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

There's going to be not one, but TWO Phantom Blus? Yowza! I'll probably have to buy 'em both.

Now we need a nice restored Blu of another warhorse, the uncut version of the Barrymore JEKYLL & HYDE. I'm salivating at the thought.

Thanx for letting us know, David

I'll indulge in both blu-ray editions as well. Can't wait to see these!

I might as well tell the world that we are just completing production on a new edition of that old warhorse, POTO, for release through Image Entertainment in early October.

This will be Blu-Ray, mastered at Movietone aperture from much better 35mm material than we have ever used before. There will be two complete runs of the 1929 version: one at 24 fps with a new score by the Alloy Orchestra and an optional score on theatre pipe organ by Gaylord Carter, previously issued in monaural but now in stereo from the original master stereo recording; the second run at 20 fps with orchestra/soprano score by Gabriel Thibadeau and an optional new audio essay by Jon Mirsalis. Both runs will include the Technicolor sequence mastered from our 35mm YCM labs negative and hand colored scenes on the opera roof and in the scene of "intolerable heat." The program will also include a standard definition transfer of the original 1925 edit from a tinted 16mm print in the usual deplorable quality but with a superb new score by Frederick Hodges. Extras will include (as still images) set construction and production stills, publicity stills, original advertising art, frames from a stencil-colored French release, and the complete script.

David Shepard

David, excellent news and I'm looking forward to the release. I loved the Gaylord Carter score when I first heard it on this TV broadcast of the Paul Killiam edition so I would love to hear it again in stereo. But isn't 24fps the wrong speed for the silent version? Carter's score was written at a time when it was routine to show silent films in wrong speeds. So I'm a little concerned about historical accuracy. The 24 fps version would be perfect to accompany the 1930 soundtrack that is on the Milestone DVD. Unfortunately, your upcoming DVD won't have it, and the Milestone DVD actually has a slowed-down 1930 audio track. Anyway, loved all your works in the past and, of course, I will withhold judgment until I actually see your DVD.

[Danny Burk]

But isn't 24fps the wrong speed for the silent version? Carter's score was written at a time when it was routine to show silent films in wrong speeds. So I'm a little concerned about historical accuracy. The 24 fps version would be perfect to accompany the 1930 soundtrack that is on the Milestone DVD.

Welcome to Nitrateville! Since you're new here, you're probably not aware that the "fps" debate is one of our biggest cans of worms. That can has been opened many times, debated until everyone is blue in the face, and has caused tempers to flare and threads to be locked.

You might like to do a search of past threads to see what I mean. Meanwhile, let's not open this can again...I think most of our readers will be quick to agree.

The 24fps presentation of the Eastman House 'Phantom' is my preferred version, which we haven't seen from FPA since David's 1990 laserdisc (with the vintage Blackhawk prologue). Looking forward to the old Carter score on blu (sounded great in PCM digital compared to the old 16mm prints).

My preferred score is still the Lee Erwin version on the old Griggs-Moviedrome/Essex Film Club release from Bob Lee. It was what led be to Mark Roth's site, and it was I who prodded him into reissuing his 'Phantom' DVD as a 2-disc, getting the complete b&w white version issued. I was producer the A/B comparison edit, and provided a print the show-at-home (one of two slightly different ones I own) plus the short with the 'lost' footage, for the 'Ultimate' edition. Mark and I have received many compliments on this set, including a very kind word from Barrie Maxwell over at The Digital Bits. The edit was a true labour of love. If Mark were to ask me, I would be happy to do it again in HD for Blu-ray (which I can currently only produce as 1080i, possibly at a later date in 1080p 24fps)

Three sections of the Eastman House print include what remains of the 24fps re-shoots: The opening titles (with the faux-Chaney phantom as 'janitor', who walks like he is sweeping the floor!) and the lantern man - both of which have snippets in the show-at-home Frankenprint, Mary Fabian's Carlotta (and the Phantom's 'chandelier' intertitle) in the Faust sequence, and Philbin's 'Spinning Wheel' sequence - the lighting changes again are on dimmers like the Fabian sequence.

I might as well tell the world that we are just completing production on a new edition of that old warhorse, POTO, for release through Image Entertainment in early October.

