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I was looking forward to spending a weekend at my parents cottage yesterday, but due to the four consecutive jobs I work, I was unable. Burnt out from work, I became extremely frustrated. I was reading a thread on the Baltimore I.B. Screening and BaronlandoCalrissian remarked how frustrating it is that whenever there's a fucking Star Wars stickerbook released, websites like TFN will report on it, while ignoring what is probably the most important issue facing the franchise today: the suppression of the theatrical films.

In my anger, and with the help of a few beers, I decided: You know what, originaltrilogy.com is nice, but we need more than this. It's a forum and a petition, and of limited use. We need something more visible, accessible and comprehensive, and we need a brighter beacon of protest against all this bullshit.

So I made http://savestarwars.com

Now, it is under construction. I literally just started last night, working from a website template since I have virtually no html skills. Many of the texts and graphics are temporary. Many pages don't exist. But you can view the home page, the editorials page and the resources page and see what is there (the individual articles aren't up, except for How the Grinch Stole Star Wars).

But you can see what I am going for. I don't want to pull any punches, but I don't want it to be just fanboy bitching. And I want it to be well researched and informative, to actually educate people.

I'm posting the work in progress here for some input and suggestions. I might also want to bring in a guest editorial from some people here.

What I know I need right now: 1977 screen photographs. I know the X0 people had a bunch. I've seen them posted from time to time in threads. But they are floating around in a million threads. Does anyone have this complete collection? I'd like to preserve it. Moth3r, I'm looking at you. :p

Also, mods: I realize this should be in the "support" thread. I'll move it there once it's up and running but for now I want to keep it here for visibility while I build it.

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Shouldn't the focus of relying on LFL to preserve SW come to a close.  They, like fan editors, want to play with it why the franchise can still draw a crowd.  Let them play, fatigue will eventually set in.  For me it makes sense to at this point attempt to create a distribution system which can link up the few remaining prints of this film with the theaters who want/can still play them.  While I was bootlegging the 30th anniversary ESB presentation in Time Square, a random passerby-er let me know that most of the theaters in NYC have gone digital and all the projectionists are being let go, since you can higher a kid in high school to run the new digital projection systems at vastly reduced prices.  This is not just an issue of this specific movie never to again be able to be seen in it's original form, it's all of movies making the transition.  It would make some sense that the last generation of film projectors and film projectionists should get their day in the lamp light.  Show off their craft and present great movies the way it used to be done.  In one or two generations the last of the film projectionists will probably be dead.  So like this recent screening in Baltimore, it seems like a fantastic idea to create a website which can link projectors with old film stock.  Not sure if that's something you want to consider.

 

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zombie84 said:

What I know I need right now: 1977 screen photographs. I know the X0 people had a bunch. I've seen them posted from time to time in threads. But they are floating around in a million threads. Does anyone have this complete collection? I'd like to preserve it. Moth3r, I'm looking at you. :p

Exactly what 1977 screen photos do you mean? If you mean all the 70mm film cell scans, I can upload them for you.

Btw. this is a great idea! I still love your "How the Grinch Stole Star Wars" article, it's a very well written article that almost says everything that ever needs to be said about this whole ridiculous issue, I completely agree with it word for word.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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No, not the 70mm scans. Someone took 35mm photos of the theatre screen in 1977. I've seen the SD flyby, the Jawas selling the droids and the R2 canyon scene posted in various threads. Undoubtedly these are just samples from a larger collection.

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Oh, I see. I've only seen four of them posted by Belbucus, so it would indeed be great to have all of them preserved in one place.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Love the website idea, thumbs up from this OOT fan.  Proud hater of the 2004 special edition and the prequels,lol.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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zombie, this looks like a great start. Are the other editorial titles just things you threw out there, or do plan on writing them?

You know of the rebellion against the Empire?

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They were things I threw out there but I do plan on following through. I was just kind of brainstorming ideas to sort of touch upon everything that needed to be, but I think they are solid enough to go with.

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I've been adding pages over the last day or two, but I just put up the theatrical audio resources page, it's not completel but if anyone sees any incorrect information there please feel free to correct it.

http://savestarwars.com/theatricalaudioresources.html

Doubleofive: Good page. I'll put in the links section.

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Shaping up to be a great site!

1478-80 is digital (and analog).
I'm dying to know, in what way(s) is 1478-85 "definitely different" than 1478-80 ?

However, in practice you must take into account the “fuckwit factor”. Just talk to Darth Mallwalker…
-Moth3r

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Do you mean the quote from JayArgonaut regarding Lando's line?
IME that's describing a difference between the THX mix vs. its predecessors,
not a difference between 1478-80 & 1478-85.

So I'd forgotten about the UK PAL 1478-80, which shares the same catalog number with it's domestic counterpart. That confuses the discussion.

The NTSC 1478-80 pressed by Pioneer in Carson, California has copyright (c)1986 (not '85) and it Shirley contains a digital track. I'm holding it now.
I've got a hunch that's the one d_j captured too.

As for the actual contents of the PAL 1478-80, that's still up in the air it seems...

However, in practice you must take into account the “fuckwit factor”. Just talk to Darth Mallwalker…
-Moth3r

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This is why I shouldn't try to think after drinking a beer...
Of course I'm wrong -- the NTSC & PAL discs DON'T share the same catalog number.

