OPERA was shot in Super 35mm with a 1.85:1 hard-matte intended for soft-matting to 2.35:1 for projection (this allowed a compromise as fullscreen tape releases would only have been cropped from 1.85:1 unlike Argento's scope films). All three release under review present the film in the correct theatrical framing (only Cecchi Gori's Italian-only R2 release opens the film up to anamorphic 1.85:1 which reveals some gaffes meant to be matted off). Given the varying position of the side overscan mattes and the tinted (or stained) Italian credits, it appears that the new Arrow disc uses the same transfer as the original Arrow release. The Arrow and Anchor Bay transfers look very much alike (Anchor Bay's transfer is only dual-layered because of the DTS track) but contrast is slightly better on the Anchor Bay release. The US edit (Orion canceled their release but this version showed up on Japanese laserdisc and VHS as well as in Holland and Australia; when TERROR AT THE OPERA did hit VHS in the US, it was from independent label Southgate in its full uncut version along with a Blockbuster-friendly R-rated version) seen here is a reconstruction (the Orion logo probably comes from the US trailer) with a different TERROR AT THE OPERA title card than seen on the first disc and the previous Arrow DVD but (to my memory) is not the one that appeared on the prior tape editions. Unlike the international version on disc 1 features some interlacing (although not in every scene).

Most of the extras are on disc 1 and includes an unchaptered 40 minute Dario Argento trailer reel covering all of his directorial efforts - except DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK which was a TV production sold as a theatrical release to international markets - as well as the trailer for the Italian cut of DAWN OF THE DEAD. The film's top 6 gore scenes are also available for separate viewing from the feature, a photo gallery, and Argento biography along with the US trailer, international trailer, and Daemonia music video available on the Anchor Bay disc. The Arrow 2010 set also includes a full-size fold-out poster and a booklet of liner notes by Alan Jones (who provided commentary on Argento's BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, THE CARD PLAYER, SUSPIRIA, and TRAUMA). The previous Arrow release only included an Argento filmography and a photo gallery.

The reconstructed US edit on the Arrow disc is interesting because it shows how the film was streamlined - the US release was canceled so this particular edit did not cut violence as it was not submitted to the MPAA - but Anchor Bay's release includes the 36 minute documentary which includes new documentaries as well as behind the scenes footage and part of the Fiat commercial directed by Argento and shot by OPERA cinematographer Ronnie Taylor. The limited 2 disc Anchor Bay edition also includes the Claudio Simonetti soundtrack (only 3 of his cues were used in the final film) which also includes the Steel Grave cues and some remixes of the Simonetti tracks (a Simonetti only version is available now on CD from his Deep Red label but originally Simonetti's music only appeared on LP while the CD soundtrack included cues by Bill Wyman and Terry Taylor, Norden Light, Roger Eno, Pino Danielle, and the classical opera tracks).

Audio-wise, the Arrow 2010 edition betters the previous version by including not only the Cannes English dub and Italian dub (in 2.0) - with optional English subtitles - but also the redubbed English version (in 5.1 remix on the international version and in 2.0 on the US edit which also includes the Cannes dub). The original Dolby Stereo mix did not have a very active surround channel and the heavy metal numbers were never as booming as the opera music (the Simonetti track "Confusion" is also more muffled on the redub). The DTS 6.1 track on the Anchor Bay releases is not that much more active than the 5.1 EX or 2.0 stereo downmixes and its clarity actually reveals some hiss in the audio source (the Anchor Bay disc's edition also replaced Simonetti's end credits theme with the slightly reworked version Simonetti composed for his Simonetti Horror Project album and has been moved to fade with the last scrolling credits whereas the credits continued rolling after the song ended on earlier versions).

Both single and double disc Anchor Bay editions are out of print but Blue Underground has since reissued the single disc version (including the documentary).

 - Eric Cotenas