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Info Wanted: The Phantom Menace HDTV Broadcast is the theatrical cut?

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 (Edited)

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but early HDTV broadcasts of The Phantom Menace were based on the theatrical cut, right?
Has someone preserved this version of the film? If so, where?

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HDTV broadcasts (at least, the ones we have copies of) are the 2001 DVD version. They don’t have any of the Blu-Ray changes (puppet Yoda is still there), but they have the extended podrace introduction and the added air taxi scene, plus an added bridge in one shot on Naboo.

Schorman has preserved this HDTV broadcast, you can send him a PM for his preservation.

I believe there’s an SD broadcast of the theatrical cut that exists, though. I think ZigZig might have it?

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Yeah he does, it’s on the spleen too.

(Previously Pickle2503)

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There are 3 versions of The Phantom Menace. Theatrical, DVD, and Blu-ray. The running time of the DVD and Blu-ray are the same with the major difference being Yoda (DVD = puppet, Blu-ray = CG). The theatrical version is what was issued on VHS (Both pan&scan and widescreen), LD, and aired on European TV. There are two airings preserved, TB and Orf. They are the highest quality versions avaialble. The pod race sequence is the original and the Coruscant speeder scene is original (both were extended for the DVD which changed the running time). There are other differences, but those are the ones that affect the length. A couple of shots were cut in the process of changing those two things and so a handful of clips are only available in SD (From the European broadcasts) until such a time as a film print is scanned. The DVD version was also broadcast in HD and Schorman has preserved all 6 of those (eps 1-6). The quality is better on several of them and it was before the Blu-ray edits were made.

There is no HD version of The Phantom Menage theatrical version available. There are several recreations. I have my own (which I have not shared with anyone) and I intend to see if I can improve those scenes enough to be mostly unnoticable, but if you want the best raw sources, they are TB and Orf (I think this one is Sweedish).

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yotsuya said:

There are 3 versions of The Phantom Menace. Theatrical, DVD, and Blu-ray. The running time of the DVD and Blu-ray are the same with the major difference being Yoda (DVD = puppet, Blu-ray = CG). The theatrical version is what was issued on VHS (Both pan&scan and widescreen), LD, and aired on European TV. There are two airings preserved, TB and Orf. They are the highest quality versions avaialble. The pod race sequence is the original and the Coruscant speeder scene is original (both were extended for the DVD which changed the running time). There are other differences, but those are the ones that affect the length. A couple of shots were cut in the process of changing those two things and so a handful of clips are only available in SD (From the European broadcasts) until such a time as a film print is scanned. The DVD version was also broadcast in HD and Schorman has preserved all 6 of those (eps 1-6). The quality is better on several of them and it was before the Blu-ray edits were made.

There is no HD version of The Phantom Menage theatrical version available. There are several recreations. I have my own (which I have not shared with anyone) and I intend to see if I can improve those scenes enough to be mostly unnoticable, but if you want the best raw sources, they are TB and Orf (I think this one is Sweedish).

Have you tried using super resolution to upscale the SD scenes? That seems go work very well!

(Previously Pickle2503)

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Theatrical TPM was also aired in Finland. Too bad it was at the beginning of the digital TV age when recording set-top boxes were very expensive. I recorded it to VHS via a regular set-top box and I still have it.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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LexX said:

Theatrical TPM was also aired in Finland. Too bad it was at the beginning of the digital TV age when recording set-top boxes were very expensive. I recorded it to VHS via a regular set-top box and I still have it.

So very sad isn’t it?

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 (Edited)

freetheworld said:

LexX said:

Theatrical TPM was also aired in Finland. Too bad it was at the beginning of the digital TV age when recording set-top boxes were very expensive. I recorded it to VHS via a regular set-top box and I still have it.

So very sad isn’t it?

It is, owning TPM. 😄 I don’t like the movie and haven’t seen it in over 10 years but it would be great to have it preserved. I do have nostalgia for it and great memories from the anticipation, though.

Edit: and just to make it clear, it was aired digitally, of course it was aired analogically in many countries. I recorded it to VHS through the digital box so the quality is better than from an analogical source.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.