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The Original Trilogy box set releases on home video tape: 1988 to 2000…

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Some basic info for the many various box set releases of the Original Trilogy on video tape from 1988 to 2000…

 

 
Hopefully this thread will be of some help for anyone who has a box set copy of the Original Trilogy on VHS (or Betamax!) and wants to know a little more about it - or is a little unsure of the origins of the release - and may require a little assistance in identifying it.

Also, that this thread may come up with a few unknown / rare variants of the Original Trilogy box sets out there - as most of the releases in here are likely to be from the US or UK. It’d be great to have some input and info included from some of the Australian & New Zealand, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Czech releases - and any other box set releases from countries around the world too.
 

1988 saw the the very first 3-film ‘set’ release for the Original Trilogy - though technically not a ‘box set’; as it was simply the three individual films wrapped together by a piece of card - and marketed as a ‘Trilogy 3-Pack’.

1995 saw an Original Trilogy box set release in Mexico - on the Betamax format.

2000 was the year the last home video tape box set release for the Original Trilogy (which contained the 1997 Special Editions).

Surprisingly, it would be another four years before a DVD set of the Original Trilogy would be released - with yet another bout of changes made to all three classic OT films for the 2004 DVD box set release (and with even more changes still to come in 2011 for the blu ray box set, and yet further alterations in 2019 for the 4K / UHD / Disney+ release)…
 

The Index:

1988 & 1989 - link
1990 - link
1992 - link
1995 - link
1997 - link
2000 - link
Miscellaneous - link
An Index for ‘Original Trilogy Box Sets from around the world’ posts in this thread - link
 
 

Just for clarity, this is a thread for ‘3-in-1’ box sets releases around the world - and won’t contain any information on the ‘single film’ releases of the Original Trilogy on home video tape - or the laserdisc box set releases (of which althor1138’s superb ‘Star Wars Laserdisc Preservations’ thread is a must-read for anyone interested in those).

More information on the many Original Trilogy releases for various other ‘older’ formats can be found in the…

The Home Releases and Formats of the differing versions of the OT films

section of An Index & Help Thread for Original Trilogy Discussion (Video8, Super8, CED, VHD, V2000, Beta, VHS, LD, VCD, & DVD etc).

 

As ever, if you see any mistakes or broken links please let us know - or have anything for inclusion to the above info too. 👍

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

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 (Edited)

1988

 

An advert for the 1988 ‘Trilogy 3-pack’ set release of the Original Trilogy on VHS:-

 
 

The first ‘set’ release of the Original Trilogy on home video tape.

Yet this was not really a box set release - more a ‘set’ release - in that it was the 3 separate Original Trilogy films bundled together with a piece of card wrapped around the 3 cassette tapes boxes.

1990 box sets are often mistaken as this 1988 ‘set’ release… as the 1990 box sets have a 1988 copyright logo and ‘legalese’ blurb on the underside for the ‘Star Wars Trilogy’ - despite being released in 1990. See Nathan Butler’s video linked for an explanation with further details.

It is the distinctive ‘wavey Trilogy’ text in the ‘Star Wars Trilogy’ (as seen in the poster above) that is the easiest way to tell this is the OT VHS set from 1988.

 
 

 
 

A couple of insert cards from the 1988 Original Trilogy set; a promo card, and a Lucasfilm Fan Club application & quiz:-

 
 

An image of the 1988 Original Trilogy display case - as was seen in stores at the time:-

^ taken from an ebay listing for the 1988 cardboard display - the tapes shown in the display are NOT from 1988; they are from 1990.

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #100​: Star Wars Trilogy 3-Pack’ (1988):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cEf_gqrE04 - a 22 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 

 

 

1989

 

Some images of the rare 1989 Original Trilogy VHS box set release for the UK…

 

 

 

'From the Star Wars Home Video Library #382​: 1989 UK OT VHS Releases’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2LqfwUcbpA - a 5 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel.

^ though not a video for the OT box set itself - it does feature rare & useful information from the same 1989 individual film releases.

