Tweet Phantom Of The Opera Ultimate Edition DVD now Out of Print

The 1925 version is what it is. I don't see it ever looking very good because it's just so soft. It's fine for study and it makes a great supplement for this disk. The piano soundtrack here is good too.

I'm curious... why does the 16mm "Hunchback" look sharp (even though it's very damaged) while the 16mm "Phantom" looks soft? Did all the old 16mm prints of "Phantom" look that way?

Because HUNCHBACK was from an original 16mm Show-At-Home, whereas all of the transfers (as far as I know) are 16mm dupes of a Show-at-Home that were made by John Hampton for Movie Wonderland.

I watched the 20fps version last night on my projection system with a few friends. Everyone loved it. I've never seen this film so well presented. I like the orchestral track even better than Korla Pandit who was my old favorite. Looking forward to more silents on blu.

So, what is the latest news on the return or upgrade on the defective copies of this title...?

Image needs to take care of this ASAP.

I'm sure you'll hear. They are remastering and pressing a pile of DVDs, it could take a little while.

I would bet the mid December delivery date for the European release would be about the time you could expect the exchange program to begin.

So, what is the latest news on the return or upgrade on the defective copies of this title...?

Image needs to take care of this ASAP.

I can wait if it means taking the time to do it right. So much went wrong with this I don't care if they get it done by Spring as long as all the problems are fixed. When the new pressing is released it would be nice if we could get a checklist of all the repairs.

My disc only just arrived from the States to me in Canada today, and I've just been scanning the first few minutes at work...

The sync problem for Gaylord Carter's score results from 2 issues: Firstly, the opening 2 minutes of the recording are for the original Blackhawk text prologue, so it's wrong out of the gate. To make up for this (and , therefore, secondly), several segments are reduced in speed to 12fps (keeping the 24fps progressive scan intact), including the opening Faust ballet sequences (duplicating each progressive frame scan) and the 'Chandelier' sequence. I haven't seen what other footage has been altered to allow the score to catch up, since it is correct at the color 'Bal Masque' footage. However, as correct as it eventually gets, two wrongs don't make a right.

I don't know if the Alloy Orchestra recording was done along to the 24fps video as it is presented here. I haven't listened to it.

Without fingerpointing, as one who has designed multi-material DVD menu structure, it seems to me that the best way to have presented Carter's score so that it played properly would have been to include the vintage Blackhawk text introduction as it's own title, with Carter's matching music, linking to the main feature upon its conclusion, or as the first chapter of the full length feature, and making the 2nd chapter the film's title sequence, and making the Alloy Orchestra 'play' button link to that chapter.

This is more than a mastering error. This is a production error. The shading issues only occur as result of the shifting contrast of the original source material. The only reason to have such an inconsistency in the visual presentation that I can think of is to prevent 3rd party duplication from the video source for another release - it would be obviously traceable back to this version, and the film is PD...only the applied tinting alteration and the music accompaniments are protected by copyright, and that is the inherent problem in trying to spend a fortune on a high def presentation of a film such as this. As clean as it looks, I have to continue hold on to my laserdisc and 16mm prints.

I'm sorry. "Shading issues"... did I miss something?

I'm sorry. "Shading issues"... did I miss something?

Earlier posts in this thread were critical of the fluctuating color tinting 'errors' as the film plays, where David Shepard found none.

I did notice (and found very distracting) that when the image is tinted sepia the area outside of the frame is ALSO tinted. This doesn't seem to happen with the green or blue tints.

And, yes, those slow motion shots really need fixed, too. Good catch.

I just saw the BD on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, and was delighted to see that the '25 is sourced from a 6mm print!

Still no word on the upgrade or exchange on this...?

Still no word on the upgrade or exchange on this...?

Could be because it isn't available yet.

The discs don't have to actually be ready for us to be informed when they're expected to be ready.

To summarize, here are the POTO problems, as pointed out by David Shepard, alldarc, Scoundrel, blu-ray.com, etc.

