The US TV version was compared to the theatrical version. Both are included on the US Blu-ray by Shout Factory.

The Phantom of the Opera

At a major premiere at the London Opera in 1900, a terrible incident occurs when a stagehand swings onto the stage while being hanged. Leading actress Maria refuses to perform the play again, so composer Lord Ambrose D'Arcy and producer Harry Hunter have to look for a new star. They find one in Christine Charles, whom Ambrose has an eye for. At a joint dinner, he tries to drag her to his apartment, but Harry can prevent this at the last second. Meanwhile at the opera, a pied piper is murdered by a dwarf. Harry, looking for the culprit, leaves Christine behind, who suddenly faces the Phantom of the Opera, who demands that she come with him. Christine screams and the phantom disappears. Seriously offended by his rejection, Ambrose has found a new star for the performance. During his research, Harry comes across the trail of a Professor Petrie, who is said to have died in a fire in a printing plant. One night, the dwarf comes to Christine's apartment and abducts her to the phantom. The phantom insists on giving Christine singing lessons so that she can perform the piece perfectly. Further research finally leads Harry to Christine and the phantom. He learns that the phantom is Petrie, who has been ripped off by Ambrose because he stole an opera from him and is now demanding his revenge.

After the remakes/reboots of the great Universal horror classics such as Dracula and Frankenstein, the Hammer Studios released a new interpretation of The Phantom of the Opera in 1962. Thanks to opulent sets, especially the gothic-style tomb of the phantom, famous actors and skilful narrative tricks, the film adaptation is very successful. Contrary to what one might have expected, it is not the phantom that is the monster of the film, but the manipulative Ambrose. It is directed by the accomplished Terence Fisher, who previously directed some parts of the Dracula and Frankenstein series.

Extended US TV version released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory

For the first US TV broadcast on NBC, the film was supplemented with a few scenes that were shot after the original shooting. As in The Evil of Frankenstein and The Kiss of the Vampire, the scenes were shot by Universal without the influence of Hammer Studios. In the new scenes, Scotland Yard police officers Ward and Dawson investigate the case and interview, among others, the widow of the murdered stagehand and a producer of the play. In another scene, the new singer is attacked by the dwarf in her apartment, but she manages to escape in time. In the Black Museum, Dawson meets with the producer only to tell him that there are cases that are not meant to be solved, which raises the legitimate question for the viewer whether Dawson is really in such good hands with Scotland Yard. The new scenes are completely independent from the rest of the film and don't contribute much to the plot.

Besides the extensions, some violent elements have been removed from the TV version. Smaller re-cuts seem strange because of the attempt to tie the new storylines into the film. The phantom observes the new singer in the TV version, which leads to the assumption that he has set the dwarf on her. The TV version is therefore especially interesting for fans of the film. It is available in the bonus material of the US Blu-ray by Shout Factory with a reasonably solid image quality.

Image comparison:

Theatrical version:

TV version:

Runtimes:

Theatrical version: 84:11 Min.
TV version: 97:45 min.

[00:14:08][00:14:06]

The Theatrical Version shows earlier how the corpse swings back.

Instead, the TV shows how the phantom closes the viewing slot.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.
TV: 1 sec.


[00:14:11][00:14:10]

In the Theatrical Version, the corpse swings further forward, then you see the phantom closing the viewing slit. A black screen follows.

A new scene follows in the TV version. The two policemen Ward and Dawson interview Mrs. Yates, the widow of the murdered man. When asked if she has anything unusual to report, she tells the policemen how her husband had to work late one night and heard voices and footsteps. The policemen don't find this unusual, since there was probably someone else at the opera. Mrs. Yates says that her husband was supposed to be alone and goes on to say that he also heard the sounds of an organ. The policemen believe that this cannot be, since there is no organ in the opera house. Dawson suggests that Mr. Yates must have been drunk a number of times. Mrs. Yates confesses that her husband had been drinking a few times before. Dawson goes on to say that Mr. Yates, under the influence of alcohol, has already tried to commit suicide once. Mrs. Yates does not believe in suicide, she thinks it is because of the opera which has a curse on it. The police send Mrs. Yates out. Dawson tells Ward that he thinks the statement is bullshit. Ward says that the opera is very old and they should look for the organ.

Theatrical Version: 11 sec.
TV: 3:16 min.


[00:22:48][00:25:52]

Film tear in the TV version: Harry can be seen earlier.

Theatrical Version: 2 sec.


[00:31:59][00:35:00]

With the knife, the dwarf runs to the pied piper.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:32:00][00:35:00]

The dwarf stabs the pied piper in the face.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:32:00][00:35:02]

The pied piper falls further to the ground.

Theatrical Version: 4 sec.


[00:32:05][00:35:03]

While the dwarf can be seen, the TV shows here briefly how the pied piper falls to the ground.

TV: 1 sec.


