1997 SE : The changes to the OT films & general 1997 Special Edition discussion thread

1997 Special Editions

The changes to the Original Trilogy films & general 1997 Special Edition release discussion…

Introduction:-

 
To any Rebels, Imperials, Guild Members and the dedicated scum and villainy from the OT•com reading this…
 

This is just one of a seven-part set of linked threads (see the end of this post for the links) to talk about each of the four main ‘Special Edition’ releases and the respective changes made to them over time - including a post for the original unaltered theatrical version, and also an unlikely scenario where “Somehow Lucas has returned!” with more changes made in yet another improbable future release.

The reason for these threads is try and help inform, educate and highlight any new fans who are unaware or are uninitiated with some the history of these continuing changes made to the three iconic Original Trilogy films (or be a reminder for me some of more forgetful members here). As well as highlighting a lack of release for the Original Trilogy films in their classic pre-1997 Special Edition version, and also about some of the changes & tweaks made to the groundbreaking and award-winning OT films from 1977 to 1996 too…

To serve as a centralised discussion and information thread for each of the main Original Trilogy releases… and also an archive of some of the quality threads and posts on the subject which has taken place on here down the years - as well as any useful, insightful or informative articles elsewhere.

Or a chance to just chat some more about the specific & differing releases of the Original Trilogy.
 

To date, ‘The Final Cut’ as George Lucas referred to the 1997 Special Editions… have never been released on a digital format (only on VHS, laserdisc and VCD). Yet, as Star Wars producer Rick McCallum is on record as stating…

“One of the most frustrating things is, if you could see the print that stuck of the original negative that we have done - it’s perfect.”
 

Much credit to oojason for sending me his plans & ideas for the incomplete version of these threads - ‘I will finish what you started!’
 

Below is some hopefully useful & introductory information on the 1997 Special Edition release of the Original Trilogy films (or simply a reminder for us oldies)…

The Announcement (+ Promo material) for the 1997 Special Edition:-

• ‘Star Wars Trilogy (1997) Special Edition Trailer’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRgsMKu8oNA (2 mins)

• ‘Star Wars 1997 SE - All Three Trailers’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ticuVxpz6I8 (7 mins)

• ‘Pepsi Star Wars commercial (1997)’ (for the 1997 SE) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZDnaDr0CBg (30 seconds)

• ‘Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition - Behind the Scenes (1997)’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzApL8nUyT0 (30 mins)

• ‘Star Wars: Anatomy Of A Dewback Documentary (1997)’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLq4wtuWUEo (27 mins)

The 1997 Special Edition Featurettes…

• ‘Star Wars - 1997 Special Edition Featurette’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEQBaJ3a-W0 (10 mins)

• ‘The Empire Strikes Back - 1997 Special Edition Featurette’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxs27guGK58 (5 mins)

• ‘Return of the Jedi 1997 Special Edition Featurette’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxs27guGK58 (5 mins)

Sources Of Information:-

 
‘What has changed?’ articles from StarWars•com on 15th January 1997. (now obsolete - though accessible through archive.org):

• Star Wars : https://web.archive.org/web/20041115040443/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/bts/article/f19970115/index.html

• Empire Strikes Back : https://web.archive.org/web/20041102235306/http://www.starwars.com/episode-v/bts/article/f19970115/index.html

• Return Of The Jedi : https://web.archive.org/web/20100329231926/http://www.starwars.com/episode-vi/bts/article/f19970115/index.html

1997 Special Edition alterations information:-

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases#1997_Star_Wars_Trilogy_Special_Editions

‘How the Grinch Stole Star Wars’:-

https://savestarwars.com/howthegrinchstolestarwars.html

(^ an article on the history of the Original Trilogy - and coming about of the Special Editions)

George Lucas in his own words stating that the changes made in the 1997 Special Edition release were as a test for the-then coming Prequel Trilogy:-

^ https://twitter.com/doubleofive/status/1151316503314227205

“So yes, the Special Editions were a means of researching and testing what I was going to try to do on this film. (The Phantom Menace)”

Since the 1997 Special Editions through to the 2019 Maclunkey releases (all credit to doubleofive)…

‘Never forget that the Death Star has been in clear site of Yavin IV from the beginning of the battle since 1997 and this is how the Special Edition should have ended.':-

www.wired.com/story/put-original-star-wars-on-disney-plus (and scroll down to the ‘The Game Breaker’ section)

'From the Star Wars Home Video Library #11: The Special Edition Trilogy (1997)':-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQynR4pfcLE - 30 minute video, from the Nathan P Butler YouTube channel.

