Відео

I love A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, have since I was a kid! Blew me away when I found out he originated the role of the Phantom (in this musical, I mean.) Now I'm obsessed.

@highoctaneadventure: You forgot to mention - besides being in 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' ( 1966, Comedy/Musical, with Zero Mostel and Buster Keaton, ) Michael Crawford was also in 'How I Won the War' [ 1967, Comedy/War, with famed The Beatles composer/singer John Lennon ( in his only non-musical acting role, ) ] as well as 'Hello, Dolly!' [ 1969 ( actually released late 1968, ) Musical/Comedy/Romance, based on the Broadway musical, with Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau, directed by Gene Kelly. ]

There is going to be a "Cats" movie but it won't feature anybody from the original cast.

There is supposedly a proshot of the original cast (possibly where the promo video of Michael and Sarah doing Point of No Return was taken from), but the full thing has never been released to the public. I wish they would release it one day, I would most definitely buy it.

That's deep.

Please don't make the same mistake I did. I was born and raised on the original London cast. After I saw one of Crawford's last performances in L.A. (I was around 9), I swore I'd never see another Phantom, because he was always THE Phantom. Over 20 years later, I finally quite being a stubborn ass and watched clips of other Phantoms. Some weren't great, but most were really amazing. I especially love Hugh Panaro. He reminds me a lot of Crawford, but still very unique. I'm so very sad I missed out on his run. Please, get out there and see it live. There's nothing like seeing a musical up close and personal. It's amazing. :)

I relate to your comment more than you could even imagine lol

Why did you censor "God"? Who censors "God"? 😂

Yumi Carrington its not even a good sequel its horrible

@nolan davisn Ikr!! It made me so sad.

***** IKR!! I'm so happy that i'm not the only one. :) The first musical was already sad enough for me!! But have you ever thought about what would have happened if Christine decided to stay with the phantom? o.o

The second one is not bad, guys. It's just different from 'Phantom', but that's because even sequels can differ from it's original source. That's not a bad thing. And honestly? I think the Australian production does it better that London. Though Ramin Karimloo totally nailed he ballad perfectly.

The second one is fine, it's just got other things than 'Phantom'. And that's not a bad thing. Regardless, 'Phantom' still remains one of the best-loved musicals ever, so don't let anything ruin it for you. ;)

The sadness in his voice...

Yes I am--and so are you.

Michael Crawford will always be the best Phantom.

I don't think so, I'm pretty sure it's "I love you" present tense.

Crawford changed the line for his final performance.

Google User It was his final performance; that was why he changed the line. To conclude it.

TrenchcoatWallflower This wasn’t his last show, though. His last performance as the Phantom was either in 1990 or 1991 in the LA production, and that’s when he changed the line to the past tense.

Yeah no that was what he did in his last performance forever, not in this one

Brian Eby lol

Phantom didn't put him on the map. He was already a pretty big name actor at the time

***** He couldn't because he came from a rehearsal of the Wizard of Oz

+TheofficialMBonline besides Ramin Kerimloo was awesome better then warlow tho crawford is still my number 1

Michael was on Vocal Rest after doing the Wizard of Oz; which they called him from to come to the 25th Anniversary in London. Which is why Michael didn't sing. I was bummed too :( <3.

One of the few musicals that has never needed changes, it's perfectly written, story and music. Epic and beautiful!!!

+thelouisfanclub The way i see it, Christine showing him the compassion he never got from everyone else showed him the error of his ways. It's like he realizes even as a big of a monster he was (cuz of his actions) she still pitied him. Christine calls him out on his horrible deeds are not because of his face. He had no real reason to kill Bouquet or Piangi. Also, he tried to kill Christine, other cast members and even audience members by dropping the chandelier. Christine was bowing as it fell and Raoul pulls her out of the way (usually). He also threatens war on Christine and Raoul but then believes it is all Raoul's fault. Then because he doesn't think Christine will willingly be with him, he will force her to be with him. To be honest, I think if Christine would have said yes to the Phantom he would have killed Raoul anyway (In the book Christine says she will stay with him but he lies and goes to kill Raoul and a man known as the Persian but Christine begs him to save them and he does). So Phantom (or Erik if we want to use the name in the book) wakes up and realizes... wow I am hurting someone I love and scaring her to death and basically saying, "Even after everything I did, lying, killing, threatening, physical harm (he does push Christine around a bit in the Finale) you are still are nice to me! I don't deserve your kindness." So he let's her go to be happy with Raoul. He confesses he loves her it's too late for anything to come of it. The best part though is when he disappears because it makes you wonder if maybe... MAYBE he was a spirit and the mystery makes the ending so much better.

