yotsuya said:

I'm not saying the 2004/2011 versions are perfect, but I think they are closer to the theatrical presentation than the TV/VHS/LD versions were. One way to judge is to look at the period prints from the movie stills and look at how dark they were. They weren't as light as the TV/VHS/LD transfers.

I don't think you're going to find much support for your theory here. Certainly my experience with the 16mm prints, made in the years that the films were released, contradict your assertion.