‘From the Star Wars Home Video Library #13: The VCD Trilogy (2000)’:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYY_GO3HMLk - 9 minute video, at the Nathan P Butler YouTube channel.

• The Opening Post of the ‘Complete Comparison of Special Edition Visual Changes’ OT•com thread has an index for multiple source of information on many of the changes made to the Original Trilogy films over the years.

‘All Changes Made to Star Wars Original Trilogy’ by Marcelo Zuniga (now reuploaded at the Luke Skywalker YouTube channel)

• ‘All Changes Made to Star Wars (Comparison Video) PART I’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEch4j4KyoU
• ‘All Changes Made to Star Wars (Comparison Video) PART II’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aFJuehq3o4
• ‘All Changes Made to The Empire Strikes Back (Comparison Video)’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4FG_MqVfmE
• ‘All Changes Made to Return of the Jedi (Comparison Video)’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hT_i05btHI

^ The informative videos above were made in 2015 - and cover the changes from the OOT through to the 2011 SE release on blu ray.

For further information on the home releases of the 1997 Special Editions:-

• Star Wars Visual Comparisons - Website : Twitter - by doubleofive
• Star Wars On Video - Video Collector’s website
• Star Wars Home Video Reference website - projectcclarke’s website
• Star Wars on DVD (up to 2005) - Prillaman’s website portal
• Star Wars Release Info: 1982-2004 - DavisDVD•com website (via Archive•org)
• Star Wars - The Changes: 1997-2011 - DVDActive•com website (via Archive•org)
• ‘Star Wars home video releases’ - at Wookieepedia
• ‘The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition’ - at Wookieepedia

Although there was no official digital home release of the 1997 Special Editions, there were some bootlegs available on DVD:-

• Star Wars on DVD : Reviews : Two Trilogy Bootlegs - the ‘LOOK’ bootlegs - at the Prillaman website
• Star Wars on DVD : Reviews : ‘Five Star’ SE Trilogy Bootlegs - at the Prillaman website.
• Star Wars - Factory Pressed Bootlegs DVD section - of the StarWarsOnVideo website (by Video Collector)
• Star Wars Trilogy 1997 Special Edition DVDs? - an OT•com thread

1997 Special Edition Fan Preservations on the OriginalTrilogy.com:-

1997 Special Edition OT Preservation Projects (+ some discussion threads)…

The 1997 Star Wars Special Edition Theatrical Poster:-

Relevant online articles on the 1997 Special Editions:-

 
• ‘Saving the Star Wars Saga’ - at the American Cinematographer
• ‘Rick McCallum - Producer of the Star Wars Special Edition’ - an interview, at the Maikeldas website
• The Special Edition Restoration Process and its Changing Physicality - at The Secret History Of Star Wars
• ‘It’s the Economy, Stupid;George Lucas Sees Technology as a Wondrous Tool and a Cost-Cutter’ - at New York Times
• ‘See it Again…for the First Time: A Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Retrospective’ - at the StarAarsAtTheMovies website
• ‘Why Is the Force Still with Us?’ - The New Yorker
• ‘The Force Never Left Him’ - The LA Times
• ‘Excessive Use of the Force’ - Chicago Reader
• ‘20 Years Ago, ‘Star Wars: Special Edition’ Made ‘Star Wars’ Special Again’ - Forbes
• ‘1997 Versions of the Star Wars Original Trilogy Return To Selected Theaters This August’ - StarWarsNewsNet (2016 article)
• ‘Han Shot First’ - Wikipedia
• Star Wars Special Editions 25 Years Later. Are They Really That Bad? - Pirates & Princesses
• Why The Star Wars Special Editions Are So Hated - ScreenRant
• Star Wars: 12 Ways The Special Editions Changed The Original Trilogy - CBR
• The Star Wars Special Edition Revisited - Film Obsessive
• The NitPickers Guide to… 1997 Star Wars Special Edition - ChefElf
• The NitPickers Guide to… 1997 ESB Special Edition - ChefElf
• The NitPickers Guide to… 1997 ROTJ Special Edition - ChefElf
• Top 10 Worst Star Wars Special Edition Changes - WatchMojo

