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THX 1138 "preservations" + the 'THX 1138 Italian Cut' project (Released) — Page 91

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Yeah, that they are even pretending this is the original verison is troubling.

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Where were you in '77?

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 (Edited)

It could be the Lucas Machine at work, insisting that they don't mention it being altered.

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I'd be very surprised if Lucas had that much influence over what anyone at TCM says or does.

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Where were you in '77?

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Maybe it's a stipulation when airing it—you can only show the newest version, kind of like Star Wars.

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THX11384EB said:

Maybe it's a stipulation when airing it—you can only show the newest version, kind of like Star Wars.

 In this case, is there even an HD version of the original available that they could run if they were allowed to?

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 (Edited)

towne32 said:

THX11384EB said:

Maybe it's a stipulation when airing it—you can only show the newest version, kind of like Star Wars.

 In this case, is there even an HD version of the original available that they could run if they were allowed to?

 

Back in ~2002-3, either TMC or some other movie-centric channel(pretty certain it was TMC) aired the original version of THX1138 in HD(up-converted if TMC). I somehow missed this, and only learned of it later through a torrent/newsgroup; someone managed to cap it apparently. Of course the movie wasn't popular enough to have people still sharing it by the time I found out, so I never got a chance to even download a part of it. I bet with a little digging I can find a reference of it existing at some point.

With that said, it's possible that it was never actually aired in HD, and the "thing" that was floating around was a preemptive fake/hoax before the re-release in select theaters. I could be wrong about that because I am fairly certain that I confirmed the movie was aired at least once in HD as I went to the channel's website to confirm its airing/schedule; I specifically remember seeing an HD version listed.

Maybe someone else can confirm/corroborate this.

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How many channels were truly broadcasting in HD back in 2003?

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Where were you in '77?

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It's possible ... if Wikipedia is accurate:

Wikipedia - High-definition television in the United States:

On July 23, 1996, WRAL-TV (the CBS affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina) became the first television station in the United States to broadcast a digital television signal.
...

HDTV sets became available in the U.S. in 1998 and broadcasts began around November 1998.
...

Satellite television companies in the United States, such as Dish Network and DirecTV, started to carry HD programming in 2002.
...

Cable television companies started carrying HDTV in 2003.

So, start searching people!  :D

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 (Edited)

Wikipedia says TCM wasn't in HD until 2009, and even now much of their library is upconverted.

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Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:

Wikipedia says TCM wasn't in HD until 2009, and even now much of their library is upconverted.

 Sorry that was a typo: I meant to say TMC, The Movie Channel. They started airing HD on December 1, 2003.

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Okay so I was looking through some old txt files, from 2004, and in one of them I found this note that I made to myself:

"1138 ENCORE torrent"

I am not sure if I made the note in 2003 or 2004, because it was in my 2004 folder, but it does confirm a few things I remember. 

I just did a Google search and found this link:

http://boards.theforce.net/threads/thx-1138.7175997/

People in there stated multiple times that they caught THX on Encore. While their posts date 2002, and Encore did not start airing HD until March 22, 2003, I firmly believe that it was this channel that had THX in HD. 

With that said, I can't imagine if it was aired in HD, and someone actually capped it, that it exists now. But I am going to email Encore to find out if they ever aired it in HD.

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It's worth a shot.

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Where were you in '77?

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A lot of early HD transmissions were just upscales, but hey, it is definitely worth a shot.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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Oh weird, the wookie and I just used the same phrase.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
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Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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LOL! And that's wookiee...

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Where were you in '77?

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You don't get to buy an extra vowel just because you are hirsute.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
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Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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Even if it was an upscale, it could be from a source better than a LD transfer.

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 (Edited)

poita said:

If someone is near Syracuse, perhaps they could schedule an appointment to check out th Judith Crist 1971 review and notes from the THX1138 theatrical release?

http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/c/crist_j.htm

It is in Box 6 of the collection.

Well, I'm as near as The Internet .... so here goes:

Spaced Ranger said:

To: SU Library - Special Collections Research Center <scrc@syr.edu>

I recently saw a mention of the Judith Crist (famed movie reviewer) donation to the  library as caretaker of her works. As I am quite a drive away, I thought to ask if you could look at the collection's "Box 6" for any notes she might have made relating to her review of the George Lucas 1971 film "THX 1138". Specifically, I am interested in her notes on the film proper -- details of it's scenes, observations of it's editing, and other facts of the production -- rather than a critic's opinion of the final result. (Note: this film has gone through several version changes and I would like any information on this now-lost first version appeared during it's 1971 [only] theatrical release.)

If you do find something, can such be relayed to me (by picture attachment or text  transcription)? I would appreciate anything you might find.

                                                                         

Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University said:

Thank you for contacting the Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University Libraries regarding your inquiry.

I have carefully reviewed Box 6 from the Judith Crist Papers. The box contains an  annotated manuscript of Crist's review of the 1971 film "THX 1138." The manuscript is dated March 29, 1971. The review of "THX 1138" is fully contained on 2 pages of a longer manuscript of approximately 15 pages that documents Crist's response to several recently released films. The "THX 1138" review is largely a plot summary and the writer's overall critical impression of the film. There is no indication that other materials relating to "THX 1138" exist in this collection.

If you would like to order photocopies, please complete, sign and return to us, a Duplication Order form, http://library.syr.edu/find/scrc/services/duplication.php, complete with payment arrangement information. You may email, mail or fax us back a copy of the completed form. We charge $0.25 per page plus shipping costs. We accept Mastercard, Visa, personal checks and money orders drawn on US funds. There is a 150 page limit per project for our photocopy orders. Normal turnaround time for orders is 3 - 5 weeks. Please note that these copies are for research purposes only. If you intend to publish images of or quotations from this material, please contact us as there may be separate forms/fees involved.

I love technology! Disappointment at the speed of light.   

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Well done. Might be worth the couple of dollars to get the copies made, you never no what might be hiding in the notes, sometimes just a single word can shed new light.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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 (Edited)

I'll check it out. But 3 or 4 week deliveries? They must shanghai college students as cheap walk-a-thon labor . . .

                                                     

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In a couple of weeks I'll have access to THX-1138 original lobby cards from Italy, anyone interested in that? An acquaintance of mine used to own a cinema in the 70s and has plenty of print material at very accessible prices (unfortunately he didn't manage to keep the 35mm film!).
A side from that, is there any useful information we could gather from those? I guess the Italian release date? (newer members might not know that Italy had the only existing release with a totally different cut where the whole story appears as a flashback of THX while he's escaping with the police car).

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Unfortunately I won't have a scanner at hand. I'll have to buy them

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This was posted over at the Home Theater Forum. It's a Warner Archive survey for future Blu Ray releases, with a write in option! You can only vote for three titles, or two plus the write in vote.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=I38prSm8KssR1ksG5p5kGg==

Granted, it's a long shot, but it's a way to at least let them know there's an interest in the 1971 original theatrical cut. So, pick two movies from the list and write in vote for THX. And be specific about which version. ;)

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