Original Star Wars trilogy uncut to be released on blu- ray.

[SeattleEd]

exclusive-original-unaltered-cut-of-star-wars-trilogy-to-be-released

Good news indeed.

[Hedji]

Yeah, this got bumped on Facebook, but it is an old article. The date on it says August 16, 2014.

So, we go on hoping.

In the meantime, there's Harmy.

[FETT1]

..ugh...have enough different versions...

[Gorn Captain]

I basically want a version with all the original missing bits inserted back in.
I don't care how poor quality those bits are.

[MIB41]

That exists on VHS under the first release put out decades ago. I don't see any advantage putting that to bluray since it would only enhance the defects. And I guess in my eyes, if they do anything to clean that up, then you're watching another altered version again.

[Hedji]

Google Harmy's Despecialized Edition. It gets the job done.

[ubermanx]

I have the DVD set that featured a second disc for each movie that was a direct transfer of the old laserdisc version. Letterbox, non-anamorphic, low rez ... and absolutely beautiful.

If this release is indeed the unmolested version with a little grain cleaning and scratch removal I am soooo in.

- Marty

[DC_Guy]

Google Harmy's Despecialized Edition. It gets the job done.

Hedji is absolutely right. Any Blu-Ray that could ever conceivably come out would have a hard time matching the beautiful job done by Harmy.

[acrovader]

I doubt the unaltered versions will be released on blu-ray anytime soon or anytime in the foreseeable future, for that matter.

[drquest]

[SeattleEd]

I doubt the unaltered versions will be released on blu-ray anytime soon or anytime in the foreseeable future, for that matter.

Looks like this is what's happening. WDSHE is about to release the trailer for HD downloadable versions for EP1-VI. We just received the trailer here at work for public release.

From what I understand the original print was cut up for SE editions and that there is no print of the original release, unless the pieces were scanned and saved so they can be inserted digitally to restore but from the looks, Harmy's version is the way to go.

I bet the Reliance 4K project was was just for the EP-VI SE upscale.

[Werewolf]

The theatrical cuts are in perfectly restorable state.

[Gorn Captain]

Didn't I read somewhere (years back) that Lucas destroyed a lot of cut material (from ANH), because he felt his definitive cut was "it" now, and nothing else mattered?

[SeattleEd]

^^I talked to someone here at work and they mentioned that Lucas mentioned in a docu that the prints for the theatrical released were destroyed to make the SE versions and also it's been mention on other A/V forums as well. I'm curious if there is proof of all this hearsay and put to rest that the original prints of the theatrical releases are preserved. Even the NFR has solicited Lucas for the original prints for EPVI and EPV only to be offered the SE versions since they claim preservable theatrical prints do not exist any longer.

However, all frames were scanned and stored in their pre-state unless those files are lost or archived, in which case then can go back and insert the original frames, of course they would not be 4k resolution, only 1080p so up-sampling would be a moot point.

Here is what I found:

"In an interview in the February 1997 edition of American Cinematographer Magazine, Lucas stated: “What ends up being important in my mind is what the DVD version is going to look like, because that’s what everybody is going to remember. The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million [VHS] tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years.” From this, it appears that Lucas intends for the Special Edition of the trilogy to supersede the original versions, eventually taking their place in our collective cultural memory."*

"It is damning evidence for Lucas’ continued suppression of the original trilogy: “The negatives of the movies were permanently altered for the creation of the Special Editions, and existing prints of the first versions are in poor condition. […] Since these movies do not represent George’s artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions. […] We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.”*

"As the 2015 release of Episode VII has drawn closer, mainstream interest in the original films has continued to grow, which has led to assumptions that Disney may capitalize on this renewed attention by remastering and re-releasing the original trilogy. But such an idea at this point is mere speculation. And the notion that the preservation (and dissemination) of an original work of art is now in the hands of a corporation that values “brand deposits” as a creative marketing strategy presents its own set of troubling problems."*


*A “New” New Hope: Film Preservation and the Problem with ‘Star Wars’

[Werewolf]

Over the years there has been a great deal of varying misinformation coming from Lucasfilm concerning the state of the original SW negatives. The original negatives were not destroyed. Only small sections were altered for the digital effects to be spliced in. Even in the very unlikely case the original negatives are in a unrestorable state, there are plenty of high quality alternative source materials to fully restore the films. Including, reportedly, near pristine color correct technicolor prints.

Here's a small clip of one of the remaining unaltered Technicolor SW prints shown at a 2010 screening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEctWVF4J_w