Total: 4700 Guests

 

The Michael Crawford Phantom Movie Campaign Guestbook

Total: 100 guests
Wednesday 01/24/2001 8:41:23pm
Name: Linda Okada
E-Mail: lhokada@lemoorenet.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Hanford, CA
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: It really does matter to me how the world sees this proposed film. I have been lucky enough to see the play many times, and my perception and love of each production differed with the quality of the cast on stage. I saw the London cast several months ago, and was positively agast. It did not have any of the heart, love and sensuality that drew me to the play time and time again; I do not want people who were not as lucky as I was, who was able to see the play in all its glory, to think that this is what we raved about for all these years.

I want that beautiful performance preserved for all time. Not everybody is lucky enough to be able to go to theater and see the work on stage, but many more people are able to spend a couple of dollars to rent a video. I'd like the version that they choose, to be able to sweep them away with the romantic feel, and the ability to drop one to her knees, as the MC's original version did to me.
Wednesday 01/24/2001 5:10:45pm
Name: Paulie
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?:
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments:
Pieces that stick out in my mind after 10 years and as many other Phantoms...
MOTN: The whole audience swayed slowly back and forth... we were ALL under the spell...I have never been as enchanted at ANY performance or by any other piece of music before or since... The first mask removal... at the mirror, MC had positioned himself "Just so"... when he raised his head the reflection was cut off at the neck just as he uncovered that side... infuriatingly clever! The Agony of the farewell scene... STILL brings tears to my eyes... It was as if he'd found out our every pain of saying goodbye and distilled it into a single moment.... THIS is the performance that should be captured for the world to share and preserved for all time. It wasn't the make up or the mask.. it was the MAN underneath it whom made it so memorably heartwrenching.
Wednesday 01/24/2001 5:03:01pm
Name: mojo
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?:
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: i have one word about banderas as Phantom.
"EVITA"
Wednesday 01/24/2001 4:58:46pm
Name: Debbie Detjen
E-Mail: cyrax01@microd.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Florida
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: I think Antonio Bandaras is fine in many of the things I've seen him in but not the phantom. That part belongs to Michael Crawford. I also think that no-one besides Sarah Brightman should play Christine.
Wednesday 01/24/2001 4:07:49pm
Name: Jayne Ross
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Ireland
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Whilst I understand that Warner Bros. is probably thinking that Michael Crawford will not appeal to a wide audience, too old, etc. Do they not understand that everyone (who they want to attend the movie) wants him to play the role he created? Even people who are not die-hard fans, who have not seen it on stage, associate him with the role. Does the strength of feeling generated on this issue not illustrate this point to them? As for him maybe being too old, etc, I met him not too long ago in Dublin, and believe me, he still has it. I’m only 25, but take it from me; the man has it, such charisma, charm, and eyes that I can only describe as ones to look into you, not at you.
Wednesday 01/24/2001 12:54:50am
Name: Daryn Jackson
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Lancaster, CA
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: I like your new changes. Michael for Phantom!!!!!!!!
Tuesday 01/23/2001 10:43:16pm
Name: Ann Hoag
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Ohio
Referred By: Search Engine
Comments: Antonio Banderas exuding more sex appeal than Michael Crawford? Until Antonio learns to sing, I'll never be convinced. Of course Michael Crawford deserves the role. I hope to see him in the theater.
Tuesday 01/23/2001 8:10:59pm
Name: Kandace Pansire
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Tulane University
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: My name is Kandace, and I am an 18 year old Anthropology major at Tulane University. I just wanted to write a short note letting whomever out there who's reading this know that the only man who can portray Erik with the sensitivity and depth necessary for the character is Michael Crawford. He doesn't just play the character; he becomes the character. No one, and I've seen a few try, can give themselves over to the role the way that Mr. Crawford is able to. It is a shame that he has not been given the honor he deserves to reprise the role on film. It's a shame for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber as well, for it seems that he will only discover his folly too late, when his movie flops at the box-office (for I can't imagine myself or anyone I know who would want to see the movie without Michael). Can you imagine what "The King and I" would have been like without Yul Brynner? I can only hope that someone comes to their senses before it is too late; because what could have been a timeless classic will fade into the background as a laughable flop.
Monday 01/22/2001 11:26:26pm
Name: Susan Sterios
E-Mail: STSterios@SFG.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Alameda, CA
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I never had the pleasure of seeing Michael in the Phantom, but I did go to Las Vegas to see him in EFX. It was fabulous.
Monday 01/22/2001 7:09:48pm
Name: Nadine Allen
E-Mail: Mlady8000@aol.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: New Hampshire
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Micahael Crawford is the one and only
Phantom forever !!!!!!
Monday 01/22/2001 3:14:16pm
Name: Jane fairlee
E-Mail: fairlee@epix.net
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: PA
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I was always taught that the first rule of business is that the customer is always right. The second rule is: See the first rule. Making movies is an extremely risky business. WB blamed part of their lackluster last quarter on the poor performance of Little Nicky. They seem to be worried a great deal about the appeal of Musicals in general and seem to be totally clueless as to what makes them work. Here's a hint WB...IT'S THE CASTING. Annie (the TV version) was superbly cast with people who could sing and was the number 1 show of the year. Gepetto was not.

