link343 wrote: what is the difference between TPMVHSNYC and TWC240_TPMB? They look very similar, but the sound seem less bassy on TWC240.

Same source different generation. TPMVHSNYC seems closer to the capture.

TPMVHSNYC TWC240_TPMB

TWC240 is most likely a VCR generation down, as the right side black bar has been increased. The contrast is also higher. TPMVHSNYC was found on the streets of NYC the week after film release and as that location has a history of bootlegging there's a good posibility this version originated there. (but the width of the black bar on the right side, makes me think this is a second, third or fourth generation) TWC240 was found in the south east of the US.

The quote on TPMVHSNYC's cover (from usenet) is a possible clue towards the origin of this tape or a different bootleg:

alt.videos.bootlegs
May 26, 1999, 3:00 am

dkall26
"Filmed in a New York cinema with Hi8 Camcorder, Dead Centre, no obstructions, external audio quality mic used so really nice sound, framed apx 85% of widescreen picture.  Tripod shot, Steady as a rock, excellent colour."

The nice thing about TWC240 is that someone added to the tape a recording of a news program (Dateline) discussing the same bootleg. But the version shown in the show has been even more modified, and my belief is the extra modification was done on purpose by the news program, or was supplied by the MPAA and they modified it. (but if the MPAA/FBI are familiar with the bootlegging scene maybe they know who to go to, to find the same bootleg in various qualities) In the report sections play fine (as in they look like the actual bootleg, except generally darker, could be show recording) then when they're discussing quality, then there is additional errors. Example:

Dateline Version: TWC240:

If you'd like another news report on TPM bootleg, Ripplin's 'Star Wars Galore' tape was recently digitized and on disc 2 of this set, is the 'Extra' bootleg report:

Thread here:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Ripplin-and-20-present-Star-Wars-Galore/topic/12962/

Disc contents here:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/F-L-I-M-S-I-P-L-A-S-T-D-A-T-A-B-A-S-E/post/500333/#TopicPost500333

toho-scope wrote: waaaaay back in 1999 my dad somehow got a VHS bootleg of TPM and it sucked it was a piss poor cam job with blurry video worse audio and *possible* sections of the movie missing but it was so long ago ive probably forgotten but it didnt have the "z" in picture just a timecode on the top possibly the camcorders

We haven't come across any TPM's with timecode, so this is new to us! Would you classify it as timecode as in two sets of number or just a running counter in the corner, then that would probably be a homemade addition.

fast forward to 2005 and me and my frend tom watched a bootleg dvd of episode 3 which didnt have the backstroke subtitles instead it had a timecode and sections missing including r2d2 falling upside down in the hanger and had artifacts all the time especially pronounced in fast motion

The R2 falling sequence is near a reel change so that's a good explanation for it's omission.

The first post has links to pics, if you want to check them out see if seeing pictures might jog some memories.