ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (June 2021): Indicator have transferred Terence Fisher's The Phantom of the Opera to Blu-ray, as part of their Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows with The Shadow of the Cat, Captain Clegg, Nightmare joining The Phantom of the Opera. Indicator provide optional 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 presentations of the original theatrical version in 1080P. They also include the alternative TV cut (99 mins): extended version with unique scenes, presented open matte in Standard Definition. The short story is that the 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 presentations share the same appearance in terms of color, detail, contrast etc.... and it looks the best of all these digital transfers. Flesh tones cooler and become more natural, primary colors become bolder and richer. It just looks the best. Period. Please review the screen capture comparisons below.      

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. There may be a slight difference in the 1.0 channel exportation of the score by Edwin Astley (The Giant Behemoth The Naked Prey, Contraband Spain), that has some intense moments coming through clean and authentically flat in the lossless rendering. Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

As well as the three versions (1.66:1 and 1.85:1 in 1080P and extended TV cut in SD), the Indicator include a girth of supplements. NOTE: Prefacing the 1.33:1 TV version is this statement "This extended TV cut of The Phantom of the Opera contains unique footage filmed by NBC in Los Angeles, California, with mostly British and Irish actors who were working regularly in US television at the time. The extra footage consists of five unique scenes, creating a whole new subplot involving a police investigation. Additionally this TV cut also repurposes a sequence from the theatrical version to create a new flashback scene. Please note that, as this presentation has been sourced from a Standard Definition, domestic off-air recording, it exhibits a range of technical limitations as a consequence." It stands as a highly interesting curiosity adjunct to the theatrical presentations. I really enjoyed seeing it and the differences despite the limited quality. There are two commentaries, offered on both 1080P versions. The first has Steve Haberman and film historian Constantine Nasr from 2020 and the second has Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson also from 2020. They both cover unique takes on the production, stars, director, Hammer Studios and much more. These are some of the best commentarists available and their discussions are highly valuable. Down in the Sewers has special effects artist Brian Johnson fondly recalling the production over 6-minutes. There is another episode of Hammer’s Women where academic Rachel Knightley does a 6-minute profile of the actor, writer Liane Aukin who plays 'Maria' in The Phantom of the Opera. Also included; Kim Newman Introduces ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ a new, dozen minute, appreciation by the critic and author. The Men Who Made Hammer: Anthony Hinds is from 2020 and runs shy of 1/2 hour where Richard Klemensen, editor and publisher of Little Shoppe of Horrors journal, revisits the career of one of Hammer’s most renowned screenwriters and producers. Phantom Triumphant: Edwin Astley and Hammer’s Horror Opera has David Huckvale, author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde, dissects the classic score for 1/4 hour. Herbert Lom: The Soul Behind the Mask spends time with film historian and screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner who shares personal memories of time spent with the legendary actor. The Making of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is from 2014 and runs 1/2 hour. It is a documentary presented by actor Edward de Souza, including interviews with film historian Richard Golen, sound recordist Alan Lavender, and de Souza himself. There are original UK and US theatrical trailers and a Trailers From Hell episode with Brian Trenchard-Smith providing a short critical appreciation. As with all Indicator releases there are image galleries of promotional and publicity material. Plus the Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows package has a limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Adam Scovell, Terence Fisher on The Phantom of the Opera, extracts from original press materials, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits 

The Phantom of the Opera is a very atmospheric Hammer horror outlier. It's a relatively passive film but the aura has a haunting quality and Lom does a marvellous job in the role after predecessors Lon Chaney and Claude Rains. Hammer completists will want Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows as the definitive digital edition of all four films in this set. This package itself is outstanding as Terence Fisher's The Phantom of the Opera is setting the bar at its highest level for Blu-ray production. Indicator are at the top of their game. This boxset is easily in the 'must-own' category.   

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