With Phantom of the Opera WB has a proven story line, a show that has outgrossed Titanic, and the potential for a gigantic hit that people will want to see over and over IF it is done well. They have the advantage of a ready made audience that is telling them as loudly as possible what they want and what makes the show work. They have the opportunity to make the show with the actor who created the role and won every possible award for it and who, 10 years later is STILL as connected to the role in the public eye as Yul Brynner was to the King. This is an actor who was soooo good in the role that people lined up for hours and some even slept overnight at the boxoffice to try to get tickets. People saw it multiple times and practically commuted each weekend from the other coast. Tickets were scalped for thousands of dollars. People still talk about the performance. This is the reaction they ought to want for the movie but apparently don't.

If they ignore the people that made the show a hit with their attendance; if they ignore their "customers" who are telling them what they want; if they persist in casting someone other than Michael Crawford as the phantom, then HOW on earth are they going to explain to their stockholders what happened when the movie fails. This is a case where their customers are telling them, loudly and in advance, what they want. Do they think if they make an inferior version of POTO that their customers aren't going to notice? Don't they know that the reviewers and the phantom fans have something to compare the movie to and that they will do so? Remember the Avengers? Do they really want to read letters to the editors all over the country attacking them on their failure to listen to their audience? Do they really want to see the field day the financial papers will have with them over this movie if it fails after they have ignored the warnings of their core audience. Talk about risk taking!!!

