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IMDbPro

The Phantom of Paris

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
John Gilbert, Jean Hersholt, Leila Hyams, and Lewis Stone in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Cheri-Bibi is an escape artist wrongly imprisoned for murdering the wealthy father of his admirer Cecile. The real murderer is Cecile's fiancé, so how will Bibi escape his death sentence and... Read allCheri-Bibi is an escape artist wrongly imprisoned for murdering the wealthy father of his admirer Cecile. The real murderer is Cecile's fiancé, so how will Bibi escape his death sentence and win back Cecile?Cheri-Bibi is an escape artist wrongly imprisoned for murdering the wealthy father of his admirer Cecile. The real murderer is Cecile's fiancé, so how will Bibi escape his death sentence and win back Cecile?
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John S. Robertson
  • Writers
    • Gaston Leroux(adapted from the novel: "Chéri-Bibi" by)
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(dialogue)
    • John Meehan(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • John Gilbert
    • Leila Hyams
    • Lewis Stone
Top credits
  • Director
    • John S. Robertson
  • Writers
    • Gaston Leroux(adapted from the novel: "Chéri-Bibi" by)
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(dialogue)
    • John Meehan(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • John Gilbert
    • Leila Hyams
    • Lewis Stone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    John Gilbert in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    John Gilbert and Leila Hyams in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    John Gilbert and Natalie Moorhead in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    John Gilbert and Leila Hyams in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    The Phantom of Paris (1931)
    The Phantom of Paris (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Gilbert
    John Gilbert
    • Chéri-Bibi
    Leila Hyams
    Leila Hyams
    • Cecile Bourrelier
    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Detective Costaud
    Jean Hersholt
    Jean Hersholt
    • Herman
    C. Aubrey Smith
    C. Aubrey Smith
    • Bourrelier
    Natalie Moorhead
    Natalie Moorhead
    • Vera
    Ian Keith
    Ian Keith
    • Marquis Du Touchais
    Alfred Hickman
    Alfred Hickman
    • Dr. Gorin
    Sidney Bracey
    Sidney Bracey
    • Volunteer from Audience
    • (uncredited)
    Tyrell Davis
    Tyrell Davis
    • Party Guest - Cigarette Case Trick
    • (uncredited)
    Claire Du Brey
    Claire Du Brey
    • Governess
    • (uncredited)
    Ann Dvorak
    Ann Dvorak
    • Maid
    • (uncredited)
    John George
    John George
    • Prisoner
    • (uncredited)
    Lloyd Ingraham
    Lloyd Ingraham
    • Prison Warden
    • (uncredited)
    Claude King
    Claude King
    • Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    Louise Mackintosh
    Louise Mackintosh
    • Madame Frontenac
    • (uncredited)
    Philo McCullough
    Philo McCullough
    • 1st Volunteer
    • (uncredited)
    Fletcher Norton
    Fletcher Norton
    • Raoul
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John S. Robertson
    • Writers
      • Gaston Leroux(adapted from the novel: "Chéri-Bibi" by)
      • Edwin Justus Mayer(dialogue)
      • John Meehan(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally announced in 1927 as a film starring Lon Chaney under the title 'Seven Seas'.
    • Goofs
      When Cheri-Bibi is about to leave Bourrelier's study, the Cigarette Case Trick Party Guest (Tyrell Davis) starts to open the door, even though Cheri-Bibi is on the other side with his hand on the door handle.
    • Quotes

      Vera: It's a mischievous god that makes women. He has too much fun.

    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Cheri-Bibi (1931)

    User reviews21

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Decent John Gilbert Talkie
    Cheri-Bibi is the most celebrated magician & escape artist in France. Young & debonair, he enjoys the attentions of society & the love of one young woman in particular. But when her wealthy father is found murdered & all evidence points to Bibi, he must put all his considerable talents into evading the law long enough to clear his name - while being forced into living a life in the twilight & shadows as THE PHANTOM OF Paris.

    According to cinematic legend, all the talkie MGM films starring John Gilbert were dreadful - the result of a bitter hatred between Gilbert (the highest paid star in Hollywood, with a $1.5 million contract) & studio boss Louis B. Mayer. A determination on Gilbert's part to fulfill the contract, and a campaign instituted by Mayer to destroy Gilbert's career - including spreading the rumor that Gilbert's voice was 'high & feminine', culminated in several unwatchable movies.

    Not entirely true. The Studio had a huge financial investment in Jack Gilbert and was not going to completely cut its own throat by showcasing him in nothing but dreck. Of the 8 talkies in which he appeared as solo star (1929 - HIS GLORIOUS NIGHT; 1930 - REDEMPTION; WAY FOR A SAILOR; 1931 - GENTLEMAN'S FATE; THE PHANTOM OF Paris; WEST OF Broadway; 1932 - DOWNSTAIRS; 1933 - FAST WORKERS) most were certainly rather ghastly. THE PHANTOM OF Paris, however, was quite decent, and, indeed, fully representative of the material the studio was producing in 1931.

    Gilbert does a fine job through much of the film and has one standout scene - hiding in a cellar - which is excellent and shows what he was really capable of. MGM gives him 3 top drawer co-stars (Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt & marvelous old Sir C. Aubrey Smith) with which to work. The other featured players (Leila Hyams, Ian Keith & Natalie Moorhead) do creditable work. Movie mavens will spot Fletcher Norton in an unbilled role as a society twit.

    Ian Keith was undoubtedly cast as the villain due to his slight resemblance to Gilbert, which is important to the plot, although he is noticeably taller. However, having Gilbert impersonate Keith and fool Hyams, Moorhead or Stone for even a moment is ludicrous and the weakest point in the story.

    Finally, about The Voice. There was nothing at all strange or unnaturally high about Gilbert's voice. As a matter of fact, it was of medium range & rather cultured & refined. Which was the crux of the problem, of course. While it is possible that no voice could have ever matched the perfect one viewers heard in their minds while watching his strong, virile silent roles, the reality was very different from what they wanted to hear (imagine Robert Montgomery's voice coming out of Clark Gable's mouth.) Gilbert was doomed from his first scene in his debut talkie; his war with Mayer only intensified the agony. He would die in 1936, forgotten by most of his former fans, at the age of only 36.
    helpful•22
    4
    • Ron Oliver
    • Jul 10, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cheri-Bibi
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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    John Gilbert, Jean Hersholt, Leila Hyams, and Lewis Stone in The Phantom of Paris (1931)
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