The Phantom of the Opera
by Darwin Knight
List Price:
Our Price: $26.99
You Save: $2.96 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $9.98 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Christopher Rath, David Staller, Harsh Nayyar, James Baldwin (VI), Joey LeoneDirector: Darwin Knight
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-01
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Water Bearer
Movie Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera
Movie Review: A mere phantom of The Phantom
Summary: 1 Stars
I have always been a collector - stamps, books, chess sets, music, and so on, 60-years of it. Current craze is of course DVDs. Collectors generally compulsively hang on to something once they've acquired it - even if it turns out to be a piece of drek. You will therefore understand that - while it was a wrench - I've 86d this little item from my collection. And I'm aboaut to tell you why.
The Phantom of the Opera is, like Dracula or Frankenstein (the monster's correct name since he would have the name of his father), an iconic figure from the lushly Romantic (as opposed to romantic) horror literature of the 19th Century. The Phantom exists in a number of celluloid versions, although inexplicably not so many as the endlessly dreary zombie films. At least, thank the gods, there are no zombie musicals.
The story line of this production pretty much follows (if sketchily) that of the Gaston Leroux novel on which the whole "Phantom" phenomenon is based. There is no need to rehearse this, since those who don't already know it ... well, what can I say?
The music for this production is, at best, kitschy and banal, more or less on a par with the alleged music Disney provides for their teeny-bopper programming. There is only one even remotely good musical number - and that is a very bad arrangement of Camille St.Sa?ns' "Danse Macabre". This accompanies the sc?ne-ballet which follows the Phantom's unmasking. Missing from the production entirely is any hint of the music to the Phantom's grande-oeuvre, "Don Juan Triumphant".
The acting is no better. Indeed, it isn't acting at all; it's mere declamation. I've heard better delivery from used-car commercials.
This is of course a cut-rate production, complete with barely OK sets and obviously plastic prosthetics. Indeed, the Phantom's mask is far more realistic than his alleged disfigurements. We did get a falling chandelier - not badly done, actually.
I've seen this billed on some sites as a "musical comedy". It isn't - it's a serious if inept performance. We could perhaps regard it as a non-comedic parody. It is certainly a travesty.
I've seen some positive, even enthusiastic reviews for this performance. Well, everybody deserves to be loved by somebody. However, my advice is that you rent this before you even consider buying it.
Summary of The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera opens with a stately dream ballet between our young heroine, Christine, and her intended love. The mood quickly changes though, as she falls prey to the mad Victorian Phantom and his oozing, sinister charm. With a romantically enticing book, closely following the original novel, and a bright musical score that ranges from pop to musical comedy styling, the Hirschfield Theater has created a dramatically new Phantom. From the richly appointed Paris Opera House to the dank catacombs of the Phantom's lair, Ken Kurtz's evocative settings highlight all the mystery and grandeur in this classic story of passion and terror. The Phantom of the Opera, filmed before a live audience, brings to life Gaston Leroux's 1911 classic novel like no other musical production in the history of stage and screen.Drama DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Phantom's Reading List
The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-05-03; DVD
Best price: $13.36
Price in other shops:
Charles Hart - The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)Release date: 2001-02-06; Music CD
Best price: $20.14
Price in other shops:
![Phantom of the Opera [1990 TV Mini Series] Image](/images/Phantom-of-the-Opera-1990-TV-Mini-Series-B000AIR1CC-X.jpg)
Phantom of the Opera [1990 TV Mini Series]DVD
Best price: $15.95
The Phantom of the OperaRelease date: 2003-09-01; DVD
Best price: $17.56
Price in other shops:
The Phantom Cat of the Operaby David Wood, Gaston Leroux
Watson-Guptill Publications; Published: 2001-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $29.88
Deception: A Phantom of the Opera Novelby Shirley Yoshinaka
LULU; Published: 2006-08-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.20
Price in other shops:
Into the Light: A Phantom of the Opera Storyby Debra P. Whitehead
Outskirts Press; Published: 2006-03-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.41
Price in other shops:
The Phantom Of The Opera Companion (Film Companion)by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joel Schumacher
Pavilion Books; Published: 2004-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $52.61
Letters to Erik: The Ghost's Love Storyby An Wallace
Outskirts Press; Published: 2008-01-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.76
Price in other shops:
The Phantom of Parisby Gwenith M. Vehlow
PublishAmerica; Published: 2003-05-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.47
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
Maury Yeston - Phantom: The American Musical Sensation (1992 Studio Cast)Release date: 1993-04-27; Music CD
Best price: $7.84
Price in other shops:
Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of The Phantom of The Operaby Colette Gale
NAL Trade; Published: 2007-08-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.53
Price in other shops:
Phantom of the Mall: Eric's RevengeRelease date: 2006-07-24; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops:
Letters to Erik: The Ghost's Love Storyby An Wallace
Outskirts Press; Published: 2008-01-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.76
Price in other shops:
The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-05-03; DVD
Best price: $3.54
Price in other shops:
Phantom of the Opera [1990 TV Mini Series]DVD
Best price: $15.95
The Phantom of the Opera - The Ultimate Edition (1925 Original Version and 1929 Restored Version)Release date: 2003-09-09; DVD
Best price: $49.98
Phantom of the OperaUniversal; Release date: 2005-04-12; DVD
Best price: $12.06
Price in other shops:
Dario Argento's Phantom of the OperaPhantom; Release date: 1999-11-23; DVD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
The Phantom of the OperaTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-12-07; DVD
Best price: $1.88
Price in other shops: