ChainsawAsh said:

There's a THX 1138 theatrical LD rip floating around - single-layer, non-anamorphic, and it doesn't look terribly great, but hey, it's the theatrical cut!

Well, that should be better than my VHS I guess. Could you perhaps give me a PM of where I could find it please. Thanks.

ChainsawAsh said:

Don't know about American Graffiti.  I feel like that one would be pretty easy to "de-SE," as it were, since (IIRC) there's only one shot that's been changed.

Yeah, It's only the opening titles that's been altered along with a digital sky, but it's still annoying.

dark_jedi said:

THX 1138, that is actually a Laserdisc I do not have.

 I'm actually surprised. ;)

That is nice d_j. ;)

Has the new Director's cut been released on blu yet?

It's coming in a few months, and I had hoped that it would include the original version as a bonus.

It doesn't of course.

Thanks, ChainsawAsh.

I got it.

eldiablosuizo said:

I just downloaded the Angrysvn preservation of THX 1138 from laserdisc and it looked fine, but could use improvement. It wasn't anamorphic, either, which made me sad.

But an American Graffiti preservation would be much appreciated. Please, please, please, please do.

Well, I wasn't that pleased with the capture of THX 1138, sadly it was very blocky and it have what I think is interlacing artifacts throughout. Oh well, I guess it's better than nothing.

Yes, it would be great to have American Graffiti preserved, but you'll need LD footage to restore the opening of the film as they altered not only the sky in the background but also the text in the titles, so unfortunately you cannot just use the brief footage from the DVD documentary if you want it authentic.

I have the LD sourced dvd of THX.

What do you mean, are you saying you got another one? not the Angrysvn edition?

The mono mix on the original THX 1138 was great, and then Lucas replaced it on the directors cut with a bogus 5.1 track.

Also the original graffiti mono mix is nowhere available on video, or the theatrical studio cut.  The video cut before the cgi was the same as the theatrical re-release.  I know American Graffiti was always intended to be mixed in stereo but the initial release was in mono.

I also believe the so called theatrical cut on THX 1138 on laserdisc and vhs has scenes that were restored for a re-release or on video, the original had trims done by warners.

Like "put the monkeys up front". That reminds me-the new CGI monkeys are unwatchable.

skyjedi2005 said:

The mono mix on the original THX 1138 was great, and then Lucas replaced it on the directors cut with a bogus 5.1 track.

I also believe the so called theatrical cut on THX 1138 on laserdisc and vhs has scenes that were restored for a re-release or on video, the original had trims done by warners.

Also... according to IMDB the original theatrical release had a 1-minute clip from H.G. Wells Things to Come from 1936 before the opening credits, instead of the later Buck Rogers segment we now are all familiar with.

Have the original mono mix ever been available on home video? I think I've only heard the later Dolby surround mix that was on the LD and VHS.  EDIT: Don't know what I was thinking. ;) It is of course the original mono-mix that's included on all home video releases before the '04 cut.

skyjedi2005 said:

Also the original graffiti mono mix is nowhere available on video, or the theatrical studio cut.  The video cut before the cgi was the same as the theatrical re-release.  I know American Graffiti was always intended to be mixed in stereo but the initial release was in mono.

Are you sure about this? If I've heard it correctly it was originally released in 4-track stereo and just re-mixed in Dolby Stereo for its '78 re-release where it had about 2 minutes reinserted and a slight alteration to the closing credits. Anyway, it would be great to hear the original mix vs. the re-release mix to hear if they are different in terms of content.

dark_jedi said:

If I had it I would cap it for you.

So, if I was able to get you a decent Laserdisc of THX 1138, would you cap it for me? Also... is American Graffiti a Laserdisc you actually own or have any interest to do a transfer of or do I have to get that for you. ;)

I would seriously try to get them if they could be preserved by someone, who have the proper equipment but I don't know what they commonly go for on e-bay or if they are susceptible to laser rot.

On these caps below you can see that they also changed the credits, not only the sky. The LD is also reported to have a quite different color-timing with warmer and much more vivid colors throughout.

eldiablosuizo said:

I just downloaded the Angrysvn preservation of THX 1138 from laserdisc and it looked fine, but could use improvement. It wasn't anamorphic, either, which made me sad.

Just to let you know, I am in the process of making an Avisynth-script to fix the combed frames on it caused by being hard-telecined I guess and I am also going to improve the overall contrast/colors, making it anamorphic, so it can at least be watchable until a better option appears. If you're interested I can perhaps upload it for you when it's done.

EDIT: Forget about it, it's just not worth it. Even though I manage to improve the video, it looks awful. I also noticed that the audio is out of sync, this version really sucks! Now, I'm really desperate to find a watchable version...

msycamore said:

eldiablosuizo said:

I just downloaded the Angrysvn preservation of THX 1138 from laserdisc and it looked fine, but could use improvement. It wasn't anamorphic, either, which made me sad.

Just to let you know, I am in the process of making an Avisynth-script to fix the combed frames on it caused by being hard-telecined I guess and I am also going to improve the overall contrast/colors, making it anamorphic, so it can at least be watchable until a better option appears. If you're interested I can perhaps upload it for you when it's done.

EDIT: Forget about it, it's just not worth it. Even though I manage to improve the video, it looks awful. I also noticed that the audio is out of sync, this version really sucks! Now, I'm really desperate to find a watchable version...

The last laser release was a japan release with japanese subtitles hardcoded beneath the widescreen picture.  Never been able to find out if it is the censored japan cut or the uncut us cut,  And i think it came out in 1994.  Was also reported to have a better picture than the us release, but since i have never seen it i just consider that hearsay.

details here.

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/13001/NJWL-11162/THX-1138-%281971%29

I'm not sure since i don't own it but i think this is where the cgi opening shot of american graffiti originated it is a 1998 laserdisc release called the signature collection. 

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/11036/42725/American-Graffiti-%281973%29

The first widescreen letterbox release on laserdisc came out in 1996, if anyone has this can they confirm if it is the original version?

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/07157/42726/American-Graffiti-%281973%29

All the previous releases came from the same pan and scan master as the discovision release, pretty dodgy quality but still better than the non remastered original vhs.

SilverWook, that would be absolutely fantastic! :) Do I understand it correctly if that domestic release you own is the US 1991 Warner Home Video CLV Laserdisc - Cat. 11162 ? It doesn't seem to have any reports of laser-rot either. I would be very happy if you tried to capture it, and I'm sure many others would be too.

There's two of them up on e-bay at the moment, both seems to be in good condition but they're used though, don't know how hard it is to find some new & sealed ones.

http://dvd.shop.ebay.com/Laserdisc-/381/i.html?_nkw=thx+1138&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

skyjedi2005, I'm quite sure the '96 LD of American Graffiti is the one to get, many reports that the opening credits wasn't tweaked until the film's 25th anniversary screening in '98. But I may be wrong though.