^ If anyone has any suggestions for any articles on the 1997 SE to be included here please post them below - thank you.

Relevant OriginalTrilogy•com threads on the 1997 Special Editions:-

 
• OFFICIAL: Library of Congress had original prints replaced with 1997 SE - by zombie84
• Why doesn’t Lucus just release both versions? - by Indy
• 1997 Special Edition Musings - by captainsolo
• The One Good Thing about the 1997 S.E.'s - by Trooperman
• I tend to watch the 97 SE sometimes - by psychic squidward
• What SE changes (if any) did people like? - by andy_k_250
• Okay, what did we LIKE about the 1997 Special Editions? - by R2-G2
• Worst changes to OT in '97 and '04 - by jawaewokgungan
• What was your first reaction to Greedo shooting first? - by OneCentSky
• An exact quote from Lucas on Greedo shooting first - by CO
• Greedo: “Han shot first.” - by CHEWBAKAspelledwrong
• Lucas wearing “Han shot first” shirt during Indy IV production - by Master Sifo-Dyas
• Who Designed The CGI Jabba In The 1997 Special Edition? - by psychic squidward
• Empire '97 SE - by theredbaron
• The Emperor & line change in ESB SE 1997 - by auraloffalwaffle
• “Alert my Star Destroyer to prepare for my arrival.” What was the point? - by Stampede
• “Bring my shuttle.” - by gulducati
• Max Rebo band SE - by Quackula
• Victory Celebration - by SS4DarthPayne
• 1997 Special Edition Restoration thoughts… - by jhfagan
• 97SE… how were the negatives assembled? - by Danfun128
• Are the restored elements for the 1997 special edition still intact ? - by skyjedi2005
• Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Audio Visual Press Kit - by anthony72
• Theory on the 1997 “restoration” - by danny_boy
• OT 1997 Special Edition Color Timing Accuracy - by pj
• Fascinating article about Star Wars and George Lucas from 1997 - by JennyS1138
• George Lucas’ explanation why the OT is obsolete to him - by Master Sifo-Dyas
• George Lucas no longer cares - by Robajob
• If George had only changed Special effects for the SE and DVD, would people have complained as much? - by JennyS1138
• The 1997 SE’s - My take - by dani1138
• Is the 1997 Special Edition important? - by calculon559
• Star Wars Trilogy 1997 Special Edition DVDs? - TheDoctor1987
• Highest quality version of 1997 Special Editions? Is there a DVD release? - by SwordlessLink
• Looking for 1997 Star Wars Special Edition DVD9, 5 Star Edition (Please Help) - by Crygor64
• 1997 Special Edition, and how can i find it - by DRBE
• Alternate 1997 Special Editions (What if…?) - by ncskye
• Say the SE release in theaters bombed in 1997? - by CO
• 10 years of the Special Editions - by Scout trooper
• 25 Years of the Special Edition - by WookieeWarrior77
• Star Wars Insider celebrates the 40th anniversary with… - by digitalfreaknyc
• DIF - Difference tool to spot visual changes - Current 2004 vs 2019 - by none
• What was the exact process of creating the special editions? - by That guy with no name
• Special Editions - Improvement to Film or Changing History?
• Phil Tippett on the Special Editions: “They’re shit”. And the £2b deal for George to direct the Prequel Trilogy etc…

^ If anyone has any suggestions for any other OT•com threads to be included here please post them below - thank you.

