THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925/1929) - Kino Classics - October 13, 2015

[Banned User]

Besides this film I don't think Lon Chaney is a very big seller unfortunately. Raise your hands if you've seen Kino's awesome The Penalty release?

That's what I thought... Amazing performance by Chaney in that one. He sells the fact he has no legs in that film and like many of his performances went through excruciating pain to deliver the best performance possible. Chaney was the man.

Still hoping someone releases more Chaney on Bluray. Either that or someone finally find a 35mm print of Hunchback.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by man_westooth

I recall watching the Image BD at 20fps and noticing that some of the 1929 footage interpolated into the 1925 original seemed to move too slowly. A scene that sticks in my mind is one involving ballet dancers onstage during a performance. I'd guess that the 1929 scenes were shot at 24fps. So far, no restoration has reproduced each component ('25 and '29) at its proper speed within the same presentation. (But if that were done, the scores would need to be re-recorded to match the new timing.)

In the Image disk, the score is a little out of sync anyway. If you watch the older DVD with the same score on it, you can clearly see that the rhythms were intended to line up.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Besides this film I don't think Lon Chaney is a very big seller unfortunately. Raise your hands if you've seen Kino's awesome The Penalty release?

That's a good one. I'd like to see a disk with both versions of Unholy Three. Also a blu-ray release of West of Zanzibar.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

BFI edition now £10.49 at Zavvi. http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-pha.../10840220.html

I think they take off 20% VAT for international customers?

Thank you. I'm still not sure which version to go for, but this is tempting.

[umich08]

Just ordered a copy of the BFI edition from Zavvi. They currently have it for $16.67 USD, check it out:

http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-pha...ductsuggestion

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by bigshot

That's a good one. I'd like to see a disk with both versions of Unholy Three. Also a blu-ray release of West of Zanzibar.

Oh, yes, West of Zanzibar, please ... someone? Anyone?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Oh, yes, West of Zanzibar, please ... someone? Anyone?

Unfortunately like I said previously Chaney is probably not a very big seller as most people are unfamiliar with everything he did other then Hunchback and Phantom. Its kind of like when you ask about The Man Who Laughs or Hands of Orlac and people give you that confused look. Both Lon Chaney and Conrad Veidt were huge stars in their day, but very few people, other then movie buffs, know who they are. Really sad.

I wonder if Kino has any rights to other Chaney films.

Originally Posted by bigshot

That's a good one. I'd like to see a disk with both versions of Unholy Three. Also a blu-ray release of West of Zanzibar.

Both of these would be amazing. I believe in the Kino thread I was told they don't have the rights to The Unholy Three I believe it rests with MGM. I think StudioCanal owns West of Zanzibar. Atleast they have UK distribution rights. I've got some old reel I own that says London after Midnight on it. I wonder who owns the rights to that.

[PaperThinWalls]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Unfortunately like I said previously Chaney is probably not a very big seller as most people are unfamiliar with everything he did other then Hunchback and Phantom. Its kind of like when you ask about The Man Who Laughs or Hands of Orlac and people give you that confused look. Both Lon Chaney and Conrad Veidt were huge stars in their day, but very few people, other then movie buffs, know who they are. Really sad.

I wonder if Kino has any rights to other Chaney films.

Both of these would be amazing. I believe in the Kino thread I was told they don't have the rights to The Unholy Three I believe it rests with MGM. I think StudioCanal owns West of Zanzibar. Atleast they have UK distribution rights. I've got some old reel I own that says London after Midnight on it. I wonder who owns the rights to that.

No, The Unholy Three and West of Zanzibar are both owned by Warner Bros. Same with London after Midnight. You see, that's the problem. Warner has a ton of these Chaney films and, as we have seen, they don't seem very interested in releasing catalogue titles on BD (especially the really early ones), which is a shame because the likelihood of seeing such great Chaney classics as He Who Gets Slapped, The Unknown, Laugh, Clown, Laugh being released on BD in the near future is low.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Besides this film I don't think Lon Chaney is a very big seller unfortunately. Raise your hands if you've seen Kino's awesome The Penalty release?

It's sitting on my wishlist. The clips in A Thousand Faces looked amazing.

Originally Posted by PaperThinWalls

No, The Unholy Three and West of Zanzibar are both owned by Warner Bros. Same with London after Midnight. You see, that's the problem. Warner has a ton of these Chaney films and, as we have seen, they don't seem very interested in releasing catalogue titles on BD (especially the really early ones), which is a shame because the likelihood of seeing such great Chaney classics as He Who Gets Slapped, The Unknown, Laugh, Clown, Laugh being released on BD in the near future is low.

Thankfully, we have Warner Archive who may well be more interested in releasing them on BD and have already put out MOD DVDs.

Which still doesn't help London After Midnight.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by PaperThinWalls

No, The Unholy Three and West of Zanzibar are both owned by Warner Bros. Same with London after Midnight. You see, that's the problem. Warner has a ton of these Chaney films and, as we have seen, they don't seem very interested in releasing catalogue titles on BD (especially the really early ones), which is a shame because the likelihood of seeing such great Chaney classics as He Who Gets Slapped, The Unknown, Laugh, Clown, Laugh being released on BD in the near future is low.

