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Post #245512

Author
Gregatron
Parent topic
Help Wanted: an MP3 of the 1.0 mono mix from the pre-ANH projects?
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/245512/action/topic#245512
Date created
18-Sep-2006, 3:13 PM
I did some more investigation into the sound mixes on the recently-released Limited Edition DVDs (2004 and GOUT). Here's what I came up with.


The Star Wars (theatrical version) "bonus disc" features the 1993 Definitive Collection sound mix as the basis for the English audio track. The only difference between the DVD and the DC laserdisc is the original opening crawl being slapped onto the beginning of the movie (which also allows the musical "crash" to be properly in sync with the reveal of Tatooine, as it was originally, before the "ANH" subtitle was added in 1981).

The disc's optional Spanish and French language tracks (which were probably dug out of the Lucasfilm Archives for this Limited Edition release), however, are based on the rarely-heard MONO sound mix from 1977!!!!

How do I know?


*Threepio says the famous tractor beam lines (in French/Spanish), lines that do not appear in the Defintive Collection mix.

*Luke (albeit speaking in French/Spanish) says, "Blast it, Wedge, where are you?" (as he does in the mono mix), as opposed to, "Blast it, Biggs, where are you?" as he does in all other versions of the movie.

* The Falcon's chessboard creatures make some different sounds than all other versions of the movie.

* The additional Falcon cockpit sounds (and the whizzing asteroid sounds heard as the ship comes out of hyperspace) that were originally exclusive to the mono mix (and were added back in for the 1997 SE) can be heard on the Spanish and French tracks.


On the 2004 SE DVD, the Spanish audio track is completely new, and uses the 2004 SE mix as its basis.

However, the French audio track is the same one that appears on the "bonus disc" (This version is still based on the original mono mix, with the same French-speaking voice actors as can be heard on the "bonus disc". In this version, French-speaking Luke still says, "Blast it, Wedge, where are you?", while on the new Spanish track, he says, "Blast it, Biggs, where are you?", as in the 2004 SE.), but with the SE material spliced in at the appropriate spots!!!! It seems they even used different voice actors for the added scenes and dialogue (such as Han's voice in the restored Jabba scene)!

But, aside from the SE additions, the original sounds for the Vader/Kenobi duel can still be heard on the French track, as well as the alternate Falcon chessboard creature sounds from the mono mix!


For Empire, the English audio track on the bonus disc is the same as the Definitive Collection sound mix. However, the French and Spanish audio tracks feature a different sound mix than the 1993 Definitive Collection, a mix which appears to be based on the original 70 mm sound mix from the film's initial theatrical release!

This alternate mix features some additional sounds that were not heard on the 35mm and subsequent home video versions, but which were later reincorporated into the 1997 and 2004 mixes. Such sounds include additional R2-D2 beeps when Yoda rummages through Luke's supplies, and additional TIE fighter engine sounds in the establishing shot of Darth Vader's Star Destroyer (after Luke Skywalker beheads the illusory Vader on Dagobah).


On the 2004 Empire DVD, the Spanish audio track is completely new (as with ANh and ROTJ), and uses the 2004 SE mix as its basis.

However, the French audio track is the same one that appears on the "bonus disc" (based on the original 70 mm mix, with the same French-speaking voice actors), but with the SE material spliced in at the appropriate spots. For example, Luke does not say, "Thanks, Threepio." in the Hoth medical center in the French version (but he does in the new Spanish track).


Finally, for the Jedi 2004 SE, the Spanish audio track is completely new (As with ANH and ESB), and uses the 2004 SE mix as its basis. However, the French audio track is the same as the one on the "bonus disc", albeit with new SE material spliced in.