10 Horror Movie Scenes You Remember Totally Wrong

The Phantom of the Opera quickly became a massive hit when released during the turn of the 20th century. Although there've been many film adaptations, the most famous version is Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical.

Because this show has been advertised everywhere for the last 37 years, the masses should be familiar with the poster that depicts the titular character's half-mask. This facial covering is so recognisable, it's easy to assume its design is a staple in previous adaptations.

But that's never been the case. Although Webber wanted to use a more conventional mask, he decided a partial covering suited the phantom better, since it didn't impair the wearer's singing abilities or facial expressions.

Since this mask's design is ingrained in society, people assume Lon Chaney's phantom from the original film had a similar look. In reality, Chaney's mask resembled a regular face, with a dust muffler under the nose. He also wore a cap to keep his mask in place.

Although there've been various adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera since, none of the titular characters wore a half-mask until the release of Webber's musical.