The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 30, 2020

Returning to Gaston Leroux’s original 1910 novel, Hammer Films tries to put their stamp on “The Phantom of the Opera,” looking to compete with previous adaptations, including a 1925 silent picture starring Lon Chaney, Sr. For the 1962 version, Hammer hires Herbert Lom to become the titular character, and he does a terrific job in the part, gamely following the screenplay’s interest in darkness, losing some of the romantic, obsessive aspects of the source material. Director Terence Fisher can’t redefine the work to inspire a new classic, but he gets surprisingly far with his vision, which merges Hammer’s gothic horror interests with little elements of Hitchcockian suspense, delivering a movie that’s lovely to look at and retains a good amount of dramatic tension as it labors to find new ways to deal with old business.

The Phantom offered here is introduced as a shadowy figure of potential menace, but the feature doesn’t remain in a place of horror for very long. It’s more interested in the corrupt ways of opera composer Lord D’Arcy (an exquisitely oily Michael Gough), who targets up and coming opera singer Christine (Heather Sears) for seduction, with his efforts blocked by noble producer Harry (Edward De Souza). Such attempted virginal corruption gives a special spin to this update, putting Phantom business on the backburner until the second half of the movie, where the audience is eventually permitted to understand why a masked man with a wicked little person for a sidekick is interested in destroying D’Arcy’s latest offering of theater.

Fisher maintains a gorgeous period look for “The Phantom of the Opera,” finding ways to hide Hammer’s habitual frugality for most of the run time. He’s also strong with the cast, delivering a group effort that helps to sell various moods of the feature, including some warmth developing between Harry and Christine. The intimidation factor of the endeavor is low, and while Fisher tries to establish some level of deadly threat in the first act, he’s much better with unscrupulous business practices from D’Arcy. “The Phantom of the Opera” tries to remain faithful to Leroux’s general plotting, but it quickly finds its own path of betrayal and opera house destruction, with writer Anthony Hinds dreaming up his own take on the main character, who’s offered a distinct motivation for his actions, becoming a more noble player in this picture, despite his monstrous appearance.

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

Originally reported as a "2K restoration of the film from an interpositive," "The Phantom of the Opera" offers an impressive viewing experience. The AVC encoded image (presented in both 1.85:1 and 1.67:1 aspect ratios) presentation delivers compelling clarity throughout, showcasing production artistry with set construction and fibrous costuming, while interiors are dimensional, feeling the bigness of the theater scenes. Facial textures are preserved, securing fine hairs, age, and makeup effects, especially more gruesome touches on the titular character. Colors are tastefully refreshed, with bold reds on operatic outfits, and the Phantom's grayish mask and skin are distinct. Skintones are natural. Delineation handles shadowy frame information and dense outfits. Source is in strong shape.

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

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix deals with various musical moods, finding scoring cues providing their orchestral might, and opera sequences handling with a bit more power, supported with clear vocal performances. Dialogue exchanges are clean, managing accents with care, and the Phantom's more mysterious presence is preserved with echo. Sound effects register as intended, and atmospherics are understood, including sewer visits with rushing water. Mild hiss is detected during the listening experience.

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

• Commentary #1 features film historians Steve Haberman and Constantine Nasr.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Television Edit (97:59, SD) is offered, with 2.0 Dolby Digital sound.

• "The Men Who Made Hammer" (27:44, HD) is an appreciation piece from writer Richard Klemsensen, who focuses on the career of producer Anthony Hinds. The subject's early years and interest in entertainment are recalled, with Hinds the son of William Hinds, the founder of Hammer Films. Klemensen walks through Hinds's initial time with Hammer, breaking from the company for years before returning to power in 1946. Finding success with "The Quatermass Xperiment," Hinds continued his run with "The Curse of Frankenstein" and "The Horror of Dracula," steering productions into gothic horror territory. The featurette details personal struggles and creative roles for Hinds, who worked on screenplays without credit, and talk eventually turns to "The Phantom of the Opera," with Cary Grant initially sniffing around for a starring role. Klemensen admits factual information is difficult to find on Hinds, who wasn't open about his Hammer experience. He also explores his personal relationship with Hinds, and the producer's acceptance of his cult legacy late in his life.

• "Phantom Triumphant" (15:48, HD) is an interview with musician David Huckvale, who shares his appreciation for composer Edwin Astley and his work on "The Phantom of the Opera." An early career overview is presented, but soon the chat turns to "The Phantom of the Opera," with Huckvale using his piano to explore Astley's themes and moods, playing selections from the score and other pieces found in the feature.

• "Herbert Lom: The Soul Behind the Mask" (15:28, HD) is a look at the career of the famous actor, hosted by screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner ("Trancers III," "Puppet Master III"). Early biographical details are shared, including time in service during World War II, and Joyner recalls his introduction to Lom at a party, spending hours discussing the man's professional highlights, eventually securing himself a job editing Lom's novel, "Dr. Guillotine." Highlights from Lom's filmography are explored, including his role in the massive "Pink Panther" series. "The Phantom of the Opera" is discussed, with Lom making extremely specific choices to help add specialness to his character and performance.

• Making Of (31:01, HD) is a look at the creation of "The Phantom of the Opera," hosted by actor Edward De Souza. The featurette explores the source material and various adaptations over the decades, with Cary Grant finding his way to Hammer Films in the late 1950s, circling a new version of "The Phantom of the Opera." Producer/writer Anthony Hinds eventually claimed control of the project, and casting choices are explored, along with a story overview. Creative achievements are celebrated, including rat wrangling, and the movie's interactions with British censors and initial release are highlighted, with the effort finding greater success in America. De Souza is periodically joined by sound recordist Alan Lavender and historian Richard Goien.

• Interview (3:08, HD) with special effects artist Brian Johnson is a brief overview of set construction achievements, with the worker often eating his lunch in the "sewer." An anecdote concerning director Terence Fisher's sense of humor is offered, but more interesting are memories of rat wrangling on the set, which didn't go as planned.

• Photo Gallery (4:12) collects film stills, publicity shots, lobby cards, and poster art.

• And a Theatrical Trailer is included.

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

"The Phantom of the Opera" has been done to death, but Hammer Films finds a way to make the story their own in many ways, bringing style and excellent acting to help boost their production. It's not an epic and it has a funny way of making the Phantom more of a supporting player in the overall tale, but Fisher manages to squeeze some vitality out of the story, providing an appealing reworking of the core elements, sold with established Hammer atmosphere.