Yes, you're right, but I think at this particular moment he seems to hope - that even though he let her go, she won't want to go.. (but of course she does. Of course. The Phantom is insane.)

+thelouisfanclub I think that's what makes it all the better and makes so many people want the Phantom to have a happy ending with Christine because it is so heartbreaking. I think if it ended differently it wouldn't be as big of an emotional impact. Also, I don't think I or a lot of other people would accept it.

"I think if it ended differently it wouldn't be as big of an emotional impact." I liked your take on it, PrincessAries. Also, what I quoted. Exactly! I never did understand the fanfiction type shipping, even as a 12 year old when I first started liking (ok, loving) this story and character. The ending IS pretty much what makes it, to me. And yes it's tragic and heartbreaking and all but, maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment, but that's what sublimates the story. There's no way Christine actually should have chosen/stayed with him, I mean come on lol. I didn't really think that through as a kid though, I just know the whole cathartic and redemptive arc is perfect as it is, as far as the ending goes. I always felt that was the best possible ending the character could get, at least at the stage/place in his life he was in when the story happens. (If things had ever gone better earlier, of course, perhaps it all could have and should have ended way differently). But by then, he was a kind of monster and was too "far gone"...getting that moment of closeness, compassion, love AND redemption....the chance to do the right thing, the sacrifice of it all, for the one he truly loved....that is the best note to end on. That idea might be a little more obvious in the book when he literally goes on about dying of love and God giving him all the happiness the world could offer...lol...but still, in the musical, too, the redemptive arc is essential. The sad part is, yes, he is still alone and it's sad that this kind of ending IS the best kind of ending for him. if he'd been loved and accepted and guided well and given the opportunity to be a valued member of society, he could have had so much more. The tragedy, to me, is his entire life story, not the ending. But it's still sad, obviously, for him to be left alone crying on stage while they ride off into the (sort of) sunset. But alas, alas, again, that was the right thing for him to do and the best thing for him to do, given what his life had been and what it had become, and he got that moment of "love."

Phantom: "No, I just wanted to suck your soul out of your head".

Erik: The secret dementer

+Don Carlson WTF?!

They're called tictaks, Christine

Crawford wasn't in London in 1991....he was more than likely in LA.

yeah they make it so hammy and stupid like every other musical michael is a real actor who can sing well, a gem for a complex character like this

Lancer525 I agree, the other performances are over the be top, caricatures of what should be a nuanced Phantom.

What about Ramin

Lewis Schimer they better chose an Erik who actually has vibrato, let's keep in mind he's supposed to be the angel of music! Whoever casted Gerard seemed to forget that

Yup, pretty much the only thing I liked about the 2004 movie was the costume design.

The rumor is Webber and Macintosh wanted younger people to experience the story but unsure if people would accept an older, ugly, horror, Phantom; the reason Butler was cast as the Phantom.

Melinda Kimme Horrible horrible decision...now Crawford's iconic performance is lost. Younger generations won't even know. ALW has a tape of Brightman and Crawford, I've heard, but he won't release it. Crawford created the phantom, and everyone else is just following his blueprint...it is a slap in the face to him and all who saw him, that there is no documentation available to the public of those special years and Crawford's achievement.

I knew Steve Barton. He was a good man!

Jason Voorhees He seems so cute and adorable and cuddly. :-) His voice is so soothing. I felt really bad when I learned what happened.

Psybur go look at his versions of the Phantom. He sound WAY DIFFERENT

Jason Voorhees He played the Phantom sometimes?!

Psybur oh yeah! He was The Phantom for some time