There are also several preservation project and information / discussion threads re the 1997 Special Edition in…

An Index Of Projects & Help Thread for Star Wars Preservations - in the Star Wars Preservation forum.

A YouTube video of the original ‘Han Shot First’ scene - and all 4 changes made to it since:-

‘Han Shot First - All Changes Comparison (1977, 1997, 2004, 2011, 2019)’-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcswEZFvGgM - at the OriginalTrilogyDaily YouTube channel (2 mins long)

General online articles on the Special Edition changes & releases:-

 
• ‘Disney+ Should Offer the Star Wars Original Cuts — All of Them’ - at Wired
• ‘What We Want And How To Make It’ - at SWVC, by doubleofive
• ‘Special Edition Changes’ at Saving Star Wars, by Zombie84
• ‘The Star Wars Special Editions’ - at The Star Wars Trilogy
• ‘15 Changes to the Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy That Still Make Us Crazy’ - at Yahoo Entertainment
• ‘Star Wars Original Trilogy Changes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’ - at ScreenRant
• ‘Who Shot First? The Complete List Of Star Wars Changes’ (actually, it is more of an overview) - at Empire Online
• ‘Greedo Shoots First’ and ‘Greedo Shoots First, Take 4: Maclunkey’ - at SWVC, by doubleofive
• ‘Star Wars: 10 Worst Crimes Against the Original Trilogy’ - at Den Of Geek
• ‘The 12 Worst Changes George Lucas Made To Star Wars’ - at Goliath
• ‘How Star Wars’ Special Edition Ruined Mos Eisley’s Scum & Villainy’ - at ScreenRant
• ‘Star Wars: Why Do People Hate Vader’s Added Line in ROTJ So Much?’ - at CheatSheet
• ‘The Version of Star Wars on Disney+ Changes the Canon Once Again’ - at Wired
• ‘J.J. Abrams Wants The Original Star Wars Trilogy Theatrical Cuts To Be Released Again’ - at ScreenRant
• ‘The Star Wars Blu-Ray Blues’ - at Saving Star Wars (debunking Lucas’ 2010 claim of the ‘difficulties’ in restoring the OOT)
• ‘Save Star Wars’ - doubleofive’s Blog article (re Lucas’ disingenuous 2010 comments on the ‘difficulties’ of restoring the OOT)
• ‘Untouched is impossible: the story of Star Wars in film’ - 2010 article at ARS Technica
• ‘Could Disney finally give us the remastered, unedited Star Wars we want?’ - 2017 article at ARS Technica

General OriginalTrilogy•com threads covering the Special Edition changes & releases:-

 
• An Index & Help Thread for Original Trilogy Discussion
• An Index & Help Thread for Theatrical Cuts vs. Subsequent Releases
• Complete Comparison of Special Edition Visual Changes
• An OriginalTrilogy.com Timeline | a history of the site | the why & how it came to be…
• George Lucas: Star Wars Creator, Unreliable Narrator & Time Travelling Revisionist
• Some useful OT.com threads re the suppression of the theatrical Original Trilogy films
• The 'Naysayer Guide’ by people who DON’T want an unaltered theatrical release of the Original Trilogy…
• Articles & info that highlight / call for a classic version release of the Original Trilogy
• 4K restoration on Star Wars

• Modern SE Revisionism
• Reasoning Behind Changes from Release to Release
• It seems like nobody involved in the making of the OT has spoken up about GL’s oppression of the OOT
• You’d think they’d clean this up - the unfixed issues of the 2004 OT SE DVD release…
• What HASN’T changed on the 2011 OT SE Blu-ray release – the uncorrected mistakes…
• Uncorrected mistakes or unfixed issues of the 2019 (Maclunkey) Original Trilogy release?
• Credits & Leaders Thread
• Disney Plus should release all of the theatrical versions of the Star Wars movies

‘The changes to the Original Trilogy films & general Special Edition discussion’ threads:-

 
• The OOT (1977-1996)
• 1997 Special Edition
• 2004 Special Edition
• The 2006 GOUT DVD
• 2011 Special Edition
• 2019 Special Edition
• 2037 Special Edition (“Somehow… Lucas has returned!”) - or any possible future SE release.