They blow this movie and trample on people's dreams they don't get to walk away from it. They don't get to shrug it off as normal movie luck. Someone is going to have to explain how they took a hit show and turned it into a flop despite plenty of advance warnings. That should be an interesting explanation. Personally I hope I never have to hear it. I hope they come to their senses and cast Michael Crawford. Remember the first rule of business. In the end the customers decide, and in a musical the voice counts.
Monday 01/22/2001 10:07:16am
Name: Tiffany
E-Mail: ba2k@optonline.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: New Jersey
Referred By: Search Engine
Comments: I have been dying to see the Phantom of the Opera with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightmand brought to Video or DVD because I haven't been able to see it on Broadway. I really hope they cast those two as the phantom and Christine. Please get them to do that. Thanks.
Monday 01/22/2001 4:04:06am
Name: Becky and Roy Putnam
E-Mail: tworputnam
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: La Mirada, California
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments:
Monday 01/22/2001 0:41:34am
Name: robert connell
E-Mail: bc@execpc.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: milwaukee wisconsin
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: Am a big fan of Michael Crawford in this role...was hooked on the music by the CD..have seen the musical 3 times...none of the phantoms could compare to the recording.....or to seeing Mr. Crawford sing in concert just one song from phantom....I would strongly urge whoever is listening to cast him for the part...i was not interested in musicals until bought this cd...he was made for this part...did not like banderas in evita at all and it would be a big mistake to cast him in the part
Sunday 01/21/2001 6:25:15pm
Name: Claire Smith
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Nottingham, England
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: Michael Crawford IS the Phantom.
Saturday 01/20/2001 11:55:10pm
Name: Sarah Dietson
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Downers Grove, IL
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: This role is Crawford's one ewe lamb. How cruel it would be for Banderas to steal it away when he already has so many famous performances to his credit. At least Julie Andrews had other movie parts that will go down in history--but our dearest Mr. Crawford, what does he have but this one part into which he has poured the entirety of his being? And after all his tireless work and monumental achievements, shall Banderas (who is nowhere near as good as Crawford in this role) instead be preserved on film as the Phantom for all posterity merely because his face (which no one will recognize under grotesque makeup) happens to be more well-known to the populace? Hollywood rots!
Saturday 01/20/2001 10:29:48pm
Name: Keith Alder
E-Mail: sigerson5-at-yahoo-dot-com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Pittsburgh, PA
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: Adding my voice to the multitudes, tilting at the windmills that are WB and LLW...
Saturday 01/20/2001 9:55:09pm
Name: Jeni Berdan
E-Mail: punkin0234@YAHOO.COM
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Wisconsin, USA
Referred By: Web Ring
Comments: I think Mc should for sure be in the movie he was the original Erik
Saturday 01/20/2001 5:00:20pm
Name: Joe Scribner
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Downers Grove, IL
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: It makes me furious that Webber would stab all his loyal fans in the back like this, for the petty sake of a crowd who most likely doesn't even know who he is! How can he be so stuck up that he refuses to acknowledge what he owes us? Give us our Phantom, we deserve him!
Saturday 01/20/2001 10:08:33am
Name: Wishbone
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?:
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: If they are finally going to make this movie, they should finally get around to casting Michael Crawford. If they choose anyone else, I just won't be interested in seeing it. I have seen the show several times and seen several different Phantoms, but Crawford is the only one who has got what it takes to make people believe in this character. HE SHOULD BE THE PHANTOM IN THE MOVIE.
I hope Warners and Lord Webber read this guestbook and see for themselves just how many people feel strongly about this.
Saturday 01/20/2001 10:05:20am
Name: Diane Flogerzi
E-Mail: dflogerzi@qnet.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Palmdale, CA
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Recently there has been some concern expressed on our message board that the campaign may not be reaching people and getting the word out about the goal we are trying to achieve. Now of course given that this is considered to be a controversial campaign, and that one of the companies that we have been working so hard to convince owns a great deal of the TV shows, magazines etc. that would not touch this subject due to industry politics.... I decided to try to figure out just how many people may have heard about our campaign and this issue.

I will start off with the web site. Our counter recently died and I ended up removing it from the web site. However, we still have pages in which we keep site statistics although they are only available in the administrative screens. At the moment the count started in the middle of our second year of existence reads at 189,491. Now of course this will go up DRASTICALLY if they actually release the film... People wanting to search for information on it will find us immediately. But for the time being, for some reason our statistics and visitors have doubled in the past couple of months.

Flyers have been mentioned. And flyers in the past have been widely distributed by this campaign. In 1998 we blanketed venues all over the United States with flyers that contained campaign information and addresses to write to. In August of 1998 when Mr. Banderas's agent made the first (untrue) announcement that Banderas was signed, sealed and delivered for the role, I called up Really Useful Films and spoke to one of the assistants personally. During the conversation in which I was told Mr. Banderas was NOT signed, I asked if they had been receiving our mail. "Oh yes," I was told. They had and there had apparently been a LOT of it, but it was "not going to make the slightest difference." Interesting don't you think? Whatever happened to the customer? During the past three years the campaign has continued it's efforts with the distribution of flyers whenever possible. The last really big effort was made in England last spring, after which someone attached to RUG actually posted on this message board and told us that the receptionists at RUG could not WAIT for the campaign to come to an end as they were beyond tired of opening all our mail.