 

 

 

It seems even the official Lucasfilm account on Facebook aren’t aware of their own 1989 VHS box set for the Original Trilogy:-
 

^ https://www.facebook.com/lucasfilm/photos/a.1909877712403585/3608369649221041 (image and info for the 1990 box set)

‘30 years ago this month, fans finally received the VHS box set they’d been waiting for – the Star Wars trilogy was packaged together for the very first time on home video. Did you get the box set in the 90s? #tbt #Lucasfilm — at Lucasfilm’

(8th October, 2020 - also interesting to note the first two replies on the right side of the screenshot above…)
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

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1990

 

An advert for the 1990 box set release of the Original Trilogy on VHS:-

The Star Wars Trilogy - 1990 VHS collector’s promo’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-BE9DKuAyY - a 5 minute video at the Jason Leggett youtube channel

 

^ A HD restoration of the above video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxWzNJd-pI (by John Allegretti)

 
 

A 35 second trailer for the 1990 box set release of the Original Trilogy on VHS:-

Star Wars Trilogy VHS Gift Pack Commercial 1990’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYxomgL7bqQ - a 35 second video at the 90s Nostalgia youtube channel.

 
 

Some images of the 1990 OT Box Set and the tapes within:-

(note: all 1990 set releases have ‘CBS Fox’ on the spine - the similar looking 1992 set releases have ‘Fox Video’ on the spine)

^ more info on this set can be found at the SWonVideo website - by Video Collector

 
 

Some more images of the 1990 OT Box Set and the tapes within:-

^ The Academy Awards accomplishments featured on the wing sections - obviously do not appear on releases from 1997 onwards.
 

^ Note the 1990 copyright legalese for the CBS / Fox Company - despite having 1988 legalese text located at the top of the box.

The 1988 copyright legalese at the top of the box is only for the term ‘Star Wars Trilogy’ - first used for the 1988 3-tape set release. Yet many people likely mistake this 1990 release as being from 1988 - as 1988 appears on the first line of text.

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #7: The First VHS Boxed Sets (1990 - 1992)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKwVDA8SEU - a 14 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

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1992

 

An advert for the 1992 Widescreen Collection on VHS:-

'Star Wars Trilogy The Widescreen Collection 1992 Promo Trailer:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riipp7KLfO4 - a 3 minute video at the The1970Ghostrider youtube channel

 
 

Some images of the 1992 UK Star Wars Trilogy Special Widescreen Edition Box Set and also the tapes within:-

^ more info on this set can be found at the SWonVideo.com website - by Video Collector

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #297​: Australian 1992 VHS Set’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_VEKf9igeM - an 8 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

Star Wars Trilogy VHS Box Art’ (1992):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmFp8DDhUmQ - a 3 minute video at the wigglyboots youtube channel

 

 

A few images of the widely available 1992 OT VHS Box Set:-

^ note ‘Fox Video’ is used for the 1992 box set release (‘CBS Fox’ was used for the similar looking 1990 box set release)

^ note the 1992 copyright legalese on the base of the box set for ‘Fox Video’.

 

Images of the tapes and cover art used for this set can be found at the ‘Star Wars On Home Video’ website:-

(note: all 1990 set releases have ‘CBS Fox’ on the spine - the similar looking 1992 set releases have ‘Fox Video’ on the spine)

^ from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/star-wars-usa-vhs-1992.html
 

^ from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/the-empire-strikes-back-usa-vhs-1992.html
 

from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/return-of-jedi-usa-vhs-1992.html
 

^ more info on this 1992 VHS box set can be found at the SWonVideo.com website - by Video Collector

 

 


 

1992 ‘Special Letterbox Collector’s Edition’ VHS Boxset:-

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #8: Special Letterbox Collector’s Edition (1992)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku9Yap04Okk - a 13 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

A couple of images for the content from the 1992 ‘Special Letterbox Collector’s Edition’:-

 

Wookieepedia Page for the 'Star Wars Trilogy: Special Letterbox Collector’s Edition box set.