If you know of any articles or OT•com threads that are relevant, or would improve this thread, please post them below - thank you.

The 19SE is based on a new scan of the 97SE negative, therefore they MADE a 4K scan of the 97SE already.

9cames03 said:

I never noticed that the Death Star was in range of Yavin in the SE version. That’s going to bother me for the rest of my life.

This pleases me greatly.

Juno Eclipse said:

Those are some well made points. Plus, a concerted effort of celebrating something that isn’t actually available would seem strange, and likely raise more unwanted questions.
 

I do find it ironic that many a 1997 Special Edition fan having to come here and look around for those preservation projects, especially given attitudes, insults, and actions of many of those early SE fans back in the day to fans of the theatrical cuts.

That would include a considerable number of fans from the likes of the staunchly pro-SE TFN, even their moderators and staff, who were part of the purging of OOT fans on TFN back in the early/mid 2000’s. I wonder if many of their views and positions have changed over time, with more releases of the Special Editions with further alterations.

I’m surprised that 1997 SE fan preservation projects like Calibrated 1997 Scan of Star Wars: A New Hope - Special Edition haven’t yet reached their funding targets.

It looks a great project too.

I thought given the number of Special Edition fans out there, and who have also visited here asking for 1997 SE projects, that it would have been funded by now. Huh.

The first Special Edition of the OT is really a special thing to me.
I prefer it over the later ones.
This is the version which i often saw on TV as a kid.
I liked it when the preview shown and they said “Krieg der Sterne - Special Edition”
I noticed that Vaders lightsaber was white when Luke shoots the door button and the light blue white lightsaber at the training in the Millenium Falcon.

Then we got the german 2004 DVDs and i was confused about some things.
Jabba looked different and i asked me why Lukes lightsaber was green in in the falcon.
Then it switched to light green, then light blue, then white, then to blue.
And the same DVD box contains a bonus DVD which has this scene as a menu and there his lightsaber is perfect blue.
But Vaders white lightsaber was fixed to red.
In ESB, Vader has 3 different voices and the original emporer was changed to the 2005 one.
Btw. Adywan did it correct and used the ROTJ one.
In ROTJ the lightsabers are missing the white core in many scenes.
I did not like the change to Hayden Christensen, because Anakin did not die physicly in his young years.
And many other things i noticed.

When Star Wars was shown in the TV, i watched it anyway and noticed the differences.
Because the 1997 Special Edition was shown up to 2010.
After the change to the 2004 one, i don’t watched it anymore in the TV.
I prefer the first one, because i grew up with it.
The time has so much magical feelings.
Many Star Wars video games were released like Shadows of the Empire, Rogue Squadron, X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, X-Wing Alliance…
And Lego released in 1999 many sets.
In the early 2000 iirc in the TV are shown infos about the Special Edition before the movies began.

I also did not really have a problem, that Greedo shoots first.
But i can fully understand the reason why it’s hated, it changes Hans character development.
The change is unnecessary.
Jabba looks ugly i know, but i like how he looks.
It’s a bit funny to see him and that this was really released.
I also like the most other changes except Jedi Rocks in ROTJ.

I have the german VHS box, but not a player to watch it and i don’t like the PAL speed up.
I want a 1080p Blu-Ray release of the first Special Edition.
But only if the german 1997 intro crawl is used for the german release.
So i want to see the ,Krieg der Sterne" logo, instead of ,Star Wars" like the 2004 DVDs and later.
If not, i would not buy it, because i have to swap the intro and burn it to a blank disc.
That would be useless to have the official german release if changes were made.
Original colors are also a must.
And please no Disney logo on the box or other places or in the movie, menu…
So an 1:1 release how it was for every country is needed in my opinion.
Accuracy is important.