Well that's a kicker. Warner used to be really good when it came to DVD's, but they are sitting on a ton of other titles that should have been released on Blu ages ago. The fact even The Big Sleep & Key Largo are not on Bluray means these more obscure movies hardly have a chance. Like I said StudioCanal has the UK rights so maybe we will see a overseas release of West of Zanzibar. They might also own the UK rights to other Chaney films.

As for London After Midnight. That was a joke. The film is lost to history and one of the most sought after films along with Murnau's 4 devils.

[PaperThinWalls]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Well that's a kicker. Warner used to be really good when it came to DVD's, but they are sitting on a ton of other titles that should have been released on Blu ages ago. The fact even The Big Sleep & Key Largo are not on Bluray means these more obscure movies hardly have a chance. Like I said StudioCanal has the UK rights so maybe we will see a overseas release of West of Zanzibar. They might also own the UK rights to other Chaney films.

As for London After Midnight. That was a joke. The film is lost to history and one of the most sought after films along with Murnau's 4 devils.

Indeed. However, I was referring to the reconstructed version produced by TCM with stills. I suppose it's not something worth owning on its own, but it is something that can be released if they chose to go that route.

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Besides this film I don't think Lon Chaney is a very big seller unfortunately. Raise your hands if you've seen Kino's awesome The Penalty release?

That's what I thought... Amazing performance by Chaney in that one. He sells the fact he has no legs in that film and like many of his performances went through excruciating pain to deliver the best performance possible. Chaney was the man.

Still hoping someone releases more Chaney on Bluray. Either that or someone finally find a 35mm print of Hunchback.

Hand raised and rocking! Love that film, and great release. The picture quality is fantastic. Can't wait to watch that again. Chaney just owns the screen.



Would also love a better version of Hunchback. The source is painfully grainy.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Would also love a better version of Hunchback. The source is painfully grainy.

Well unless you have a 35mm print somewhere in your attic you are out of luck. It only survives in a 16mm print.

I've been contemplating getting the Bluray, but considering its 16mm source and Flicker Alley's price I've been reluctant to buy it. Just not sure how much more clarity is achieved on the HD transfer for the price.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Well unless you have a 35mm print somewhere in your attic you are out of luck. It only survives in a 16mm print.

I've been contemplating getting the Bluray, but considering its 16mm source and Flicker Alley's price I've been reluctant to buy it. Just not sure how much more clarity is achieved on the HD transfer for the price.

I read it was only a marginal upgrade from the DVD, so I saved my money. I know Flicker Alley is essentially a one man labor of love operation, but the prices are so discouraging. Sadly, you rarely can have limited market potential titles coincide with low prices. For me, a Flicker Alley title has to be a destination buy, not an impulse one.

Many on this site no longer have any use for DVDs, but I love my collection of Chaney titles on DVD and would never abandon them in the dim hopes of Blu upgrades. Long live Blus AND DVDs!

[Boob-Ray]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Well unless you have a 35mm print somewhere in your attic you are out of luck. It only survives in a 16mm print.

I've been contemplating getting the Bluray, but considering its 16mm source and Flicker Alley's price I've been reluctant to buy it. Just not sure how much more clarity is achieved on the HD transfer for the price.

Oh, I know -- it is what it is with these silents. Lucky to have what we have, of course.

But I have the Flicker Alley Blu-Ray of Hunchback, and as I mentioned -- it is rough. So if you have the DVD you're probably not missing much. But, blu-rays can certainly offer better goods, and minor upgrades -- so if one doesn't have any version, I'd recommend it.

[DVD Phreak]

Originally Posted by Boob-Ray

Wow, thanks! So the '25 version we have (BFI, etc) is the 3rd version with the "new" ending. Bummer -- I'd love to see the original! Of course, we're lucky to have any Chaney I guess.

The 1st and 2nd versions (usually referred to as the Los Angeles and San Francisco premiere versions) are available as still-frame reconstructions on the 2003 Milestone DVD.

[HuggyBear73]

So judging by Dvdbeaver's review for Kino's Phantom of the Opera, it appears to be even better than the UK edition by BFI.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

So judging by Dvdbeaver's review for Kino's Phantom of the Opera, it appears to be even better than the UK edition by BFI.

Don't know about better. They are different restorations, so the films themselves aren't identical. Each one has both extra footage in places and less footage in others.

Also, the 1925 version is 1080i on the KINO. My understanding is that it's 1080p on the BFI, but I could be wrong there.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

So judging by Dvdbeaver's review for Kino's Phantom of the Opera, it appears to be even better than the UK edition by BFI.

The BFI might be equaled, but it's unlikely it can be improved upon.

Beaver is hardly the arbiter of such things and frequently favors studios who send him free screeners. No review of the previous Image Blu release? He admitted on Facebook that he never reviewed it because he couldn't get it for free.

[Vlad Draculi]

I'm seeing this tomorrow at my local Alamo Drafthouse for the Mile High Horror Festival. It will be my first time seeing it and they are having a live orchestra play the music for it.