The Phantom of the Opera (1943) [Blu-ray] Rated:  PG  Starring: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan, Bramwell Fletcher, Noble Johnson, Kathryn Byron, Leonard Mudie, James Crane, Henry Victor. Director: Arthur Lubin Genre: Drama | Horror | Music | Romance | Thriller DVD Release Date: 10/02/2012 Part of (Universal) Classic Monsters: Essential Collection 9-Movie Blu-ray Boxed Set   Storyline: Pit violinist Claudin hopelessly loves rising operatic soprano Christine Dubois (as do baritone Anatole and police inspector Raoul) and secretly aids her career. But Claudin loses both his touch and his job, murders a rascally music publisher in a fit of madness, and has his face etched with acid. Soon, mysterious crimes plague the Paris Opera House, blamed on a legendary "phantom" whom none can find in the mazes and catacombs. But both of Christine's lovers have plans to ferret him out. Written by Rod Crawford Editor's Note: The seventh film in the Universal Classic Monsters: Essential Collection doesn't actually feature the classic incarnation of its monster and, when you get right down to it, isn't an essential horror film at all. That honor belongs to Carl Laemmle, Sr.'s 1925 silent film adaptation of the 1909 Gaston Leroux novel, which starred Lon Chaney, Sr. and a truly frightful, skull-like visage the actor created himself. That's the iconic film Phantom. That's the iconic picture. That's the source of the ghastly images most Golden Age horror aficionados have etched in their brain. Producer George Waggner and director Arthur Lubin's 1943 Phantom of the Opera pales in comparison, even if it's a decent movie when taken on its own terms. Claude Rains (previously the Invisible Man) slips behind the mask of the monster, a Paris Opera House master violinist named Erique Claudin who's disfigured after having acid flung into his face. But Claudin and his Phantom alter ego aren't the focus of the story. That would be the source of his obsession, singer Christine Dubois (Susanna Foster), the two suitors competing for her hand in marriage -- baritone Anatole Garron (Nelson Eddy) and inspector Raoul D'Aubert (Edgar Barrier) -- and her status as a rising star. The result is a monster movie that wants to indulge in too many other things. It's tainted further by unintentionally silly moments (a single bullet brings a series of tunnels beneath the Opera House crashing down) meant to be more effective or terrifying than they are or possibly ever were. (Test audiences in 1943 began laughing during early screenings, even if the film proved to be a bigger success when it went into wide release.) Is it a grand, operatic love story that, despite its flaws, ends on a high note and a laugh? Sure. Is it an essential horror classic? Not by my estimation. Cast Notes: Boris Karloff (Imhotep), Zita Johann (Helen Grosvenor), David Manners (Frank Whemple), Arthur Byron (Sir Joseph Whemple), Edward Van Sloan (Dr. Muller), Bramwell Fletcher (Ralph Norton), Noble Johnson (The Nubian), Kathryn Byron (Frau Muller), Leonard Mudie (Prof. Pearson), James Crane (The Pharaoh), Henry Victor (The Saxon Warrior [scenes deleted]). IMDb Rating (01/16/13): 6.6/10 from 2,758 users Additional information Copyright:  1934,  Universal Studios Features:  The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (SD, 51 minutes): Film historian Scott MacQueen hosts this glimpse behind the curtain of Phantom of the Opera, several film adaptations and incarnations of the Phantom introduced over the years (chief among them the 1925 silent era version), the troubled early screenings of the 1943 version, its eventual success and, along the way, the particulars of its development, casting, production, and legacy Audio Commentary: MacQueen sits down to record a solo commentary as well, even though, comprehensive as it is, his overview of the film amounts to a by-the-numbers reading of a series of notes. Listening to the track certainly isn't a waste of time, mind you. It just would have been more involving if delivered with less rigidity. 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (HD, 9 minutes): The Universal backlot in all its glory. Production Photographs (SD, 6 minutes): Movie posters, campaign art, production stills and other images. Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes) Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish Video:  Widescreen 1.36:1 Color Screen Resolution: 1080p Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1 Audio:  English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono French: DTS Mono Time:  1:33 DVD:  # Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1 UPC:  025192152269 Coding:  [V3.5-A5.0] MPEG-4 AVC D-Box:  No Other:  Producers: George Waggner; Directors:Arthur Lubin; Writers: Gaston Leroux, Samuel Hoffenstein; running time of 93 minutes; Packaging: Custom Case.