Then there has been the letter writing efforts. Not only have the flyers generated letters, but we have had the addresses published on our web site for the course of the entire campaign. We have also held several big letter drives, one which actually infuriated Warner Bros. so much that they returned hundreds of pieces of mail to us. It ended up that the LA Times ran a bit on this... There is no telling how many letters and petitions they have received. We mail in the guestbooks and the petitions we have taken regularly. In New York alone there was a petition in which about 1000 people signed in the course of just one day. On the web site over 5,000 entries altogether have been made in our guestbooks.

But greater than all of this is the amount of press we have managed to get despite being a campaign which has not yet succeeded, fighting against a huge company like Time Warner, and dealing with a controversial subject that not many in the industry have been willing touch.

Howie Mandel was an exception to this. He talked about our first full page Variety ad on his show with Michael Crawford. The show was also rerun at a later date. I am not certain what the numbers of viewers were, but it certainly is more than the amount that has already visited the web site. And of course we were also on The Big Breakfast, the largest morning show in the UK. In fact we were on it twice with Michael Crawford calling in the second day. I am not certain what the number of viewers is for that show, but I would be willing to bet quite large....

The number of newspaper articles about our campaign specifically that we know about numbers about 55. A great percent of these were BIG articles in BIG newspapers. The LA Times ran a two page story on us that took up their whole entire movie section in one Sunday edition. Then it was syndicated and sent out over their wire to newspapers all over the country. We still don't know the final total of where all it finally ran. But in LA alone the circulation of the LA Times is 2.5 million we have been told. We were also in USA Today three times with the URL for the site included. Then there are the many letters to the editor.... We have appeared in newspapers all over the world, very impressive don't you think?

Online stories number about 26, radio that we know of 7 times. One interview that we did for the BBC, I was told that there would be a third of a million listeners... After the USA Today piece, the story was sent out on the feed all over the country and when I went to work on Monday morning, my amazed boss told me that he had been driving a rental car in Sacramento during a trip and heard about the campaign on the radio! There is no telling how many have heard about us on the radio, but I would bet it would be safe to say well over a million listeners.

We have also been in several magazines, one of which was Entertainment Weekly, which actually did a nice little piece on our campaign complete with pictures of Michael and Banderas. There was a letter published in it too, anyone know what the circulation is for Entertainment Weekly? Quite large I am assuming.

One of the latest pieces on our campaign was in the National UK TV Guide. THAT was a VERY fun issue to look at, and I can only imagine how many read about the campaign in it.

So how many have we reached? Well, not as many as probably ten trade ads and the biggest effort made by fans ever truly merits... But given the huge and powerful companies we have been working so hard to convince, I would say this campaign has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams....

Of course we were supporting a dynamite product, but one that NO ONE should have ever needed to take up for. And truly, I think the reason so many took a chance and ran with our story is this....they agreed with us. Know what the editor at USA Today said to me when I was interviewed for the initial story they ran on the campaign? She told me that normally she doesn't believe in fans telling a movie company how to make their films, but in this case she had to agree with me. You see, she told me, she didn't get the chance to see Michael Crawford on Broadway, and she too wanted to see him in the movie as the Phantom.

