That was an excellent one.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

As a child of the Millennium, I always thought that the 2004 version would be my favorite and my forever version.Until the day that I tripped on this one. It is not Leroux's version. It is not Andrew's luxurious musical version. It is something else. While it doesn't look as visually stunning as the musical, it has more depth and more development to it. You can watch and re-watch and never really get tired of it. Charles Dance made a unique Phantom. Charismatic, with a particular sense of humor and a lot more feeling than the 2004 version. More personal history and background too, for all of the involved characters. For Charles Dance performance alone this movie deserved more spotlight.

I can't agree more with the previous poster...this has got to be the best version of TPotO ever! It was my first introduction to the story...as a young child, my twin and I recorded it on a couple of old VHS tapes. At times, a vacuum was running or our ancient computer was on so there was a great deal of 'snow' on the TV screen. But that didn't prevent us from falling in love with it...in fact, our tradition was to watch it at least once a year and many years later, when we were college bound...it was one of 2 movies we watched every year when we got together. The tapes eventually broke and I haven't seen it in at least 15 years but I miss it...oh, how I miss it! I did get the opportunity to see the musical on 2 occasions as well as another video version but I admit, I was terribly disappointed with all 3 of them. The musical and the other movie just fell flat for me...they couldn't touch this made-for-TV version; they just didn't measure up. My husband saw the musical and wasn't impressed (he's a Les Miserables fan...) but I'm wondering if this version might change his mind? I hunted down a copy years ago for a Phantom enthusiast...I think it's time I hunt down a copy for myself and my twin as well. Love it...highly recommend!

I never saw this on TV. In 1990, I was exactly 10 years old, and must have missed this two part TV movie. It won an Emmy or Golden Globe for best TV drama. Director Tony Richardson (of Tom Jones fame) makes a brilliant adaptation of the play by Arthur L. Kopit. Charles Dance stars as the tragic Phantom Of The Opera, Erik, whose father Gerard Carriere (played by Burt Lancaster) manages the theatre and conceals his hideously deformed son underground. There have been some alterations to the versions most people are familiar with- either the Lon Cheney version of 1926 or the more recent Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. These changes include the omission of Raoul, Vicomte De Chagny and calling him Phillipe. The Phantom's father is a new character, taking the role that Madame Giry was supposed to fill. She had saved the troubled Phantom and hidden him under the theatre and been a "parent" figure to him. Teri Polo plays Christine Daee, the ingenue of the Paris Opera and the Phantom's student and true love. More than any other film, the relationship between Christine and the Phantom as mentor/muse..student and teacher is most emphasized. The love story is therefore even more emotional and profound. In the end, we can't help but cry when watch how a father is forced to kill his own son, who is also ready to die and even asking for the death blow, high atop the Paris Opera dome/rooftop, surrounded by men ready to fire.This has its moments. The visuals and cinematography are top-notch, effectively creating the 19th century Paris Opera environment- complete with the world of ballerinas, costume makers, patrons, singers and managers. Andrea Ferreol as the bitchy, jealous and totally corrupt La Carlotta is quite a good performance. The Phantom is portrayed as a sympathetic and tragic figure, not a terror of the opera, which is closest to the original concept of author Gaston Leroux. This is the same kind of Phantom we get in the Lloyd Webber musical. This is not that version, mind you, and is strictly a drama. The use of authentic operas (Norma, La Traviata and Faust) which were indeed staged at the Paris Opera is advantageous. There are several moments of humor- especially in the scenes in which La Carlotta's singing is foiled by schemes devised by the Phantom i.e. itching powder during her entrance aria as Norma and the glue on the cup she raises in the toast song in Traviata. True, some of the dialogue, especially in the later portions, gets too simple, stilted and wooden. But the strength of this movie is the chemistry between Teri Polo's Christine Daee and Charles Dance as the Phantom. Beautiful film, not to be missed. If you like anything Phantom, this film is one to watch. The music is gorgeous, the costumes, the cinematography and the acting.

I saw this 2 parter on NBC back when Andrew Lloyd Webber was sitting on top of the musical world with his Phantom of the Opera. This is a decent musical story version of the Leroux tale. The year before in 1989 Golan and Globus hired up Robert Englund a.k.a. Freddie Krueger to do a slasher movie version of the story which was a total off the original storyline of the Phantom of the Opera. That movie in all honesty, sucks ! When Yestin and Koppit released this mini series they returned Erik to Paris, France and to his beloved Opera House and once again he is deeply in love with engenue chorus girl and understudy to La Carlotta, Christine Daae, who's beauty and angelic voice reminds him of his dead mother, a nice back story line added to the original storyline with one more family member added in for the first time, the Phantom's friend and father played by venerable veteran actor Burt Lancaster. The soundtrack to this movie is available on RCA C.D. and Tapes under the simple name Phantom. It is the original theatrical stage production that this mini series was based on by Yestin and Koppit.