Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 25, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Severin's Danza Macabra: Volume One — The Italian Gothic Collection.

Severin has fired up its trusty candelabra and gone exploring in another bunch of nooks and crannies in whatever castle it keeps it stash of Italian Gothic horror films, and come up with this interesting quartet of offerings, two from the mid-sixties and two from the early seventies, though rather interestingly given this set's title of Danza Macabre, there's no inclusion of Castle of Blood, which, as of the writing of this review, is available only as a bonus feature on Severin's release of Nightmare Castle. While the films themselves in this set may be hit and/or miss for some (maybe even many), they all have moodiness and even style on occasion, and as usual, Severin has aggregated some really interesting supplemental features to help sweeten the pot (cauldron?). The fact that this collection has been branded with a noticeable Volume One probably suggests more exploring in dim, dusty, cobweb laden corners may be in store, though wearing sheer negligees may be optional, based on your own preferences with regard to apparel.

If the title of this film unavoidably evokes a much better remembered story, namely The Phantom of the Opera (in any of its versions), it actually owes at least some of its genesis to The Vampire and the Ballerina, which looks like it had a Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory in 2018, but as of the writing of this review hasn't been covered officially by the site yet. That film, like this one, was a collaboration between Ernesto Gastaldi and Renato Polselli, and our synopsis for that 1960 opus reads as follows:

A troupe of beautiful young dancers find themselves stranded in a sinister, spooky old castle, not knowing that it is home to a group of vampires.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, that same plot summary can be used more or less interchangeably for this film, though that précis hardly hints at some of the gonzo proclivities of this film. In what almost plays like a bus and truck version of No Exit as reimagined by some "visionary" musical director like, say, Tom O'Horgan, The Monster of the Opera finds a troupe of performers in a spooky theater that evidently has not just some nefarious history, but also a resident vampire named Stefano (Giuseppe Addobatti, billed as John McDouglas). Leading lady Giulia (Barbara Hawards) is being plagued by troubling visions, and while the show may or may not go on as a result, there are all sorts of wacky doin's on tap leading to a kind of delirious climax that may suggest outré choreography is at least as effective as a stake through the heart for certain kinds of pesky interlopers.

The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Monster of the Opera is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. The back cover of this release touts that this is the film's "worldwide Blu-ray premiere" and that this was "scanned in 2K from the original negative". The result is a very pleasing, organic viewing experience that preserves the film's nice black and white cinematography that may admittedly not quite be traditional chiaroscuro, but which still has some nice, appropriately spooky use of light and shadow. While some fine detail can momentarily falter in some of the dimly lit scenes in the theater, for the most part patterns on outfits and textures on props are typically precise and well rendered. There is some minor age related wear and tear which has made it through whatever restoration gauntlet was employed. Grain resolves naturally throughout the presentation.

The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Monster of the Opera features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track in the original Italian. Like several of the tracks on the films in this set, this one offers a generally solid and fluid presentation of both dialogue and in this case music, though there is a noticeably thin sound that can lead to some high frequency sibilance and maybe just the hint of brashness in the highest registers of some cues. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Kat Ellinger, Author of Daughters of Darkness


• Terror at the Opera (HD; 30:30) is an interview with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi. Subtitled in English.


• Capodimonte Gothic (HD; 14:22) is an interview with Italian film devotee Mark Thompson-Ashworth.


• Radio Polselli (HD; 21:30) is an archival audio interview with Director Renato Polselli. This plays to video of a tape reel and stills. Subtitled in English.


• French Trailer (HD; 2:29)

The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Years ago when I was a kid growing up in Salt Lake City, whoever the Miss America contestant from Utah that year was did an "interpretive dance" of the famous Mormon story of crickets being swallowed by seagulls, and if that doesn't provoke a giggle or two, I can't help you, but I have to say some of the dance movements in this film may be even more comic at times. Still, there's at least a fair amount of Gothic trappings scattered amidst this unabashedly peculiar work. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements very appealing. For genre lovers if for no one else, Recommended.