Akwat Kbrana said:
Oh absolutely----but one forgets that Coppola re-edited both Godfather I and II into one movie which was aired over 3 or 4 successive nights on NBC in 1977-----in the pre-home video world ---- that was as good as redefining how the Godfather would be presented to an audience(the vast majority of which had no access to the new Betamax format or the more conventional Umatic video systems----the Theatrical edit of the Godfather on VHS would not become available until circa 1980/81)
You do insist on missing the point, don't you?
The Godfather situation isn't remotely parallel to the Star Wars situation. From 1977 to 1980 is only three years. By contrast, it has now been fifteen years since the Special Editions of Star Wars, and no decent transfer of the originals. Moreover, it's been, what, twenty-nine years since the "A New Hope" caption was added to Star Wars? And still no decent transfer of the pre-caption crawl, either. Additionally, Coppola made no concerted effort to suppress the originals of his films, which is what everyone is upset with George for in the first place.
You're comparing apples and oranges.
Dude---in 1981 the amount of people who owned VHS machines(or laserdisc) was miniscule-----the vast majority of the public/fans at that time would have been influenced by that re-edit that Coppola did for TV in 77'-----
But even within those 3 short years from 1977-81---- was there anything like the vitriolic hate towards Coppola like there is towards Lucas for the re-edit of their respective movies----I don't think so.
As for surpressing originals---Spielberg did not release the Theatrical version of Close Encounters on home video until 2007( a full 30 years!!).
ok-- there was a branching laserdisc released in 1991 which contained it-----but it was very cumbersome to operate and apparently it still included a special edition sequence(Spielberg wanted it this way) even when you programmed it to display the theatrical assembly!-----and on top of that ----laserdisc was a niche market.
Did VHS/Beta,and V2000 owners and fans alike -----lambast Spielberg during this period for surpressing the original---fuck no!