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

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1995

 

Star Wars 1995 VHS release Trailer’ - aka the ‘One Last Time’ trailer:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKr5R1VNPjI - a 90 second trailer at the wyatt8740 youtube channel

 
 

Retro Unboxing - Star Wars Original Trilogy 1995 VHS Box Set!’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ciic00Yi5k - an 8 minute video at the zachfernandez92 youtube channel

 

 

A ‘One Last Time’ poster:-

 
 

Some images from the 1995 OT VHS ‘Faces’ box set release:-

^ more info on this 1995 VHS ‘Faces’ box set can be found at the ‘Star Wars On Home Video’ website, here:-

• SW: http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/star-wars-usa-vhs-1995.html
• ESB: http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/the-empire-strikes-back-usa-vhs-1995_13.html
• ROTJ: http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/12/return-of-jedi-usa-vhs-1995.html

 

 

Original Star Wars Trilogy - Buy It Now Or Lose It Forever (1996)(Australian advert):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6NPIN_OTLw - a 30 second trailer at the Bamptonoid youtube channel

 
 

Star Wars Trilogy (1995) THX VHS Release - In-Store Promo Reel’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz5MXcV6uPM - an 8 minute video from the Scully youtube channel

 
 

Another ‘One Last Time’ poster:-

 
 

Some images from the 1995 widescreen OT box set release:-

 

 

Some images from the 1995 full screen OT box set release:-

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #244​: UK THX Remastered VHS Sets’ (1995):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQ0M9Suywc - a 22 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #347​: UK 1995 VHS “Cardboard Box” Set’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBOlLaWME4 - a 5 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #10: The THX Remastered Edition (1995)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvjPpYDP6j8 - a 9 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

'From the Star Wars Home Video Library #10.1: THX Remastered Edition Widescreen Variants (1995):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVyiZTlhNwI - a 13 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

A few images of the THX Remastered Edition Widescreen VHS boxset and the contents within:-

 

The rear of the box set - with message from George Lucas:-

 

 


 

1995 ISD Executor VHS box set

 

ISD Executor Star Wars VHS Box Set Review’ (1995):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKIWGE_1Aic - an 8 minute video at the JJ Model Making youtube channel

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #56: ISD Executor UK VHS Set (1995)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_OcvxOUbLs - a 13 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

A couple of images from the ‘ISD Executor UK VHS Set’ and the contents within:-

 

Info: Star Wars Executor Boxset VHS (1995) - a 2005 OT•com thread, by Jedikev

A decent write-up on the Executor VHS set and contents - here (at LinkedIn)
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

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1997 (The 1997 Special Edition)

 

The STAR WARS Trilogy “Special Edition” (VHS T.V. Commercial) 1997’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Yhn1OGhx0 - a 30 second trailer at the Movie Dawgs youtube channel

 
 

The “Watch Carefully” (not-at-all patronising!) 1997 SE VHS advert : ‘Star Wars Special Edition VHS Promo - 9/13/97’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WLlnlSw6fM - a 20 second trailer at the Nintendementia youtube channel

 

 

Some images of the 1997 Special Edition Box Set and also the tapes within:-

^ images taken from the 2015 article Collectibles from the Outer Rim at StarWars•com

 

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #11: The Special Edition Trilogy (1997)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQynR4pfcLE - a 30 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #167​: UK Special Edition VHS Day 1 Goodies’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waIVeruhaTY - a 9 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #298​: 1997 Press Kit VHS’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQdqdjguE - a 6 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 


 

1997 Special Edition - ‘Limited Edition Collectors Set’

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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2000 (containing the 1997 Special Edition)

 

An advert for the 2000 release of the Original Trilogy boxset on VHS:-

Star Wars Trilogy VHS Commercial (2000)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPmE4CQcg0 - a 1 minute trailer at the Galactic Voyage youtube channel

 

 

Some images of the 2000 OT Box Set and also the tapes within:-

^ more info on this set can be found at the SWonVideo.com website - by Video Collector

 
 

Some images of the 2000 Widescreen OT Box Set and also the tapes within:-

^ more info on this set can be found at the SWonVideo.com website - by Video Collector

 
 

Image of the 2000 OT Box Set and the contents:-

 

 

A couple of video reviews on the release of the 2000 Original Trilogy box set:-

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #12: The Final VHS Trilogy (2000)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=639xdq3sO7o - a minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 

Retro Unboxing - Star Wars Original Trilogy 2000 VHS Box Set!’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNo8FUiZKv8 - a 6 minute video from the zachfernandez92 youtube channel

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Miscellaneous

 

Videos and other sources of information which contain material across the various box set releases - and maybe differing regions around the world (and not just ‘by the year’ as above)

 
 

My Star Wars Home Video Collection Part 1 - Pre-Special-Edition VHS European Releases’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f5hSeLkN6k - a 13 minute video at the Petr Harmy youtube channel

The blurb…

‘Showing you my Star Wars video collection - Part 1: Pre-Special-Edition VHS European Releases.’

