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

Wonders what any of this has to do with POTO?

Nothing.

This should go to Tech Talk and not here.

RE: Sparrows, Hugh Munro Neely had said that it was scheduled for Late in 2010 when I had the pleasure
to speak with him at the Detroit screening last July.. For the delay, I guess we have to ask Milestone and
be patient.

For David Shepard, I once again enjoyed the print of HUNCHBACK on TCM that you restored
and released in partnership with Serge Blomberg. In regards to the new POTO release, is the
transfer from the GEH print or from some other recent source...?

I apologize for the tech talk.

About the HUNCHBACK, the new better print, I have a doubt:

Is it true 35mm print or a kodascope from a original print ?

Some reviews said it's a new found print, a 35mm, and other reviews said that was a very good 16mm.

Anyway it's one more good work. !!!

It wouldn't be a Kodascope, it would be from a Universal Show-At-Home print. I had heard that David had found a good 35mm print, but I don't know for sure that the last release was from that.

Archived replies regarding HUNCHBACK from the alt.movies.silent NG:

"All prints of HUNCHBACK derive from 16mm Universal Show-at-Home prints. So
everything you are seeing is a 16mm dupe. I haven't seen any of the video
versions, but I believe David Shepard has the best material on this. I say
that because I have one of the old Blackhawk 16mm prints and was offered an
original Show-at-Home print some years back. I did A-B comparisons with two
projectors and while the Show-at-Home was a tad sharper, I felt the contrast on
the Blackhawk print was a bit better, and the image was steadier, so I stuck
with that print.

This is all we have to work with, and in addition to being duped from a so-so
16mm print, the Show-at-Home prints are missing about 20 min of footage. "

Jon Mirsalis Jan 2, 2000

*************************************************

"I produced two and a half video versions of this, and frankly I think there is
a curse on it. The first time I intended to master an original 16mm tinted
print jointly owned by Blackhawk and George Eastman House but GEH
could not locate it. So I used the 1959 Blackhawk negative but added tints
-- this version was released on VHS by Kino and on laserdisc by Image
in a silver "Silent Classics" jacket.

When Digital Vision Noise Reduction appeared on the market, we electronically
cleaned the Kino version and effected considerable improvement in it. This is
the version which they still distribute on VHS, as Kino did not want to invest
in a second upgrade based upon the following:

Soon after we improved the Kino master I obtained another source print -- still
16mm, reduced from a 35mm dupe negative and missing some footage but of
much better image quality than anything I'd seen before. I used this print plus
necessary bits from the old one to make a significantly better-looking video
version which was released by Image on laserdisc in a gatefold jacket with
excellent liner notes by Michael Blake. The general opinion is that this is by
far the best looking version available on video, although it is still imperfect.

This second video master was used to make a DVD released in February of 1999
but something got screwed up in the DVD compression. The first half of the DVD
looks quite good but the second half looks awful. The DVD was promptly
withdrawn by Image but I am not aware that they ever got around to doing it
over. Perhaps some poster here could let us all know.


Of course the improved video version was no sooner complete than an actual
original print from 1924, far superior to anything I ever saw before, came into
my hands ..... I had been aware of the print for decades.

The collector who owned it passed away and after an interval of some years
I bought his entire collection of almost two hundred films from his widow
in order to get about six real treasures.

But no one wanted to face the film a third time so this print still
sits in the vault, waiting for a refill of enthusiasm. Perhaps some day. but
until then, to speak honestly, I regard this one as a skeleton in my closet.


David Shepard Jan 2, 2000
(edited from two separate replies)

It is the 1924 print that David Shepard most recently released on DVD
and this was the edition that ran on TCM last night

Check DVD Beaver screen captures of the last edition:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRevie ... e_dame.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank


"None, of the past editions, ever looked especially good as the surviving elements are in quite poor condition (16mm only were used I believe). Producer David Shepard is credited with the improved appearance that utilizes a new high-definition video transfer from an “original” color-tinted 35mm print in this 'Ultimate Edition' DVD."