This will be Blu-Ray, mastered at Movietone aperture from much better 35mm material than we have ever used before. There will be two complete runs of the 1929 version: one at 24 fps with a new score by the Alloy Orchestra and an optional score on theatre pipe organ by Gaylord Carter, previously issued in monaural but now in stereo from the original master stereo recording; the second run at 20 fps with orchestra/soprano score by Gabriel Thibadeau and an optional new audio essay by Jon Mirsalis. Both runs will include the Technicolor sequence mastered from our 35mm YCM labs negative and hand colored scenes on the opera roof and in the scene of "intolerable heat." The program will also include a standard definition transfer of the original 1925 edit from a tinted 16mm print in the usual deplorable quality but with a superb new score by Frederick Hodges. Extras will include (as still images) set construction and production stills, publicity stills, original advertising art, frames from a stencil-colored French release, and the complete script.

David Shepard

Today, Digital Bits announced Image's release date for The Phantom Blu-ray: 11/1.

(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents)

A horror movie release the day after Hallowe'en? How novel. (No, really, it looks like a great release, with excellent variety in musical scores.)

One would think before Halloween would be a better release date.

I was hoping to show it at my annual Halloween movie party. Ah well, still looking forward to this!

I have Milestone movie version of Phantom I hear there other version I may have copy of that

I don't know

Today, Digital Bits announced Image's release date for The Phantom Blu-ray: 11/1.

(http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents" target="_blank" target="_blank)

Can't wait. Already Pre-ordered.
My avatar expresses my intense anticipation.

David, your upcoming Blu ray sounds like a basic repackage of my Image Laserdisc.

Will the Blackhawk intro titles be included in this release...?

Well, Scoundrel, you may call it a basic repackage or anything else you wish, but I would not agree.

The new edition does contain some of the same stuff: the script (now reset), stills (there are more), the Gaylord Carter score (now in stereo) all improved; then, of course, there is the movie: new HD transfers at two speeds from far superior material to our previous source with sharpness and subtlety of middle tones which left me amazed, two brand new scores, an audio essay, an interview with the composer, and more.

No, the Blackhawk intro titles will not be included.

I wouldn't want to write my own review but I suspect that everyone (except probably Richard M. Roberts) will be very impressed.

David Shepard

David, Park Circus will release TPotO on Blu-Ray in the UK on November 21. Is this based on the version you're putting together? If so, will it feature the same material or will there be differences?

Great film, but how many more versions do we need?

I think we need a version that looks as close to 35mm print as possible, and I think that a Blu-ray Disc will do that.

I saw the Photoplay restoration on the big screen in London last year and was amazed by the amount of extra detail the print held over the various DVD versions I have. There was more detail in the sets, more facial expressions to be seen and it was an amazing experience. I can't say how many times I've watched the DVDs, but am sure that BD will improve the viewing experience further.

And 2 new scores to boot!

The Park Circus release has available all of the same material as the Image Entertainment release. They will, of course, prepare their own packaging (I think the Image cover art looks wonderful) and menus, and have the right to organize the content as they see fit, although I should imagine they will want to include it all.

Both the Image and Park Circus releases will be region locked.

David S

Well, Scoundrel, you may call it a basic repackage or anything else you wish, but I would not agree.

The new edition does contain some of the same stuff: the script (now reset), stills (there are more), the Gaylord Carter score (now in stereo) all improved; then, of course, there is the movie: new HD transfers at two speeds from far superior material to our previous source with sharpness and subtlety of middle tones which left me amazed, two brand new scores, an audio essay, an interview with the composer, and more.

No, the Blackhawk intro titles will not be included.

I wouldn't want to write my own review but I suspect that everyone (except probably Richard M. Roberts) will be very impressed.

David Shepard

Now David, you really have to stop obsessing about what I think. I was actually going to congratulate you for transferring a silent at the correct speed for once, and for putting the Gaylord Carter track out in stereo. The old warhorses need a new tweak every once in awhile.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Nice to see good old David improoving the Phantom once again.


But it's sad to know that the so called HD Technology scrow up silent films, since HD it's for 16:9 format, and all 4:3 films will have black side bar on each side, killing resolution, cause the Dumb Ray technology, Ooops..., I mean Blu Ray Technology, have no advantage of anamorph or squeeze the image to avoid black bars on image signal.

For a movietone print, the image killing will a bit be more severe, since it's a bit closer to a square than 4:3 format, and the final resolution of the movietone frame area will be only 1290 pixels from left to right.

Sometimes I imagine if the stupid decision, of BLU Ray technology standart, to use black bars instead of multiple ratio aspects or anarmoph & squeeze, was a way they found to help take people away from old films, since it reduzes a lot the resolution for any film made in 4:3.
I hope a new and non dumb digital format for home video rise in few years, able to value more the good work of classic film restorers.