 
 

My Star Wars Home Video Collection Part 2 - Special-Edition and Prequel VHS European Releases’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDhDq0m20Tc - a 13 minute video at the Petr Harmy youtube channel

The blurb…

‘Showing you my Star Wars video collection - Part 2: Post-Special Edition VHS.’

 

Harmy also has a Part 3 and Part 4 of his ‘home video collection’ on DVDs, blu rays, laserdiscs and single film video releases.

 
 

My Star Wars Home Video Collection Part 5’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd0asvIL5MU - a 19 minute video at the Petr Harmy youtube channel

The blurb…

‘Some more new finds I added to my collection 😃(including a rare 1995 German VHS 4-tape box set release)

 

 

Star Wars Trilogy VHS Box Sets’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epLYhVtRa_E - a 10 minute video at the CinemaniacSeventy7 youtube channel.

^ The video covers both the 1992 ‘Special Letterbox Collector’s Edition’ - and 1995 ‘ISD Executor’ VHS boxsets.

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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 (Edited)

An Index for ‘Box Sets from around the world’ posts in this thread…

 

Hopefully this thread may come up with a few unknown / rare variants of the Original Trilogy box set releases out there - as most of the releases in here are so far are simply from the US or UK.

It’d be great to have some input and info included from some of the Australian & New Zealand, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Czech releases - and any other box set releases from countries around the world too…

Especially if any box sets out there are something a little different to the usual and well-known US & UK releases - and in V2000 (Video 2000) - or Beta (Betamax).
 

So if you have any info, know of any good sources of information - or have a collection yourself that you’d like to share - then please do…

Countries featured so far:-

Norway - by ZkinandBonez (and many thanks to him)
Australia & New Zealand
Netherlands
Germany (all credit to benduwan)
France
Italy
Spain
Mexico 1 (Spanish)
Brazil (Portuguese)
Japan
Chile (Spanish)
Argentina (Spanish)
Mexico 2 (Spanish) - very rare
 

^ or just scroll down 👍
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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 (Edited)

NORWAY

EDIT: Not technically Box sets, but they were sold as a ‘set’ of sorts:

1995 - Fullscreen

https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vanhfullscrno.htm

“The 1995 THX remasters were issued in both Widescreen and Pan&Scan editions in Norway. These reissues were produced in vast numbers and I remember them littering the discount bins even after the 1997 special edition tapes were released two years later.”

Interestingly this was apparently the first proper release of the films in Norway. The only previous edition I’ve found information about online were a rental-only release in 1983.

These photos are from my own collection and were the tapes I had as a kid. I got these in late 1999 after I’d seen TPM and the SE editions of the OT. I asked my mother if she’d get me the films and she got me these tapes from a used comics and video store and it’s thanks to this that I grew up with the original versions of the OT and not the SE (which I didn’t see again until I got the 2004 DVD set).

1995 - Widescreen

https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vno1995anh.htm

“At the time only the first movie was planned for a digital upgrade thus the “last time available” sticker was only found on this tape.”


https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vno1995esb.htm


https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vno1995rotj.htm


2000 - Special Edition Widescreen

https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vtrilogybox2000.htm

“The transparent slipcase holds a box with three tapes in cardboard sleeves. While cardboard sleeves are common in the US, they are rarely seen on Norwegian releases. This box (with minor local variations) was used on all releases both US and internationally. In Norway, this set was only released in Widescreen, but not noted as such on the slipcase.”


https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vtrilogybox2000anh.htm



https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vtrilogybox2000esb.htm



https://www.swonvideo.com/vhs/vtrilogybox2000rotj.htm



Star Wars is Surrealism, not Science Fiction (essay)
Original Trilogy Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Beyond the OT Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Amazon link to my novel; Dawn of the Karabu.

