The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)

The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 British film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webbers 1986 musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the French novel Le Fantme de lOpra by Gaston Leroux. It was produced and cowritten by Lloyd Webber and directed by Joel Schumacher. It stars Gerard Butler in the title role, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daa, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry, and Minnie Driver as Carlotta Giudicelli.

In the year 1911, the Opra Populaire holds a public auction to clear the theatres vaults. The Vicomte de Chagny purchases a papiermch music box in the shape of a monkey and eyes it sadly as Madame Giry, an aged woman dressed in black, watches him. The auctioneer then presents a shattered chandelier as the next item up for bid, it flickers to life and slowly ascends to its original place in the rafters as the audience is transported back in time to the year 1870., explaining that it once played a key role in the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opra. As the chandelier is displayed for all to see,Back to this time, while the company rehearses for a performance of the grand opera Hannibal, manager Monsieur Lefvre announces that he has decided to retire and that the Opra has been purchased by Richard Firmin and Gilles Andr, two men who have no experience with the arts whatsoever. When resident soprano Carlotta Giudicelli begins to sing for the managers, a backdrop collapses and causes everyone to blame the Opra Ghost, a mysterious figure who is rumored to live in the catacombs beneath the theatre. Carlotta refuses to sing and storms offstage, leaving Firmin and Andr no choice but to cancel the performance. At the last minute, ballet mistress Madame Giry suggests that dancer Christine Daa take Carlottas place as she has been well taught. The managers reluctantly agree and, to their surprise, Christine wins them over. ........

Source: Wikipedia