Anayway, the good new print will look better than any early edition of the Phantom.

Anyone who believes in reincarnation can cleary see that R. M. Roberts was D. Shepard's ex-wife inb a earlier life.

David, I supose in your past incarnation life you did not put the dog outside before sleep, watched too much futeball instead of take her out for dinner, or always forgot something dropping in the kitcken...

Too bad David... now you pay for all that...

Well, Scoundrel, you may call it a basic repackage or anything else you wish, but I would not agree.

The new edition does contain some of the same stuff: the script (now reset), stills (there are more), the Gaylord Carter score (now in stereo) all improved; then, of course, there is the movie: new HD transfers at two speeds from far superior material to our previous source with sharpness and subtlety of middle tones which left me amazed, two brand new scores, an audio essay, an interview with the composer, and more.

No, the Blackhawk intro titles will not be included.

I wouldn't want to write my own review but I suspect that everyone (except probably Richard M. Roberts) will be very impressed.

David Shepard

Now David, you really have to stop obsessing about what I think. I was actually going to congratulate you for transferring a silent at the correct speed for once, and for putting the Gaylord Carter track out in stereo. The old warhorses need a new tweak every once in awhile.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Talk about kicking a hornet's nest...!!!!!

David, I've been a fan of your work and my posts should show that.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the Gaylord Carter scored version once again as it was the first version I had ever seen
and I've had copies of the same on VHS and LD. The added bonus of Stereo as well as a significant visual upgrade
should make this a welcome addition to my Library.

I'm fond of Korla Pandit's score. I was at the Orpheum in downtown LA when it was recorded. A wonderful evening.

The Korla Pandit score was on the Lumivison Laserdisc.
The print was a bit overscanned but it was a very good transfer.

[Christopher Jacobs]

Blackhawk's standard 8mm prints of THE GENERAL and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA were the very first full-length features I ever bought. I've now got Kino's Blu-ray of THE GENERAL and the picture quality was a revelation even after seeing it all those times, so I can hardly wait for the Blu-ray of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (both David's and Dennis' editions), each of them looking better and costing about half or less than the price of a mute black-and-white 8mm print, and considering those were 1972 prices for a high school kid whose primary income was a minimum wage summer job, the Blu-rays will be a fraction of the relative prices with a treasure-trove of audio and bonus options thrown in for good measure!

Keep up the good work, David (and Dennis, too)! I hope you get overwhelmed with sales and can confidently go on to upgrade the Chaplin Mutuals and Essanays, among your many treasures, for Blu-ray in the near future. (Of course I'd like to see the more obscure things make it to Blu, too!! THE SPOILERS with THE SOILERS comes to mind, a Wm S. Hart collection, the "compleat" Griffith's shorts and features, a silent DeMille set, etc., not to mention all those Pickfords and Faribanks, but for now I'm thrilled that PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is getting such great treatment.)

Anyone who believes in reincarnation can cleary see that R. M. Roberts was D. Shepard's ex-wife inb a earlier life.

I know POTO is a horror-melodrama, so on one hand I can understand the desire to make the thread fit the subject matter, but do we really that mental image first thing on a Monday morning?

What I want to know is when are we getting some cover art? And (I'm sure it's been posted but I'm lazy), does anyone know if either upcoming version will have the Carl Davis score? And C, what is going on with Milestone? Supposedly new (blu?) versions of Phantom, Sparrows, The Bat Whispers, and maybe even some others are coming out but nothing on their site except for a few teasing statements.

What I want to know is when are we getting some cover art? And (I'm sure it's been posted but I'm lazy), does anyone know if either upcoming version will have the Carl Davis score? And C, what is going on with Milestone? Supposedly new (blu?) versions of Phantom, Sparrows, The Bat Whispers, and maybe even some others are coming out but nothing on their site except for a few teasing statements.

Hasn't the Sparrows reissue been pending release for over two years at this point, still no firm release date? And IIRC it's a DVD only release, no blu ray planned.

Regardless, I'm glad I held off paying an outrageous price for a used copy of Sparrows, as TCM is showing it in the Fall. Will have to settle for that unless/until a new release comes along.

Sorry, I didn't know about POTO.
I just was making some friendly fun to people laugh and do not fight.

Anyone who believes in reincarnation can cleary see that R. M. Roberts was D. Shepard's ex-wife inb a earlier life.

I know POTO is a horror-melodrama, so on one hand I can understand the desire to make the thread fit the subject matter, but do we really that mental image first thing on a Monday morning?