or destroyed. The second adaptation is probably the most famous celluloid adaptation to date - 1925's The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney and subsequently setting the stage for all future adaptations of the story. Lon Chaney as the Phantom The reveal still stands as a t...