1478-80 is the NTSC one pressed in Carson, CA which contains a digital track (c)1986

1478-70 is the PAL one with street date 06/1986 according to the website

However, in practice you must take into account the “fuckwit factor”. Just talk to Darth Mallwalker…
-Moth3r

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 (Edited)

zombie84 said:

What I know I need right now: 1977 screen photographs. I know the X0 people had a bunch. I've seen them posted from time to time in threads. But they are floating around in a million threads. Does anyone have this complete collection? I'd like to preserve it. Moth3r, I'm looking at you. :p

Me?

From memory, I once posted a shot of the original flyby I got from Belbucus to demonstrate that the starfield was different in '77 and '81.

I also remember Belbucus posting a high-resolution image of the Falcon entering the Death Star docking bay, showing how much more detailed the original theatrical starfields were compared to the DC/GOUT presentations. (EDIT: Just found the thread - the image was actually from one of the 70mm scans as mentioned below.)

I don't think I have the full set, but I can check through some old discs I received from Belbucus.

The 70mm scans on the other hand were originally available as a reference disc from a site on replica costume building (thedentedhelmet.com). The images have been posted on the newsgroup and filesharing services in the past.

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Thanks to this thread, I had a dream last night that I went to a free screening of Star Wars. But it turned out to be a concept version of the movie. Luke was wearing one of the outfits I'd seen in concept art, Han wasn't human, etc. After it was over, I tried to get a hold of the film (which was like 8mm) for preservation and they actually gave it to me! I decided I couldn't really do anything with it, so I gave it back.

Star Wars Revisited Wordpress

Star Wars Visual Comparisons WordPress

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I like the idea. An honest explanation of why things are the way they are. A nice companion to your book. I've bookmarked the site and will follow the progress. If I find anything that may be of interest I'll pass it along.
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 (Edited)

I like your site so far, looking good, easy to navigate and a great idea behind it. I noticed that this info in your Theatrical Audio Resources is incorrect.

"In 1993, the sound was remixed in stereo again, this time "sweetening" the audio with added effects in Star Wars. In 1995, the mix was tweaked for a THX-certified release, adding a few of the original mono mix effects."

The 1993 remix was THX-certified and it's also the same audiotrack that was used for the 1995 release.

Here is also a great article about the creation of those audio tracks:

http://www.originaltrilogy.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=9&threadid=5739

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Darth Mallwalker said:

Do you mean the quote from JayArgonaut regarding Lando's line?
IME that's describing a difference between the THX mix vs. its predecessors,
not a difference between 1478-80 & 1478-85.

So I'd forgotten about the UK PAL 1478-80, which shares the same catalog number with it's domestic counterpart. That confuses the discussion.

The NTSC 1478-80 pressed by Pioneer in Carson, California has copyright (c)1986 (not '85) and it Shirley contains a digital track. I'm holding it now.
I've got a hunch that's the one d_j captured too.

As for the actual contents of the PAL 1478-80, that's still up in the air it seems...

 Yeah I think I was confused about a discussion on the dual audio options on 1425-84. All these catalog numbers can be confusing. :p

Msycamore: The 1995 track has bits from the mono mix added into it, IIRC. I didn't know the 1993 release was THX certified though, thanks. They made such a big deal over the 1995 audio because it was THX, I thought that was the first instance.

Also, cool 70mm links, could be useful.

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zombie84 said:

Msycamore: The 1995 track has bits from the mono mix added into it, IIRC.

Yes, that part of it was correct. It's just that from your text it looks like the audiotrack that's available on the '95 home videos (Faces) is another mix than the '93 audiotrack that's on the DC LD, when in fact it's the same THX-certified audio remix on both sets and also on the gout.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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 (Edited)

The 1995 mix has mono elements, while the 1993 DC mix does not, right? Even though its just DC+mono, that still qualifies it as a seperate mix. It's based on the DC mix, but it's not the DC mix.

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Michael Coate has written articles about the theatrical releases (specifically what theaters and runs) of the films, some of the articles have pictures:

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/star_wars/index.htm

Another article from the site with pic:

http://www.in70mm.com/newsletter/2000/62/dolby/index.htm

 

 

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/star_wars_a_day_long_remembered.htm

http://cinematreasures.org/news/16528_0_1_0_C/

These two links are other places which could lead to people who might have photographs/info of the movie, or other information helpful to SaveStarWars.com

The 70mm collector film cels from the 90s, are those of useful reference?

http://astrogalaxy.blogspot.com/2008/05/star-wars-film-cels-posters-and-cards.html

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zombie84 said:

The 1995 mix has mono elements, while the 1993 DC mix does not, right? Even though its just DC+mono, that still qualifies it as a seperate mix. It's based on the DC mix, but it's not the DC mix.

Sorry, but I honestly don't understand what you mean. The 1993 THX-certified Digitally remastered and remixed audio track that accompanied the Definitive Collection LD set, used elements from the original mono mix as well as entirely new sound-fx, this same mix is the 1995 mix. And this is the same mix that's on the Gout and the one hairy_hen used as a base to do his 70mm recreation. The '93 and '95 audio is not seperate mixes.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com