More contemporary 8x10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the classic 1940's Technicolor horror film, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, released in 1943 by Universal Pictures and directed by Arthur Lubin. Based upon the novel by Gaston Leroux, an acid-scarred composer (Claude Rains) rises from the Paris sewers to boost his favorite opera understudy's (Susanna Foster) career. The cast includes Nelson Eddy, Edgar Barrier, Leo Carrillo, Jane Farrar, J. Edward Bromberg, Fritz Feld, and Frank Puglia. The image features an interior publicity shot of opera composer Erique Claudin (Claude Rains) in his guise as the Phantom as he pulls his cloak inwards while looking off-camera. It is in very fine condition without any pinholes, tears, creases, stains, writing, or other flaws. Claude Rains accepted to play the Phantom under the condition that no overdone disfiguration would be made. Jack Pierce succeeded in fulfilling his requirement, according to the documentary included in the DVD release. The original script revealed Claudin to be Christine's father, who abandoned her and her mother in order to pursue a musical career. When this was excised from the final film, it left Claudin's obsession with Christine unexplained. Stage 28, one of the oldest on the Universal Backlot, that was used for the silent version of The Phantom of the Opera in 1925 and re-used for the sound remake of Phantom of the Opera in 1943 was unfortunately demolished in 2015 to make way for major new attractions in the Universal Theme Park. The surviving Opera House set, also used in the remake and in many other classic films over the last 90+ years, was dismantled and placed in storage. One of the oldest surviving sets from the silent era, its whereabouts are now unknown.