Just another day in the Crawford Crusades....
Diane
Saturday 01/20/2001 10:00:38am
Name: Catherine
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: USA
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments:
Ive just heard about this campaign and I cannot believe that they are serious about having Antonio Banderas as The Phantom. He has never done anything so far in his career that would justify casting him in such a major part. Where as Michael Crawford has been known for the quality of his work for many years and everyone asociates him with Phantom. He was wonderful as the Phantom and he should play him in the movie!
Saturday 01/20/2001 9:58:06am
Name: wanda prothro
E-Mail: wandaprothro@fairmontsupply.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?:
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: there could be no one who could ever play or sing the beautiful music as well as you can micheal crawford..i love you and cannot wait to see you in the film....
Saturday 01/20/2001 9:23:48am
Name: Rosemary Parker
E-Mail: rparker@onemain.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Metropolis, Il.
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Hello,
If they insist on ruining the movie with
Antonio. Then why not put out on tape the Broadway Play with Michael Crawford? At lease we would have Michael as the Phantom of the Opera.
Saturday 01/20/2001 9:01:31am
Name: meg
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Georgia
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: If the people involved with making the POTO movie are businessmen then they should want to cast the sure box office draw in the role of the Phantom-Michael Crawford. If the people involved with making the movie are artists then they should want to cast the actor who has proven his dramatic and vocal passion and perfection in the role-Michael Crawford.
Friday 01/19/2001 7:17:15pm
Name: Laurana
E-Mail: Miriador@aol.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: NY, NY
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: This SITE inspired me! Ever since I came across it a few months ago, I have continued to check back to see what progress has been made.
I adore the clips! And whenever I get a longing to see the Phantom, I watch the Tony Awards and Bob Hope clips. Thank you so much for posting them here!
Doesn't Warner Brothers realize that there are millions of fans out there who are just like me, who are looking for a film that we can return to time and time again to see OUR Phantom?
Michael Crawford brought the Phantom to life for so many of us with the beauty of his voice (forever immortalized on CD). And for those of us who saw him on stage, we knew then as we do now that no one could take his place. He was, is, and always will be the perfect choice for "The Phantom of the Opera."
I pray Warner Brothers will make the right choice, the smart choice, and cast the man who indeed possesses the voice, the spirit, and the very essence of the Angel of Music, Mr. Michael Crawford.
Blessed be!
Friday 01/19/2001 2:09:06pm
Name: Barbara Chamblin
E-Mail: chambli@ufl.edu
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: gainesville, fl
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: i cannot believe they would not use michael crawford in this role, just as I
couldnot believe they didn't use julie andrews in my fair lady.
Friday 01/19/2001 6:05:10am
Name: Paula Blake
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: UK
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I was thinking this evening about the first time I saw POTO at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. I was one of the first people to see the show and I will never forget the first time I heard Michael's voice coming from behind the mirror. Even though, he couldn't be seen at that point, there was an immediate electricity in the whole theatre. You could feel the tension. It was spine tingling. Even though I had been a fan of Michael's for a long time and had come to expect great things of him, I was astonished at his performance. It still amazes me that he could change the atmosphere in an entire theatre with just the sound of his voice. I completely forgot that I was watching him play a role. Michael's Phantom was real to me and had an awesome and magical presence. The cat-like way he moved, the graceful and sensual line of the body, those hands! I still have to remind myself, all these years later, that the Phantom is a fictitious character who never really lived, because I became so emotionally involved with him. We all did. Michael brought him to life in a way that no actor had done before, even the great Lon Chaney and no actor will ever do again. It has been said now many, many times by many, many people that Michael Crawford IS the Phantom. That much was obvious the first time I saw him play the role. For so many years now, I have hoped with all my heart that the last time I saw Michael play the Phantom would not be the last time. They say that 'if only' are the saddest words in all the world. How true in this case. IF ONLY TPTB would see sense and cast him for the movie, there would never be a last time again.
Thursday 01/18/2001 9:27:36pm
Name: Erika
E-Mail: sony_nut@hotmail.com
Homepage Title: Sony_Nut's Realm
Homepage URL: http://www.expage.com/sonynut
Where are you from?: California
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: Heheheh, Erika isn't my real name, I just made it that way so that I could sorta have the same name as Erik. Heheheh...I have always loved this play, all my life and a friend told me aobut this site, Im boring ppl so I'll hush now. BYE!
O.G.
Thursday 01/18/2001 8:08:17pm
Name: Stacy Wilson
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Carol Stream, IL
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I cannot tell you how many times I've been moved to tears for the Phantom simply from listening to the ethereal voice of Mr. Crawford on the POTO soundtrack. But when I heard Mr. Banderas sing the part at Lord Webber's Birthday celebration, it was just awful. Michael Ball did a much nicer job as Raoul than Banderas did as the Phantom. I found myself routing for Raoul and not the Phantom for the first time in my life. Without a beautiful voice (and Mr. Crawford's is by far the best), the Phantom is an annoying pest that any Christine would ditch in a second.
Thursday 01/18/2001 6:30:33pm
Name: Santiago Masià
E-Mail: santiagomasià@hotmail.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Barcelona, Spain
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I was hearing just five minutes ago the "Music of the night" sung by Michael Crawford and Barbra Streisand. I thought there couldn't be anything better in the world than the Phantom of the Opera itself, but that song made me feel in heaven. It is the prettiest thing i've ever heard. The voice of Barbra is not something of this world, but the voice and feeling of Michael is something impossible to get better. Please believe me. I'm from spain, i know Antonio Banderas. I can believe that he is a good actor, but he is for pictures like "the zorro" or something like that. He is no one to play the role of the phantom. There is only one person all over the world who could be him and it is Michael. Eitherway i'm not worried enough about who would be the phantom in the movie, I know if there is no Michael, there will not be any picture. It's imposible for anyone to believe someone will see a movie of the phantom without him. Without Michael, the picture will be a complete desaster. So, Why spend double money making two pictures, one with antonio( a disaster) and the other one with MICHAEL (the most succesfully film ever made in all movie's life)? Be clever and save money!!!!!
Thursday 01/18/2001 4:12:11pm
Name: Maggie Smith
E-Mail: msvt00
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Marquette, Michigan
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Michael Crawford should be, once again, playing the Phantom in this movie. He is, after all the original, and therfore, I think, the best pick for the role. I've never gotten a chance to see him perform, except at the "Michael Crawford in Concert" performance, and he was WONDERFUL!! But I would really like to see him as the Phantom. I will be SO dissappointed if he isn't. HE IS THE PHANTOM, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!
Thursday 01/18/2001 3:43:19pm
Name: Joshua Ritz
E-Mail: jir@rse.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Ohio
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: These people have enough money to loosen up and give quality a go instead of sticking some joke of an actor who is a big star in the role. Apparently, they've forgotten what really makes discerning people happy.
Wednesday 01/17/2001 10:56:11pm
Name: charisa r.
E-Mail: lemet@hotmail.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: nebraska
Referred By: Search Engine
Comments: crawford is the only logical choice, banders could never fill the shoes crawford left, he is the first and only phantom in my mind, and i am sure, in others also. to have a good picture you do not have to cast people who look pretty but cant act, or fill the positon. crawford is the ONLY way to go.
Wednesday 01/17/2001 9:26:47pm
Name: Jason Williams
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: New Zealand
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: I think this site is GREAT! Thank God there are people who care about this proposed film enough to fight for the right actor to play the role. Michael Crawford definately has the edge on the others who have played the Phantom. His performance was superb. No one can improve upon perfection. I saw him in concert a while back and his voice was fantastic.