[00:33:41][00:36:39]

Probably because of the advertising, the TV lacks the cross-fading from the opera to Harry and Christine.

Theatrical Version: 4 sec.


[00:34:22][00:37:16]

The Theatrical Version fades over from Harry and Christine to Ambrose at rehearsal.

The TV version fades over to Ward and Dawson. In front of them lies the dagger with which the Pied Piper was murdered. Ward goes through Christine's description of the phantom. He doesn't understand why the phantom would want to lower himself to murder a Pied Piper unless they knew something. Mr. Forbes, one of the CEOs of the opera, knocks on the door and enters. Dawson asks him if he still has the original plans of the opera house, but Forbes says that they can't be found and that the opera has been rebuilt many times over the years. Ward wonders what might be lurking in the hidden canals and alleys. Then he fades over to Ambrose.

Theatrical Version: 6 sec.
TV: 1:49 min.


[00:36:00][00:40:37]

The Theatrical Version continues to show the woman singing.

Instead, the TV version cuts to the phantom, which opens the viewing slot.

Theatrical Version: 4 sec.
TV: 4 sec.


[00:36:28][00:41:05]

After the rehearsal, the woman continues to be seen in the Theatrical Version.

In the TV version, the phantom closes the viewing slot.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.
TV: 1 sec.


[00:39:43][00:44:20]

The notes can be seen a little longer in the Theatrical Version.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:39:46][00:44:22]

In the Theatrical Version, Mrs. Tucker can be seen earlier as she comes into the room.

The TV shows the sheet music once again. The picture blurs and the scenes from the opera premiere where Harry meets Ambrose in the cabin are repeated once again. The picture blurs again and you see Harry looking at the sheet music.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.
TV: 1:26 min.


[00:43:23][00:49:24]

The acid glass can be seen a little earlier.

Theatrical Version: 1 sec.


[00:45:01][00:51:02]

In the Theatrical Version, the camera pans further to the channel, then fades to the next scene.

The TV version shows how Mrs. DeMarco comes home in the evening. The dwarf creeps through the house while she lights the candles. She has a business card from Lord Ambrose d'Arcy. When she puts on her nightdress, she is attacked by the dwarf. There is a scuffle in which Mrs. DeMarco manages to escape. The dwarf flees out the window.

Dawson investigates the crime scene. Ward comes into the room and says that the gas was turned off from the outside. He says that the housekeeper cannot make an important statement. She only heard a scream and then saw Mrs. DeMarco flee. From the manager, Mr. Oliver, Ward has learned that there have been more break-ins on the street. The housekeeper does not know where Mrs. DeMarco has fled to, so Dawson shows Ambrose's map. Ward asks if Dawson believes that there is a connection to the murder at the opera. Dawson wants to ask Ambrose this. The two leave.

Theatrical Version: 5 sec.
TV: 2:53 min.


[00:51:19][01:00:07]

The Theatrical Version fades over from Christine to the singer.

In the TV version, Ward comes to Dawson and says that Mrs. DeMarco still hasn't shown up. Dawson tells him that he was at Ambrose's and met Mrs. DeMarco, who is his current mistress. Since she is supposed to replace Christine, she now lives with Ambrose. Ambrose was very dismissive and thinks that there is no connection between the attack and the incidents at the opera. He says that Mrs. DeMarco is now Ambrose's problem.

Theatrical Version: 2 sec.
TV: 1:23 Min.


[00:54:41][01:04:49]

In the Theatrical Version, Harry fades to the next shot.

In the TV version, Mr. Forbes comes to the Black Museum where he meets Dawson. Dawson tells him that it was originally designed to train police students, but then the public developed a strong interest in it. He shows him the skull of a murdered woman in whose case he was involved and in which the killer has not yet been found. The two walk on to a display case in which clothes of victims of Jack the Ripper are displayed. Then they walk on to small vials containing poison with which a doctor killed his victim. Forbes says that this is interesting, but he is in a hurry. He tells us that the opera will soon be reopened and demands a guarantee that there will be no further incidents. Dawson says that he cannot give a guarantee. He thinks that sometimes there are cases that should not be solved by the police. This is also the case here. Dawson believes that it is a drama that is developing slowly and that they can only watch it unfold.

Theatrical Version: 3 sec.
TV: 3:35 min.


[00:57:21][01:11:02]

Christine can be seen a little longer. Harry earlier in the next shot.

Theatrical Version: 3 sec.


[01:07:30][01:21:07]

Probably due to an advertising interruption, the fade from the notes to the next scene in the printing plant is missing.

The TV shows only a short black screen.

Theatrical Version: 4 sec.
TV: 1 sec.


[01:23:44][01:37:18]

The credits continue to run in the Theatrical Version.

In the TV version, the actors of the additional scenes are shown instead.

Theatrical Version: 17 sec.
TV: 17 sec.