By Stephen Pytak 

     The classic has finally found justice on DVD.
     The geniuses at Milestone Film & Video and 
Image Entertainment have given us a two-disc
set, featuring two versions of the classic silent
film.
     We're given not only a definitive version of the
film, but a new tinted version which will appeal 
to generations who have ignored the black and 
white classic.
     The one that blew me away resides on Disc 1. 
It's the "1929 Restored Version." It's more than
just a cleaned up version of the best 35 mm print
they could find. It's an experience of mood and
atmosphere made richer by an amazing tinting 
process which tints the picture sometimes orange,
sometimes red and sometimes blue.
     Now, before I go any further, I gotta admit,
I've never seen this Lon Chaney classic in any
version prior to picking up this DVD.
     However, I read the Gaston Leroux back in 
high school and I saw the Andrew Lloyd Webber
play twice on Broadway. And I'm also a really
big fan of the Brian de Palma film "Phantom of 
the Paradise (1974)."
     I've been meaning to see the classic Chaney
film, but I was never encouraged to pick up any
of the DVD versions sitting in the bargain bin at
Borders.
     I was kind of hoping Criterion or some DVD 
company with bucks and balls would buy 
the rights and give Chaney's Phantom his day in
the sun.
     Image and Milestone have put together a two-disc
set featuring two versions of the film, optional 
soundtracks, audio commentary, video interviews, 
missing scenes and more. Total, the discs contain
four hours and 28 minutes of entertainment. 
     The most impressive part of the whole package
for me is the "1929 Restored Version." And I think
the tinting process is the reason why.
     The color brings the thing to life in a new way.
It's not the same as something that's been "colorized,"
like those lame "Night of the Living Dead (1968)"
color reproduced crappers I've seen a few years ago.
It's something else.
    However, there are some scenes which burst to life 
in multiple colors, like the bal masque sequence. 
The costumes at the ball are multi-colored, and the
Phantom's Red Death gown is red all right.
     This version will also appeal to generations who
aren't too crazy about old black and white films that
many may feel are somehow outdated.
     This classic will live on.
     This version will help sustain it.