No Contest

If anyone from Warner Bros. is paying attention, which I seriously doubt, cast my vote for Michael Crawford for the movie of “The Phantom of the Opera” (“They Want Their Phantom,” by Robert W. Welkos, June 27).

We are asked by the studio to “. . . trust our judgment in these matters.” Who could doubt them? It was that same studio that gave us the adaptation of “Camelot” with that “renowned actor” Franco Nero, as the Frenchman Lancelot, with an Italian accent.

And let’s not forget UA’s forgettable “Man of La Mancha,” starring Peter O’Toole, voice dubbed, in place of Richard Kiley. That’s the picture that also inflicted upon us the cabaret singing of Sophia Loren, sans the operatic voice needed for the role of Aldonza.

WILLIAM ROBBINS

Los Angeles

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I must differ with the unnamed “source close to the project” who stated that Antonio Banderas “did a great job” singing the title duet from “Phantom” on the Andrew Lloyd Webber birthday special.

Banderas did do a fine job singing the role of Che from “Evita”; he was physically fiery and the melodies were within his range. However, while singing “Phantom” his movements were wooden, his voice was thin and without emotion, he was flat and he had absolutely no chemistry with his duet partner, Sarah Brightman.

GENIE STELNICKI

Chicago

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Michael Crawford may be 57 now, but he is the same age as Harrison Ford, who was named box-office star of the century by movie theater owners. If those executives put the same qualified West End/Broadway star in the leading film role and put “box office” names in the two “romantic” roles of Raoul and Christine, they will get the numbers that they are looking for.

BETHANIE RAYBURN

Placentia