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Phantom Of The Opera (1989) (1 Viewer)

MarcusUdeh

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Sep 23, 2003
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Why has this movie remain absent from the DVD market place? Robert Englund plays the Phantom in the film. I’d hope Columbia Tri-Star would renew their home video distribution rights.

Ward’s Madame
 

Will*B

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Aug 12, 2003
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Will
I agree 100%!

This is a classic film, but until it comes out, we can all watch Argento's OPERA (the 1987 one, not his terrible PHANTOM), which is basically the same.

It would be nice to see the unrated version on DVD, perhaps with an Englund commentary....
 

MarcusUdeh

Supporting Actor
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Sep 23, 2003
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From IMDB Alternate Versions
Several scenes of extreme graphic violence had to be trimmed/cut in order to get an R-rating in America.


The chandlier scene was originally written in the first script by Gerry O'Hara. One of the reasons why this is the only Phantom film not to include that classic scene, is because Menahem Golan, CEO of 21st Century Films, who at the time had just resigned from Cannon Films in 1988 after that company's collapse, didn't have enough money to pay for an expensive chandlier to fall and then to redue the scene take after take. Duke Sandefur then was hired to rewrite the script without the scene.

The following scenes were trimmed for an "R" Rating:
A scene were the phantom skins Joseph the stagehand.
The scene were the Phantom kills the three thieves was quite a bit longer. When the Phantom attacks the second theft, he cuts of his head with a knife, the original scene showed the knife being stabbed into the theft's neck and cutting it completly off. But it was trimmed to show Mott's expresion and then shows the phantom holding the head and trowing it at Mott.
Harrison's death in the sauna room was quite a bit more violent. Originally The Phantom puts a towel around his face and squeezes it tightly and shows a close up shot of the bones in Harrison's face breaking and blood sporing through the towel and then showing the Phantom throwing his body aganist a burning water heater without the towel around his face and showing has broken face burning on the heater. It was trimmed for being a bit to violent and The water heater seemed for a death scene. This was replaced by showing Harrison being thrown aganist the wall and then sliding down with the towel still wrapped around his face.
Carlotta's death scene was cut.
 

MarcusUdeh

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 23, 2003
Messages
785
From IMDB Trivia
The first film version since the 1925 film to feature the Masquerade Ball scene from the original novel.


The first version not to feature a falling chandelier.


The disclaimer at the end of the credits reads: "This Motion Picture is not associated with any current or prior stage play or motion picture of the same title."

A sequel was shot but never released.
 

Will*B

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I can't believe it! C'mon Anchor Bay! Let's see this as a 2-disc SE with the sequel on disc 2! You've definitely got 1 customer here!
 

Jack Theakston

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Aug 3, 2003
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New York
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Jack Theakston

This isn't exactly true. A sequel was PLANNED but was never releasesd. AFAIK, nothing past a script treatment was done with it.

I think a better PHANTOM candidate for release on DVD would be the 1962 Herbert Lom version that Hammer made. There's nothing from the original story in there, but it's a good thriller, either way.

The TV movie with Maxamillian Schell isn't bad either, with some great cinematography and a great make-up job by Stan Winston.
 

DeborahK

Supporting Actor
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Jun 13, 2000
Messages
530
Is the Maxamillian Schell version available in any format? I have been looking for this one for quite a long time.

Thanks if you know,

Deborah
 

Jack Theakston

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Aug 3, 2003
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Jack Theakston
I have a copy on DVD. I have no way to copy it right now, but if you email me I can work out an arrangement for you to borrow it.
 

DeborahK

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jun 13, 2000
Messages
530
Wow, Jack -- what a generous offer! I am assuming that this is not commercially available?

I will pop you an e-mail in the next few days and maybe we can work something out. I will take very good care, I promise!

Thanks muchos,

Deborah
 

Jake Lipson

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Dec 21, 2002
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Jake Lipson
Personally, I would not be suprised if this came out this fall to cross-promote with the Warner Bros.' new Phantom movie, based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
 

DeborahK

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jun 13, 2000
Messages
530
I am not sure that this particular version of PTO is the one I would chose to promote with Andrew Lloyd Webber film. The musical (like the original book) is more romance than horror and the Englund Phantom is basically horror/slasher in genre.

I, too, wish the Hammer (Herbert Lom) version would be released on DVD.

Deborah
 

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