Wednesday 01/17/2001 8:49:27pm
Name: Lucy Burton
E-Mail: LRBurto@yahoo.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: United Kingdom
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I am furious that Michael Crawford is being overlooked for the role in the movie. Whatever are they thinking of! If Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera is going to be made into a movie, then it is only logical to cast the original Phantom, Michael Crawford in the role. Who wants to see somebody else play the role? I certainly don't! It's got to be Michael Crawford or don't make the movie!
Wednesday 01/17/2001 6:03:51pm
Name: Rochelle Williams
E-Mail: WochelleRilliams@hotmail.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Referred By: Web Ring
Comments: I've desided to do a local comunity poll on who the Phantom should be. I shall mail it to Mr. Lloyd Webber as soon as it's finished. I shall play each preformer's "Phantom" and have them choose the better of them. I believe, If Erik were still around, he would say, "Antonio Bandaras?!?! That would be like having La Carlotta play Christine!"
Wednesday 01/17/2001 7:27:44am
Name: maxine podmenik
E-Mail: maxi2000@dingoblue.net.au
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: australia
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: I've seen the show when it was at sydney and I think it was great.
Wednesday 01/17/2001 6:08:09am
Name: claire
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: melbourne, australia
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: Can you imagine Gone With the Wind without Gable and Leigh ? How about Ben Hur without Heston? Well there cannot be a Phantom without Michael, I've seen him perform here in Melb twice and there is no other like him. I would not go and see the movie without Michael in it.
Wednesday 01/17/2001 1:44:34am
Name: Audery Aucott
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Atlantic City
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments:
Put the blame where if Phantom flops?

