The benchmark for gothic films, and indeed thrillers of all sorts as well, is unquestionably the original The Phantom of the Opera. Here is the 1929 version, the best quality of the first version available, with improved sound effects. This gothic nightmare about a disfigured musical genius who imprisons himself in underground catacombs would inspire the creation of such horror staples as Dracula and Frankenstein. But The Phantom of the Opera is not just useful for its historical importance; the film is artfully directed across gorgeous sets, and Lon Chaney delivers one of the most powerfully sympathetic performances in history as the reclusive phantom. That performance also led to what is often referred to as the fightful moments in all of cinema: when the mask is finally removed.
