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Cast members would often tug on it as a joke between takes. (12) To add to his deformity, Gerard Butler had a string tied just below his eye to cause it to appear more deformed when pulled down.
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(11) The instruction to “Keep your hand at the level of your eyes” is another reference from the book, in which the Phantom was adept at disposing of victims with the “Punjab lasso.” Keeping one’s hand at the level of one’s eyes kept the Punjab lasso away from the victim’s neck and was the only defense. This is a reference to the original Phantom of the Opera novel, in which the Phantom used the mirrored chamber as a torture chamber to drive victims insane. (10) At the end of the Masquerade scene, Raoul briefly enters a circular chamber full of mirrors. At the time of shooting, Emmy was 16, Patrick Wilson (Raoul) was 30, and Gerard Butler (The Phantom) was 34. (9) Emmy Rossum (Christine Daae) is much younger than her male counterparts, both whom she kissed in the movie. (8) In the transition where Christine is contemplating and moving towards engaging the coach to take her to her father’s grave, the melody playing is “Beneath a Moonless Sky,” a duet between Christine and the Phantom from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s sequel to Phantom entitled “Love Never Dies.” (7) Charlotte Church and Anne Hathaway were considered for the role of Christine Daaé. This effect was done in one take and didn’t work again after that. (6) The lit candelabras that rise from the water were not done with special effects or CGI lights: the special wicks ignited when they reached the air. There was also a third chandelier made, that was equipped with electricity and lighting for the opening scene. It had a stunt double for riskier scenes.
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(5) The chandelier weighed 2.2 tons, cost $1.3 million, and was provided by Swarovski. Her father in the movie version, and both Raoul and the Phantom on the stage. (4) In playing Christine’s father in this movie, Ramin Karimloo becomes the first actor to have played all three of Christine’s loves.
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