Fang Zei wrote:

I thought the TPM opening day digital projection (which only played in four theatres in the U.S., two in Jersey, two in Cali) was the exact same edit as the 35mm. Are you thinking of the pre-release version where Darth Maul's body doesn't split in half?

This is probably correct. Having problems recalling a difference from the digital TPM and haven't been able to find something online. As for the single Maul, wasn't the rating already set by the time of the charity screenings? So wasn't the 'not split in half' only a few random screens? Need to check forum posts to corroborate.

Baronlando wrote:

Wasn't it a possibility that there were some 35mm EMPIREs that made it out opening day for drive-in theaters?

I would guess that 35mm prints for all the films were out opening days. I've made the assumption that 70mm would be the 'first published' because movies often premiere in LA and NY in those big classic theaters which have 70mm equipment. But realisticly yes 35mm were out, and those versions will most likely be considered the 'first published' because they represent the biggest percentage of screens in first release. But let's hear that from the LoC people before agreeing to this conclusion.

*EDIT*

Confirmation of the Maul 'not cut' in pre-release screenings.

http://www.theforce.net/episode1/story/SPY_REPORT_Going_All_to_Pieces_78308.asp

Unfortunately, that second version did make it into a few pre-release screenings for critics and theater chain execs.