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 (Edited)

Australia & New Zealand

 

1992

 

^ note the ‘1992 FoxVideo inc’ copyright blurb on the base of the box set.

 
Above images from ‘RARE Star Wars VHS VIDEO Original First release Box Set’ ebay listing: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264019190134

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #297​: Australian 1992 VHS Set’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_VEKf9igeM - an 8 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 

1995 (and also in 1996)

 

Original Star Wars Trilogy - Buy It Now Or Lose It Forever (1996)(Australian advert):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6NPIN_OTLw - a 30 second trailer at the Bamptonoid youtube channel

 
 

My Star Wars VHS Collection’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWN_idlfZjc - a 4 minute video at the VHS/DVD/Bluray Previews Australia youtube channel.

 
 

It seems the boxset with Vader on the cover was full screen; the box set with Yoda on the cover being widescreen:-

 

 

 

1997

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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 (Edited)

Netherlands…

 

1992

 
An image and some info for the Netherlands’ 1992 OT VHS boxset release - from StarWarsOnHomeVideo.com

 

 

more info on releases for the Netherlands coming soon…

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Time
 (Edited)

Germany…

 

benduwan very kindly provided this quality info for some of the German box set releases (as well as single film releases):-

‘Star Wars auf Video Teil 1: 1982 – 1988’ - www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-1982-1988
‘Star Wars auf Video Teil 2: 1990 – 1993’ - www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-2-1990-1993
‘Star Wars auf Video Teil 3: 1995 – 1995’ - www.bantha.de/star-wars-aus-video-teil-3-1995
‘Star Wars auf Video Teil 4: 1997 – 2000’ - www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-4-1997-2000

^ all thanks, credit & kudos to benduwan 👍

 

1990

 

^ from http://www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-2-1990-1993
 

'In March 1990, a limited collector’s box was released which, in addition to the Star Wars Trilogy, also contained the first Ewok film and the making of “The Star Wars Story”. Actually, this box had nothing in common with the Silver Screen Collection, after all it only contains the book boxes that had already been published.

This box was limited, numbered and was probably sold exclusively through the Sat1 TV shop. By the way, the price at that time was 199, -DM, around 100, - €. This box was advertised when the Star Wars films were shown on television for the first time in Germany, namely on Sat1.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

From benduwan’s personal collection (thank you very much for these photos):-

 

 

1991

 
Image and some info for the German 1991 OT VHS boxset release - from StarWarsOnHomeVideo.com

 

Some box set images of the 1991 box set:-

^ the widescreen box set
 

^ the fullscreen box set
 

^ from www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-2-1990-1993
 

'In October 1991 the so-called Black Box appeared. The Black Box is a collector’s box from the trilogy. The special thing about this box is that the design probably came from the USA. In the box, the VHS tapes are in cardboard sleeves, as they were common for video tapes in the USA. Bonus material such as the making of “The Star Wars Story” has been completely dispensed with in this box. It only contains the trilogy.

The box consists of two parts, a slipcase with flaps on the sides that contains the straps and a slipcase that is slipped over it. The cover art is the same cover art that was used before.

This is probably the first German-language publication where the customer had the choice between full screen and letterboxed. Letterboxed means that the film is still saved on the video in full-screen format of 4: 3 but in the original cinema format of 2.35: 1. This means that the picture now has two thick black bars above and below. On VHS you often only had the option to see the film in full screen, which means that the entire screen is used, but a lot of image information is lost because something has to be cut off to the left and right of the image.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

 

1992 (the ‘White Box / Sat1 Box - CBS / Fox Video’ release)

 

^ from www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-2-1990-1993
 

'The TV broadcaster Sat1 published its own version of the black box the following year. At that time, Sat1 was the German science fiction broadcaster. In addition to Star Wars, the Star Trek series and films were also broadcast. The only difference between this box and the black box was that this box has a white slipcase with the Sat1 logo.

