Empire Strikes Back 70mm

Empire Strikes Back had two original versions that I know of. A 35mm version that was more widely seen and a 70mm version with a good dose of small differences. The 70mm version is where Luke says "You're lucky to get out of there" to R2 on Dagobah instead of "You're lucky you don't taste very good." Also Luke thanks 3PO for his concern after Luke's recovered from his Hoth wampa experience.

The question I have is which version was made first? Also did either version come out after the film was first released (like the mono did for Star Wars)? And was either version considered more definitive? (On my mono thread somebody said the mono was considered definitive for Star Wars. I'm wondering if there was any comparable preference in ESB).

(If you want a good list of the differences the 70mm had from the 35mm you can look at the Wookieepedia Star Wars wikia article on List of changes in Star Wars re-releases, in the Changes to the Original Trilogy section. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases )

I think the 70mm was used as the basis for the SE version.

Thanks. :)

Does anybody know if the 35mm print was simultaneously released on the same opening date as the 70mm (ESB's opening date) or was it released later?

SilverWook said:

Vaderisnothayden said:

Does anybody know if the 35mm print was simultaneously released on the same opening date as the 70mm (ESB's opening date) or was it released later?

My guess is the 35mm came out later. When I lived in NJ back in 1980, there was only one theater near me that had Empire opening weekend, and it was a 70mm venue. People were driving a long way to see it!

 

Returning to the article you posted earlier on this thread, it looks like most of the first wave enagements were 70mm but not all. So I guess 35mm came out at the same time but not a lot of it. Unless I'm understanding that wrong.

When was the 70mm completed? Before or after opening day?

Also, are you sure the 35mm was the more complete later-made version? Because it actually had less lines, most notably the "thanks threepio", but also some other small bits.

Vaderisnothayden said:

When was the 70mm completed? Before or after opening day?

In this question I meant when was the 35mm completed.

adywan said:

Vaderisnothayden said:

When was the 70mm completed? Before or after opening day?

Also, are you sure the 35mm was the more complete later-made version? Because it actually had less lines, most notably the "thanks threepio", but also some other small bits.

Yes, the 35mm was the later -made version. it is pretty well documented that GL ordered a few extra FX shots and some changes but as the 70mm version was already complete and printed it would have been too expensive to have redone all those prints. That is why there are different lines as it had an earlier mix.

 

I wonder why he left out those 70mm lines then.