This week at The Film Club we are concluding our Musical March with one of the most iconic musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera! This is also a guest episode featuring Phantom phan and aficionado of everything phantom of the opera our sister in law Cielo and brother of the podcast Randy! The film takes place in 1870 Paris, France at an Opera house called Palais Garnier. As the opera house prepares for their new opera “Hannibal” the theater company is introduced to their new managers/ owners of the opera house Richard Firmin and Gilles Andre. While the new managers are being introduced to their new employees they in return announce their newest patron to the opera Viscount Raoul De Chagny, Raoul immediately catches the attention of a chorus girl named Christine Daae who was his childhood sweetheart and hadn’t seen him since they were both children. Raoul doesn’t notice Christine and leaves the opera house, it’s not long after that another man makes himself known it’s the “Opera Ghost”. This ghost lives in the catacombs beneath the opera house and wants the managers to know that they work for him and they must follow his demands. What people don’t know is the opera ghost is Christine’s music teacher and has been training her for years, this training pays off when leading soprano Carlotta Giudicelli abruptly quits because she’s grown tired of the ghosts antics. The new managers are scrambling to replace Carlotta hours before the opera is set to open when ballet mistress Madame Giry suggests Christine audition for the role, the managers are incredulous but are stunned when Christine begins to sing. Christine’s voice enchants the opera guests later that evening at the performance, sparks Raoul’s memory of his long lost sweetheart, and brings pride to her teacher the opera ghost. Thus beginning an epic love triangle. Join us as we dive into the world of The Phantom of the Opera.