Unfortunately, it can no longer be determined whether this box was also available in full screen and letterboxed. Probably this box was only available in full screen.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

More information on the white 1992 Sat1 trilogy boxset can be found here:-

www.meine-filmsammlung.de/frame_content.php?fid=244&uid=103130

 

 

1995

 

^ from www.bantha.de/star-wars-aus-video-teil-3-1995

 
‘This box also appeared as part of the THX edition. This is the same form of packaging that was used before. For the THX edition, the decision was made to use the protagonists’ lightsabers as cover images for the individual films. The cover pictures by John Alvin were only used on the slipcase of the box. However, this box was only published letterboxed and no longer in full screen.

The magazine Video published a limited Collectors Edition, which was limited to 4000 pieces. This is exactly the same box. The only difference is that the video tapes are S-VHS tapes. These are of better quality than normal VHS tapes. But since only the normal video signal is stored on these videos, you can watch this version with any VHS recorder without any problems. However, almost all advantages of the actually better S-VHS format are lost because they are not used.

On the tape of Star Wars there is a short video with test patterns, which should help to set up the television and the Dolby Surround system.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

 

^ from http://www.bantha.de/star-wars-aus-video-teil-3-1995
 

‘The 1995 Classic Video Box is a box that was only advertised on television and could only be ordered by telephone. The box is a large and sturdy cardboard box that contains the normal VHS tapes that were already released individually, as well as the making of of Return of the Jedi: Classic Creatures. This is the only publication of this making of. The Classic Creatures box is also in the style of the THX Edition. The Classic Video Box also included a demo version of X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

 

1997

 
Images and some info for the German 1997 Special Edition OT VHS boxset release - from StarWarsOnHomeVideo.com

&

^ from www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-4-1997-2000
 

'The special edition was also released in a beautiful collector’s box, which was also gold. In Germany this box appeared exclusively in letterboxed. In other countries this box appeared both in full screen and letterboxed and was mostly offered in silver (letterboxed) and gold (full screen).

The interesting thing about this box was that there is a short bonus video in front of the main film, which gives an insight into the creation of the special edition. In Germany, this box was also accompanied by a booklet in which merchandising was advertised.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

 

2000

 

^ from www.bantha.de/star-wars-auf-video-teil-4-1997-2000
 

'This collector’s box is now the last German release of the classic Star Wars trilogy on VHS. This box contains the special edition as it was published 3 years earlier. The biggest difference between the previous releases is that this box is no longer made entirely of cardboard. The slipcase is made of printed plastic with viewing windows.

As bonus material, this box contains a short interview with Bonnie Piesse and Joel Edgerton, the actors of Beru and Owen Lars in episode 2. One or the other will have bought this box solely because of this bonus material. One crucial difference, however, is new. Since this publication there is only “Star Wars” and no “Star Wars” in Germany.’

^ via google translation from the above link.

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

France…

 

Some useful info and images for many of the French Original Trilogy box sets (and some single release films):-

https://www.starwars-universe.com/dossier-page-120-778-les-videos-vhs-de-star-wars-fiches-des-editions-francaises.html
 

A ‘History of the different French editions’ info page

A ‘Files of some non-French box sets’ info page (including releases from the UK, USA, Canada, & Australia)

 

The site also includes information & images on Original Trilogy box set releases from…
 

1989

 

 
 

1992

 

 

Additional image and some info for the French 1992 OT VHS boxset release - from StarWarsOnHomeVideo.com

 
 

1993

 

 

Some additional images of the most intriguing 1993 ‘La Trilogie : Edition Collector’:-

 
 

1995

 

 
 

1995 ISD Executor Set

 

 
 

1997

 

 
 

2000

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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I had 4 copies on VHS. I had the old CBS FOX that you show in the first pictures. I got them about 1988. Then I got the Faces pan & scan and the Faces widescreen (also have the Faces widescreen LD). I don’t recall which SE version I had. A basement flood eliminated all my VHS except the Faces widescreen which was in a different place. A friend was clearing out in preparation to move and gave me the pan & scan SE VHS. My Faces VHS widescreen box opens different than the one pictured.

Author
Time

oojason said:

Germany…

 

benduwan very kindly provided this quality info for some of the German box set releases (as well as single film releases)😃

thanks for mention

Author
Time

The 2000 box set is significant because they dropped the Special Edition label. Ever since every new version of the Special Edition has been labeled as if it is the original trilogy. Culminating with the 2020 Special Edition 4.0 in 4k.