For other side, the image it's something looking like "between 16mm and old 35mm.

The most recent Image edition was from an original 16mm Show-At-Home print, which of course is a reduction from the original 35mm negative. Previous editions were from a later printing after the 1928 re-issue (note the MPAA logo in the replacement credits). There IS a 35mm print at Gosfilmofond... it's listed in their catalog, but I've got no idea if it's an original, a dupe, a blow-up or what.

A original print from 1924 should look better than this:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRevie ... e_dame.htm

Unless it was not shot from camera negative.


Maybe David could help us now.

You sound so certain....

If this is a Show At Home print, it's a 16mm copy reduced from an original negative...after its run in theaters.
There is no way to know how much action this print saw before it made its way onto 16mm.

But it's certainly better than any existing copy I've ever seen.

All Darc,

You can take my word for it—I produced some of the special features for that disc. It was certainly a VERY GOOD 16mm original that David worked from. The vintage was 1926 or thereables, as I recall. And yes, you're talking about a number of runs AFTER the initial release (Universal would tap the original camera negative every time a 16mm print was struck). The initial run was probably in the range of 300 prints.

It look very like the same footage, by the scenes presented in the documentary Universal Horror.

When we heard someone says "original print", we usually imagine 35mm. Is it a kodascope?

All Darc,

You can take my word for it—I produced some of the special features for that disc. It was certainly a VERY GOOD 16mm original that David worked from. The vintage was 1926 or thereables, as I recall. And yes, you're talking about a number of runs AFTER the initial release (Universal would tap the original camera negative every time a 16mm print was struck). The initial run was probably in the range of 300 prints.

An "original" print can refer to anything that's not a dupe. Since this was a reduction from the camera negative, it would be considered "original." I felt the footage, in this case, was superior in quality to the footage used by Brownlow.

The "Show at Home" library was similar to the Kodascope library—16mm prints that were available to the public for outright sale, or by rental through your local camera shop or library.

When we heard someone says "original print", we usually imagine 35mm.

Not by a long shot.

I have some very nice 16mm original prints, thank you very much.

Park Circus release details, from amazon.co.uk:

Directed by Rupert Julian, and based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, classic horror masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera stars Lon Chaney, in one of his most grotesque performances as the crazed man without a face, who lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, and falls in love with the voice of a young opera singer. Infatuated, he kidnaps her, dragging her to the depths below where she will sing only for him.

This 2-disc Ultimate Edition includes an all-new HD restoration of the film, with the Bal Masque sequence in two-strip Technicolor and other scenes hand tinted, and features both the 1925 and 1929 versions. It also includes a brand new score by The Alloy Orchestra, in addition to Gaylord Carter s famous 1974 score released for the very first time in stereo and Gabriel Thibaudeau s 1990 score. Together with new audio commentary by Dr. Jon Mirsalis, this edition features the following extras:

Still Frame Gallery
Original Trailers
Interview with Gabriel Thibaudeau
Reproduction of the 1925 Souvenir Programme and Script

Not sure if this is region free or not. Release date is Nov 21. Price in US Dollars is approx. $28.17 with shipping.

[Mike Gebert]

I moved the general discussion of printing from camera negatives here.

I moved the technical discussion of 4:3 films on blu-ray here.

" Not sure if this is region free or not. Release date is Nov 21..."

David Shepard had posted that both releases will be region locked.

[silentfilm]

He was the “Man of a Thousand Faces.” Generations of filmgoers the world over have been thrilled by his portrayals that showcased – and more often than not, empathized with – the shadows of human nature. And now the makeup artistry of a true cinematic pioneer can be seen in high definition! On November 1st, Image Entertainment releases the Lon Chaney classic Phantom of the Opera for the first time on Blu-ray™! The Blu-ray™ features 3 versions of the film – assembled together for the first time in a single release -- including a brand-new high definition digital transfer from the 35mm negative, plus Gaylord Carter's famous theatre organ score, released for the first time as recorded in stereo! MSRP is $39.98.

