OVERALL: Draw

The UK Park Circus Ultimate Edition includes 3 versions of the film plus extras including a commentary.

The US Milestone has 2 versions of the film including the Photoplay restoration version plus extras including a commentary.

The UK BFI edition has 2 versions of the film including the Photoplay restoration version and a lengthy documentary.

The UK Mishka Production and UK Eureka releases have only one version of the film, but with exclusive extras.

The following versions of the movie are known:
(1.) The original theatrical silent 1925 version, which is so far available in low quality reconstructed from 16mm elements.
(2.) A shorter, reworked silent version released in 1929, of which two main variants are known:
-- The "Blackhawk" version, originally released on DVD by Image in 2001, and featuring an opening scene with a "lantern man" saying something to the audience in the sewers,
-- The "Restored Photoplay" version (1996 restoration), originally released on DVD by Milestone in 2003, in which the previous scene is missing, but that also offers more shots in Technicolor during the Bal Masque scene - this version is said to have the best picture quality. This is actually the 1930 version.
(3.) The 1929 talkie re-release. A hybrid of the 1925 silent version with some scenes reshot with actors reprising their roles with synchronized sound, added voice over narration and newly added scenes.

The complete film is lost and all versions are most likely cut in some way.

For additional information on the differing versions of the film and technical details of discs, see Nerdly Pleasures' "Versions and Sources of the Phantom of the Opera" blog entry.

CUTS:

• R0 America- Alpha Video Distributors - No cuts - 1925 version
• R0 America- Image Entertainment - No cuts - 1929 reissue version.
• R0 America- Music Video Distributors - No cuts - 1929 reissue (~90:00 NTSC)
• R0 Australia- Beyond Home Entertainment - No cuts - 1929 reissue (91:49 PAL)
• R0 United Kingdom- Elstree Hill - No cuts - 1925 version (106:31 PAL)
• R0 United Kingdom- Quantum Leap Group Limited - No cuts - 1929 reissue (~90:00 PAL)
• R0 3-Disc Dual Format Edition United Kingdom- British Film Institute - No cuts - Includes the 1925 version (99:03 PAL) and the 1996 Photoplay restoration (87:05 PAL).
• R0 Limited Collector's Edition United Kingdom- Mishka Productions - 1929 reissue (Blackhawk version) (85:55 PAL)
• R1 Horror Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 1 America- Navarre Corporation - No cuts - 1929 reissue (~107:00 NTSC)
• R1 The Ultimate Edition America- Image Entertainment - No cuts - Includes both the 1925 version (107:03 NTSC) and the 1930 international sound reissue (1996 Photoplay restoration) (94:47 NTSC)
• R2 2-Disc Ultimate Editon United Kingdom- Park Circus - No cuts - Includes the 1925 Version (114:05 NTSC), the 1929 Reissue Version (77:56 NTSC) and the 1929 Reissue Version (91:30 NTSC)
• R2 Special Collector's Edition United Kingdom- Eureka - No cuts - 1929 reissue (91:49 PAL)

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by The Rewind Team on 13/11/02
Comparison last updated by Rick_Curzon on 27/03/22

UPDATE LOG:

27/07/15: Additions of the UK Elstree, UK BFI, UK Park Circus, added ASINs.
07/03/18: Added UK Mishka, removed UK Dark Vision, Japan Culture Publishers, France KVP for lack of specs, updated version notes, DVDBeaver.
07/07/19: Blog link.
06/03/22: Added detail on booklet to BFI disc.
07/03/22: Greatly expanded the 2003 US Image / Milestone disc.
27/03/22: Added additional uncredited director.