I’m sure there have been multiple generations of people who haven’t actually seen the real movies. I mean even i grew up with an altered version of Star Wars which i thought was the original cut and it wasn’t. the A New Hope subtitle, new roll up and starfield and new audio mix it wasn’t the theatrical cut. The real Star Wars has never been on home video.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

JadedSkywalker said:

The 2000 box set is significant because they dropped the Special Edition label.

In some way yes, but on the other hand not really as in that was to be expected. In 1997 they marketed it as a special edition because they showed it in the theaters and it was new and special and they wanted you to believe it. It was an event. Naturally when they released them on VHS in 1997 the title was carried over. After that, it wasn’t never going to be a special edition for GL, but the only edition. It became the original trilogy. I’d be more surprised if it was called special edition all these years. My point is, it’s really not that significant but the way it was meant to be.

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

Author
Time

oojason said:

France…

Some additional images of the most intriguing 1993 ‘La Trilogie : Edition Collector’:-

this would be a cool part of my collection but it´s hard to find…
if anybody knows where i can buy this…
the executor boxset are easier to buy…

https://www.ebay.de/itm/SUPERCLASS-ISD-EXECUTOR-STAR-WARS-TRILOGY-DEFINITIVE-COLLECTION-VHS-METAL-BOX/283750014913?epid=1209272571&hash=item4210d19fc1:g:YEwAAOSwnw5ePOCK

i have 2 of them…i´m rich now 😃

Author
Time

^ It is a beautiful set - perhaps sell one of your Executor box sets to buy the French 1993 ‘Edition Collector’? 😉

There are usually a few available on ebay.fr - but can be so expensive for a set in good condition.
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

I have the Pyramid shaped French Laserdisc set i never knew there was a VHS version. You learn something new on here all the time.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Italy

 

Some information from Italy on the releases of the Original Trilogy can be found here:-

https://monstermovieitalia.com/2019/12/15/star-wars-tutte-le-edizioni-della-trilogia-originale-dal-1977-a-oggi

^ though unfortunately it does not have much information on the many Italian VHS box sets themselves. If anyone knows any sources of information (sites, blogs or videos etc) for the Italian releases - or a history of them, please post it up. Thank you.

 

1991

 

 

 

1994

 

 

 

 

1995

 

^ a literal ‘3-in-1’ box set 😃

 

 

 

1995 - Widescreen

 

 

 

 

1997


 

 

 

2000

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Spain

 

Some information on the Spanish releases of the Original Trilogy on VHS can be found here:-

https://www.lafosadelrancor.com/2014/12/las-ediciones-de-la-trilogia-origina

 

1990

 

^ note the ‘Ganadora de 6 Oscars’ (‘Winner of 6 Oscars’) - obviously only appears on releases prior to the 1997 Special Editions…

 
 

Pack la Trilogia Star Wars en VHS | CBS Fox Video 1990 | ESPAÑOL(in Spanish):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neK5mc16e0s - a 9 minute video at the Serious Frame youtube channel

 

 

 

1993

 

 

 

 

1995

 

 

 

 

1997

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

oojason said:

^ It is a beautiful set - perhaps sell one of your Executor box sets to buy the French 1993 ‘Edition Collector’? 😉

There are usually a few available on ebay.fr - but can be so expensive for a set in good condition.
 

sadly,the cheapest i found in bad condition cost 65€…

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Mexico (Spanish)

 

There does not appear to have been an Original Trilogy box set release on home video before 1995 in Mexico - though if anyone knows differently please post up some images and information - thank you.

 

1995 - Betamax

 

An Original Trilogy box set release for Betamax in Mexico…
 

 
^ the above images were taken from this online advert for ‘Trilogía La Guerra De Las Galaxias’:-

https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx/MLM-862292694-trilogia-la-guerra-de-las-galaxias-betamax-_JM#&gid=1&pid=8

 
 

Although the video below is not a box set release - it does contain relevant info for the 3 OT films being released on Beta in 1995…

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #390​: 1995 Mexican Beta Original Trilogy(with the John Alvin artwork):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fknIXJjPU1s - a 6 minute video at the Nathan Butler youtube channel.

 

 

 

1995 - VHS

 

 

 

 

1997

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.