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Lon Chaney, the man of a thousand faces, stars in this original film adaptation of Gaston Leyroux’s celebrated novel The Phantom of the Opera. From his home in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House, the disfigured Phantom haunts the operagoers and becomes legend. When the Phantom falls in love with the beautiful young singer Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) whom he trains from afar before finally building the courage to approach her, he takes her down to his world below the opera house and professes his love. But upon seeing his face, she rebuffs him, afraid of what he is, and the Phantom sends her back to the world above, warning her she must keep singing, but to stay away from her lover Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry), which she fails to do. It leads to tragic consequences.

This edition presents the 1929 theatrical version, restored from archival 35mm elements. The film is presented at two different historically-accurate projection speeds, each with two different soundtrack options. Also included is the 1925 theatrical version, which survives only in poor-quality prints, but contains scenes that were removed from the 1929 release version.

Directors: Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle, Edward Sedgwick
Cast: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry
Country: USA
Genre: Horror

2 x BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:32:09 | 86.1 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English intertitles
Subtitles: none

Extras:

Disc One:

• 24 fps Version (1929 reissue) (1080p; 1:18:15)

• 20 fps Version (1929 reissue) (1080p; 1:32:09)

• Commentary (Audio Essay) by Dr. Jon Mirsalis. This is presented as an alternate audio option on the 20fps 1929 version. Mirsalis provided the score for another home video release of Phantom of the Opera (which he ingenuously if affably pimps on this commentary). Mirsalis also runs an internet site devoted to Lon Chaney, and he is an eminently listenable authority on Chaney in general as well as this film in particular. He spends quite a bit of time detailing various differences between the 1925 and 1929-30 versions, and he also talks quite a bit about Chaney's "lost" films, as well as some of the technical aspects of this film, including Chaney's horrific makeup. This is a fascinating and extremely informative commentary.

Disc Two:

• 1925 Version (1080i; 1:54:18)

• Excerpts of the Sound Version (1080p; 53:55) contains this explanatory preface:
"In 1930, Universal re-released The Phantom of the Opera with a synchronized sound-on-disc track of music, effects, and newly filmed dialogue scenes. While the audio survives today, only one nine minute reel of the picture element is known to exist. The following is a generous sampling of the 1930 audio. It has been synchronized to the standard 1929 release version when appropriate. The surviving reel of picture is presented in its entirety."
The soundtrack is pretty ragged sounding and serves mostly as a curiosity here, probably one reason this version is considered a supplement.

• Original Screenplay (1080p; 1:31:00) scrolls upward rather quickly, so have the pause button on your remote handy.

• Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 3:14)

• Gabriel Thibideau Interview (1080i; 10:30)

• Burton Holmes Travel Pictures:
-- Paris from a Motor (1080p; 3:24)
-- A Trip on the Seine (1080p; 3:30)