The film opens upon a night at the opera. Young Christine Daae is performing on stage in the chorus when she runs off stage and misses curtain call to see her potential love, Inspector Raoul Dubert. Shortly after, she is asked to see the manager of the opera house where she must face the decision of career and love. As she leaves, Christine meets Erique Claudin, a violinist in the orchestra. Claudin has been released from the orchestra for he has been losing the use of his fingers in his left hand.