1. Stereo soundtracks are in mono.
2. 20 fps version is interlaced (David says there's a technical reason for this, leading me to believe it won't be fixed).
3. The saturation levels are different for the 20 x 24 fps versions. I believe the 24 fps version is over-saturated.
4. The 20 fps version hasn't been DNR'd. (David says the software is far less effective with 20 fps (why? Isn't it working frame-by-frame?), but this version looks like NOTHING has been done to clean it up.
5. Strange slow motion shots inserted in the 24 fps version that play normally in the other, perhaps effected to compensate for the screwed up sync?
6. Some copies "freeze up". Mine doesn't, but does stutter when scanning through it. Something's wrong.
7. Sound sync off (David says this has been fixed)
8. "6mm" - enough said.
9. The menu. Yeah. Let's be creative and have 'em choose which version to watch by picking a soundtrack! Ha! And then let's NOT let them go back and change their mind! Ha, ha! This is fun, Uncle Billy! Can I play with ANOTHER blu-ray menu?
10. '25 version windowboxed.
11. Sepia tints occur OUTSIDE of the image area (tinting the black bars on the side as well).
12. Tints fluctuate WITHIN the image area (how do you do this if you TRY?).

Since David said that "corrected masters" have been supplied to Park Circus for the U.K. release, I'd like to know what, exactly, are the "corrections" that we can expect. I'd also like to know when we can expect them – though David probably isn't the person to ask.

The Blu Ray standard doesn't support 20 fps at 1080p, which is why it's interlaced, and probably also why DNR isn't as effective. It's how the codecs were made.

I like the 20 fps version. The 24 fps version is over processed to my taste.

can someone post some screen captures??

I'd like to see what it looks like but have no $ to buy it yet.

Hi,
There are plenty of screenshots here:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Blu-ray/25557/#Screenshots

Is there any word on when the new pressing of Image's Phantom will be out? I don't mean to rush it, just curious.

I just finally saw and approved an acceptable version in a test pressing last Thursday afternoon. Now they have to get the things made ...

David Shepard

Does this mean that issues 1 and 5 thru 12 listed in Doug's recap above have been rectified? Hope so! Thanks for all your work on this project; can't wait to see it!

DNR it's the problem, and not the technical stuff guys who worked for Shepard.

The DNR software analyze frames to find what small particles are static and shat mall particles pops in just one frame. It find and erase small particles that appears in just one frame.
In 20 fps there are repeated frames, or combined frames, and the software thinks it's not a dust particle.

You can blame the DNR software, but not David.
About clean by hand ??? It would require a lot money...

If this was a 2K film scanning restoration and not a HD transfer remastering, there would be no such problems, but it would be more expansive. David could do 1 great restoration, instead of 3 or 4 fine editions.
Would you prefer a lot less silents films to enjoy on DVD and Blu Ray, just for perfectionist reasons ???

Well, despite of all digital stuff of today, like DVD, Blu Ray, ipods, the video it's still video, it's still the crap old video signal, video field principles, and not trully digital image, not digital frames.
Until someone have courage to vanish the video principles and state digital frames principles, for TV and for home cinema, there will still be the curse of video fields and all crap related to it.

With true digital TVs and true digital frames, would be possible to set any film speed we wish, cause the digital frame speed would be changed without he silly need of repeat or interlace images.

The sad thing is that HD TV it's still replacing old system, but cares the same video principles of annalogic video.


That's why I insist to say: DVD and Blu Ray films are not trully digital.

The Blu Ray standard doesn't support 20 fps at 1080p, which is why it's interlaced, and probably also why DNR isn't as effective. It's how the codecs were made.

So, any more news on when we can get a replacement copy for this one...?

Those who have purchased the BD PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and wish to get a corrected copy should contact Michele Johnson (MJohnson@image-entertainment.com). She will send replacement discs (but not packaging, which you should keep).

For avoidance of misunderstanding, the new edition will contain corrected audio (sync and stereo) as well as redesigned menu navigation. No major changes have been made to the picture portion, to the original silent version with Frederick Hodges' score, or to the extras.

Further, Image decided not to recall the first edition as both consumer and published reviews have been quite enthusiastic, so it is possible that new purchasers will receive the first edition depending upon the retailer's stock. If such is the case and the consumer finds it unsatisfactory because of issues that have been corrected, Ms. Johnson will exchange discs as above. Of course the new edition will be shipped after the first edition has been depleted.

My thanks to those who devoted time and effort to pointing out things which they thought should be changed. We have done what is possible within reasonable economic and technical limits, and if you will now sit back and enjoy the film, I hope you will be as pleased as I am with the results.

David Shepard

Just one quick question - will corrected discs be available to both the US and Canada? I'm a Canadian buyer, so I just wanted to verify that I could obtain one.

Thanks for the contact info, David.

jrichard: Image Entertainment does have both U. S. and Canadian rights so I would have no reason to doubt that their support will extend to customers in both countries.

DS

First post here and I have to ask, should I get both the Image BR and the one from Reelclassic or just go with a corrected BR from Image?