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Idea: My idea for the ultimate pre-ANH edition

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I hope someone out there will have the know-how to create the ultimate DVD-R of STAR WARS pre-ANH. This would be, like a previous DVD-R, a recreation of the original 1977 theatrical print with the digitally re-created original crawl, minus the “Episode IV” tag.

Here’s my idea of what it would contain:

*Audio options (LD “Definitive Collection” commentary, original mono soundtrack, 2.0 surround taken from the Definitive Collection [without 3P0’s “tractor beam” speech], 5.1 remix with 3PO’s dialogue, and isolated score track)
*DVD-ROM artwork
Digital master of the original version, color-corrected and sharpened

Anyone else have a better idea for the ultimate DVD-R edition?

“Hear you nothing that I say?”
-Yoda

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Thanks for the nod, zion.

I apologize for the lack of updates in my thread. My personal project is currently in hiatus in expection of being part of a greater whole. Just gathering materials right now.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: hiphats
I hope someone out there will have the know-how to create the ultimate DVD-R of STAR WARS pre-ANH. This would be, like a previous DVD-R, a recreation of the original 1977 theatrical print with the digitally re-created original crawl, minus the "Episode IV" tag.
That would just be the 1981 version with a generated crawl. The title crawl is just one of the changes made to the 1981 version, if you change bits and pieces of it you only end up with a hybrid version. Imagine tacking on the theatrical ending to the director's cut of blade-runner. Is that going to make it the theatrical version?

Would it do anything to preserve the theatrical version? Or would we just be kidding ourselves.
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Edited.
Do, or do not. There is no try.
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I don't want to start an argument, eD. If the 1977 version was faithfully resotred/re-created, then yes I'm all in favour of that.
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Yeah, I'm curious too, DanielB.

What are all the changes between the '77 and '81 versions besides the crawl?

And how could they best be implemented from the Laserdisc versions and other sources into a combined whole?
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I know I'm not Daniel, but as far as I know, the only difference between the 1977 release and the 1981 re-issue was the crawl. This ain't Close Encounters.

Neil

Well at least the reversed surround channels have been addressed.

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There were audio differences specifically in the mono mix, but I dunno what else, and probably not much at all different in the stereo mix - what other video differences were there?
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Originally posted by: ChainsawAsh
There were audio differences specifically in the mono mix, but I dunno what else, and probably not much at all different in the stereo mix - what other video differences were there?

I know of no picture or editorial changes beyond the revised crawl. If there were differences, I'm sure I would have heard of them by now. We all know about the mix differences, but I'm told (and I have no reason to doubt my friend) that the 1981 Dolby mix and the 1977 Dolby mix were the same. I'm not even sure "Episode IV - A New Hope" was issued in mono, since by 1981, dual inventory prints were no longer needed, and the standard Dolby Stereo mix would be on every print.

Neil

Well at least the reversed surround channels have been addressed.

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That's what I'd always assumed, that the crawl was the only visual difference.

Things like "Blast it Biggs/Wedge" and 3PO's tractor beam speech were all present in 1977 on one of the three official sound mixes.

So any "Ultimate" pre-ANH version would just include the original six channel, two channel and mono mixes along with the original title crawl.

But I'll be satisfied with the torrent version I'm downloading now
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Originally posted by: Tikigod
any "Ultimate" pre-ANH version would just include the original six channel...

Best of luck trying to get that one.

Neil

Well at least the reversed surround channels have been addressed.

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Yeah, I really have no idea where anyone could get that save an actual film reel from 1977...

*shrug*

At any rate I was just speaking hypothetically, I doubt there'll ever be an ULTIMATE release that'd satisfy everyone's wishes.
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Well, if it is only the crawl that is different, sure tack it on then. But use the original crawl, not a generated one. I know it is a little hard due to the inavailablitiy of sources there, but generating a new crawl to look like the old one is just re-making the crawl again anyway. I was under the impression that the audio mixes were different between 1977 and 1981, and that maybe some different takes were used here and there in the video as well. Anyhow, it is possible that the 1981 crawl pre-dated the 1977 one anyway, since apparantly Lucas always wanted it that way but the studio wouldn't let him. If that was the case, we would expect the 1977 crawl to look more revised in terms of word spacing than the 1981 crawl.
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So are you saying you'd want to see a version of the crawl with Pre-ANH typesetting and punctuation but with Episdoe IV: A New Hope tagged onto the top?
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The crawl was re-formatted to remove 3 lines from it, so that the words "Episode IV: A NEW HOPE" could be added, without the music going out of sync from the added lines.

The best exampleI can think of, is that in the original crawl, the words DEATH STAR start a new line. in the re-done crawl DEATH eands a line and STAR starts a new line.

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

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I understand vhs is the best source. unfortunate though it is. skyman8081 you're probably right about that.