Produced by renowned silent film authority and preservationist David Shepard, the Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray™ includes the following versions:

• Brand-new HD digital transfer of the 24fps version of 1929 reissue (Academy Aspect Ratio; 16x9 pillar-boxed) from the 35mm negative, with tinted sequences including the Bal Masque sequence in two-strip Technicolor. Featuring a brand new music score by Alloy Orchestra, plus Gaylord Carter’s famous theatre organ score, released for the first time in stereo.

• Brand-new HD transfer of 20fps version of 1929 reissue with tinting, Technicolor and hand-coloring. Symphonic score composed by Gabriel Thibaudeau, performed by I Musici de Montreal, conducted by Yuri Turovsky with Claudine Cote, soprano presented in stereo, along with a new full-length audio essay by Dr. Jon Mirsalis.

• Standard definition presentation of the original 1925 release from a 16mm tinted source copy. Accompanied by a new piano score by Dr. Frederick Hodges.

Chaney stars as Erik, the “Phantom” who lives deep within the twisting catacombs and dungeons beneath the 19th century Paris Opera House. The singers all speak of a ghost who walks the halls, yet no one has ever seen him. But when Erik falls in love with the beautiful aspiring singer Christine, rumor becomes reality when he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his lair. Hoping, praying that she might see beyond the mask and the disfigurement hiding under it...

As in all his films, Chaney designed the now signature makeup for the Phantom, employing techniques – like pining his nose with wires – that not only expressed the outward physical pain of the characters, but inflicted great personal discomfort on the actor bringing them to life.

Special Features
Phantom of the Opera trailer
An Interview with Gabriel Thibaudeau
Photo Gallery
Phantom Script
Phantom souvenir program reproduction

Aw crap!! Now I want it. Gonna have to buy a freakin' Blu Ray player an' all.....
Does anybody happen to know if it's region free?

David Shepard had said in a previous post that it will be region locked.

Perhaps a region free player is in your future.


http://www.regionfreedvd.net/" target="_blank" target="_blank

http://www.world-import.com/region_free ... layers.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

Aw crap!! Now I want it. Gonna have to buy a freakin' Blu Ray player an' all.....
Does anybody happen to know if it's region free?

There is another blu ray by Park Circus coming out in the UK on November 21st. It may be the same restoration, but I'm not sure.

The Park Circus DVD is the R2 twin of David Shepard's release.

Well, if I'm gonna buy a Blu Ray thingie I'll be after a region-free player anyhow.

Thanks, guys

Deep Discount DVD has this listed for 22.27 with FREE shipping.

It's down to $23.99 at Amazon.

Unfortunately, we found significant problems with the new Image Entertainment Blu-Ray of POTO after some product had already been shipped to resellers.

Image has recalled all copies and will fix and re-press the edition. It will be later than announced, but God willing, it will also be the fine edition we intended to produce.

If anyone somehow ends up with one of the first printing, which should be rarer than an upside-down airmail stamp, please do not use it to judge the work. We will arrange to replace it with the corrected version.

David Shepard

[silentfilm]

David, so you released this one directly through Image, and not through Flicker Alley?

POTO BD is through Image.

David S

Looking forward to some screencaps from this one.

Unfortunately, we found significant problems with the new Image Entertainment Blu-Ray of POTO after some product had already been shipped to resellers.

Image has recalled all copies and will fix and re-press the edition. It will be later than announced, but God willing, it will also be the fine edition we intended to produce.

If anyone somehow ends up with one of the first printing, which should be rarer than an upside-down airmail stamp, please do not use it to judge the work. We will arrange to replace it with the corrected version.

David Shepard

Depressing, but thanks for the update! This release is highly anticipated. Just a shame I can't watch it on ole hallows eve!

Can't wait to see some screen grabs and get some more info on the different versions. Progressive or Interlaced? etc...

What exactly were the issues on the initial pressing? Just on the off chance that I ended up with one, I'd want to know.