**************************************

I guess the real question is not who owns the rights, but who has creative control, casting control and,
even, final cut.

In the years since this campaign started, both WB and ALW have "blamed" each other for the unpopular
potential changes and amazingly bad, proposed, casting choices. We don't know who to blame, so we contact everyone.

All of us here know that ALW said "There will be no tampering with this one."

All of us here have been waiting for the film we were promised since 1990, if not longer.

All of us have seen the letter WB sent to the campaign asking us to trust their creative decisions.

All of us here had a good laugh from that one.

Phantom is supposed to be ALW's masterpiece. While we recognize some adjustments had to be made to translate it to film, we all know in our hearts that having anyone but Michael Crawford play the Phantom role is an error of monumental proportions. This error is artistic. This error is financial. This error is
tactical (word of mouth) suicide.

If ever a Broadway show owed its success, as much to its original star as to its music, that show is this one.

If ALW can't admit that, if he can't give credit where it is due, than in spite of being a musical genius
he is a very small human being. I really hate to have to believe that about him.

ALW is not known for his loyalty to performers or his wisdom in casting, for that matter. I'm sure he never imagined MC would be so amazingly good or that the lovely Sara would be so less than stellar. The wrong person got the recognition, didn't he? Well, it wasn't HIS fault! He gave his heart's
best and it was no less than miraculous.

Letting MC recreate the role on film is no less than fair, logical and financially practical !

ALW has a lot of critics and they will be waiting to pounce on this film if it is not complete perfection.

Even sympathetic critics will be looking for the film that will save the musical genre.

Then there will be the opinions of the unhappy Phantom fans and the unhappy Crawford fans and the theatre people who will once again resent, for years, the Hollywood mutilation of yet another Broadway classic.

The young audience, the "treasured" audience, will listen to all these other people. Then they will go to the mall.

Just imagine, if Christine is a bit too shrill, if the Phantom is too invisible, if the script is typical of its author, then…
Oh my, how the critics will be sure to tell us.
Oh my, will the buzz be bad.
Oh my, how the heads will roll at WB.
Oh my what bomb it will be!

Who will take the blame? Well, it won't be the paying audience, who stayed AWAY in the millions,
because we let TPTB know exactly whom we would pay to see.

Best Wishes,
Audrey Aucott
Wednesday 01/17/2001 0:15:53am
Name: Doug Robinson
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Illinois
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: If I'm not going to see Michael, I'm not going to see the movie, or any other WB movie for quite a while, and I will do my best to convince others to do the same.
Tuesday 01/16/2001 11:32:59pm
Name: Phantwo
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?:
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I strongly support your mission. I know that every Phantom I've seen in my years of hearing, seeing, and loving Phantom have never been as good as the original Phantom, and that VOICE. Michael Crawford truly has the best voice I've ever heard and he does a terriphic job as the Phantom. If there's a Phantom movie without him that's supposedly based on the musical, it IS NOT A PHANTOM PHILM BASED ON THE MUSICAL. WB, if you're even CONSIDERING calling anybody but Michael in for the title role, you won't be seeing any Phantom phans in phor the movie. WB, if you don't cast Michael in the role of Phantom, your movie will be a dud, dead, etc. . . it will be BAD.
Tuesday 01/16/2001 11:32:20pm
Name: Claudia Richards
E-Mail: richards_claudia@hotmail.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: S. Dakota
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: To whom it may concern,

You have the right to cast anyone you would like in your film adaptation.

