PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (DVD) DVD

The Phantom of the Opera
In keeping with the his cult reputation, Italian filmmaker Dario Argento's take on Gaston Leroux's enduring Gothic tale of terror and obsession features plenty of sex and graphic, high-tech gore (although hard-core Argento purists may find the splatter scenes rather sparse). Unlike other renditions of the illustrious Phantom, Argento's version suffers no facial disfigurement and therefore remains unmasked. His creepiness, shown in the early parts of the story, comes from having been abandoned as a baby and raised by rats in the labyrinthine catacombs beneath the Paris Opera. Unaccustomed to humankind, the Phantom (Julian Sands) spends his days in the darkness playing an organ, murdering intruders, saving his rodent family members from the theater's exterminator and occasionally wandering about the opera house. His life changes when he falls in love with beautiful young singer Christine (Asia Argento), understudy to temperamental zaftig diva Carlotta (Nadia Rinaldi). Desperate to have her, the Phantom plays a haunting melody and lures her into the bowels of the great theater. There he will begin a macabre courtship destined to end in tragedy. Those who enjoy finding continuity mistakes will be delighted to discover that while the story is set in 1877, the theater is lighted with electricity, something that did not happen in real life until 1888. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Cast Julian Sands as The Phantom Asia Argento as Christine Andrea Di Stefano as Raoul de Chagny Nadia Rinaldi as Carlotta Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni as Honorine Istvan Bubik as Ignace Zoltan Barabas as Poligny

Crew Agnes Gyarmathy - Costume Designer Peter Racz - First Assistant Director Alessandro Ingargiola - First Assistant Director Dario Argento - Director Anna Napoli - Editor Claudio Argento - Executive Producer Ennio Morricone - Composer (Music Score) Antonello Geleng - Production Designer Csaba Stork - Production Designer Ronnie Taylor - Cinematographer Giuseppe Colombo - Producer Aron Sipos - Producer Peter Szilagyi - Special Effects Sergio Stivaletti - Special Effects Roberto Alberghini - Sound/Sound Designer Gérard Brach - Screenwriter Dario Argento - Screenwriter Gaston Leroux - Book Author

The Phantom of the Opera
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: Subtitle Options: Spanish Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 2: PCM stereo Additional Features: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen and full-frame versions Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound Photo gallery Filmographies Theatrical and video trailers Spanish subtitling Fangoria article Interview with Julian Sands Behind-the-Scenes footage DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 100 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Widescreen 0. Scene Index 1. Main Title [3:24] 2. Paris 1877 [9:33] 3. Up in the Clouds [12:35] 4. Dance School Pupils [9:59] 5. Beware of the Phantom [8:59] 6. Jaded Spirits [8:39] 7. Butter and Jam [9:21] 8. Singing Lessons [11:47] 9. Curse of the Opera House [10:24] 10. Phantom Arrives [4:56] 11. "Christine!" [6:06] 12. Credits [3:36] Side #2 -- Pan & Scan 0. Scene Index 1. Main Title [3:24] 2. Paris 1877 [9:33] 3. Up in the Clouds [12:35] 4. Dance School Pupils [9:57] 5. Beware of the Phantom [9:01] 6. Jaded Spirits [8:40] 7. Butter and Jam [9:20] 8. Singing Lessons [11:47] 9. Curse of the Opera House [10:25] 10. Phantom Arrives [4:56] 11. "Christine!" [6:06] 12. Credits [3:36]