I have the right to stay home and spend my money on a nice quart of chocolate mint ice cream.

You put in Banderas, I put on a few pounds. It will be worth it.
Tuesday 01/16/2001 10:03:45pm
Name: Edith
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Oakland, California
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: I personally would not waste my time watching the movie of "Phantom of the Opera" if the phantom is not played by M.Crawford. I understand that a movie is different than an opera but its basically about acting and Crawford is not only acting but even more than that. He is the essence of the Phantom himself. A mere actor like Antonio Banderas will bring no justice to the "Phantom". Besides his accent will kind of ruin it all, based on the opera itself (ofcourse) that I have seen twice. Their is no doubt that Crawford brings depth to the music of the phantom.
Tuesday 01/16/2001 2:10:01pm
Name: melinda
E-Mail: sysbro@foryou.net
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: the land of good taste
Referred By: From a Friend
Comments: Why ALW calls POTO 'hokum'?
1) He recognizes that he can't really hog all the credit for the success of POTO.
2) He realizes how little input he actually had in the overall success of the play. He purposefully delegated a big chunk of the work and let the experts do their magic. They kept him at arms length and left 'his hokum' out.
3) The critics gave mediocre reviews for his input and raved about the direction (Hal Prince), the sets (Marie Bjoronson) and one performance in particular (MC).
4) If you really analyze the awards won for POTO, the one constant is MC's performance which ALW left to MC's capable hands.
5) All subsequent performances etc. have been based on what the originators designed. The play is most successful when they follow their blueprint as close as they possibly can.
6) He thinks he is the Great and All Powerful Genius who can teach a trained monkey to perform the role of the Phantom and he will still be wildly successful - his music is what sells the play.
7) What he should recognize is that he is corroborating with the ungifted on this movie and he better back off because this project is already DOA.
Monday 01/15/2001 9:14:07pm
Name: gail lorber
E-Mail: gailyanks@aol.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: new york
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I really enjoy listening to Michael Crawford sing and I hope he will get to be the Phantom in the movie.
Monday 01/15/2001 8:40:05pm
Name: George Kendrick
E-Mail:
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Channel Islands
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Comments: Dear Messrs Warner Bros and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber,

May I suggest that you remember that Michael Crawford's Phantom not only controls the chandelier, but also the audience. They will patronize this movie in droves if he is cast and stay away if he is not. It's that simple.
Monday 01/15/2001 4:08:41pm
Name: Cindy Marlowe
E-Mail: cynmar@kih.net
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: Kentucky
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: Mr. Elton has said, in regard to the POTO movie, "The face matters", a statement he is no doubt using to bolster the decision to cast a Hollywood heart throb. But he is wrong. To millions of fans world wide it is the VOICE that matters, and so far no one in Hollywood has produced a voice that so completely captures the character of the Phantom. Millions have been entranced by the voice of Michael Crawford on the Cast Recording, and even after seeing others perform the role onstage, they know that something is missing. The Voice, the Voice!!! Give us the Voice!!!!
Monday 01/15/2001 11:28:04am
Name: Sanne borger
E-Mail: deborght@wxs.nl
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL: http://
Where are you from?: i'm from the netherlands
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments:
I have a cd from the phantom
of the opera he is ferrey good
and micheal as the phantom he have
a nice voice. greetings from Sanne
Borger.
Sunday 01/14/2001 11:34:18pm
Name: Cory, a.k.a. Christine Daae
E-Mail: TheEFXMistress@hotmail.com
Homepage Title: The EFX Mistress's EFX Message Board
Homepage URL: http://www.voy.com/2494
Where are you from?: United States
Referred By: Michael Inspired Me
Comments: I've loved Michael's performance as The Phantom ever since I heard a recording of the sou