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Info: Could this be something special?

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A friend of mine purchased three VHS tapes of what he thought was just Star Wars EP1-EP3 from someone for very little, upon playing the tapes, he found them to be different than the Star Wars episodes he remembered, upon calling the seller back the seller told him the following message.
 

These are the versions of the original Star Wars films before Lucas screwed them up. Remember Han Solo shot first.

 
My friend wanted me to find out if these were something special, or worth transferring onto DVD or something.  I’m not as big of Star Wars fan as some of you so I don’t really know; so if somebody knows anything about these tapes please post.

I can rip them using a VCR and my capture card if you guys want me to.

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From your initial explanation it sounds like you have a copy of Episodes 4-6 before the Special Editions. To be certain, what types of packaging did they come in? Also a quick thing to check is on the Episode 4 tape, at the beginning (before the crawl) does it say 'Star Wars' or does it say 'Star Wars : Episode 4 : A New Hope'? What aspects of the movie we're unfamiliar to you and your friend? I'm guessing but your under 20, right? none
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I'm about 18, so the old Star Wars is a little before my time,  but my friend is 21 so he'd have a better idea of what's different.   Alot of these tapes came in recordable VHS sleeves, or at least that's what they were in when he showed them to me.  As for the unfamiliar items and the text before the words in space, I'll stop by his house tonight and see if he'll let me watch/rip the tapes.

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A scan or photo of the packaging would be just as useful ripping the tapes and would be a whole lot easier for you as well.  I have most of the versions on VHS and a handful of laserdiscs.  Lots of guys on here would be able to identify the set from a pic of the package.

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And one more question from the peanut gallery: is this pan and scan, or widescreen?  There are so many widescreen transfers, that a pan-&-scan one more easily available might be interesting.

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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bkev said:

There are so many widescreen transfers, that a pan-&-scan one more easily available might be interesting.

Either I'm misunderstanding what you're saying here...or you're totally confused...(or both).

 

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Both.  Pan-&-Scan may seem useless, but for some it holds nostalgic value. Which is why I thought it might be cool to have a preservation more accessible.

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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Surely these are more likely to be one of the many existing fan edits on VHS, than a previously unheard of original?

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If they came in recordable sleeves, does that mean they were recorded off tv? Are there any interviews or trailers before the main feature plays? As long as you can tell us that, at least one of us should be able to figure out what you have and if it is worth your time to transfer them to dvd.

And do check if they're widescreen or pan/scan. Unless the VHS tapes say "Widescreen Edition" on the cover, it will most definitely be a pan/scan version.

Also, episode III was never released on VHS. So you'll never see an official VHS set of all three prequels anyways.

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Knightmessenger said:

Also, episode III was never released on VHS. So you'll never see an official VHS set of all three prequels anyways.

 

 It was released at least in my country so I have the full PT on VHS, too. :)

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Sometimes a recording of a TV broadcast can yield useful gems. The restored mono mix was mostly sourced from an old VHS recording.

I would still like to see someone with a recording of the ITV broadcast of ROTJ post caps of the Jabba subtitles.

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LexX said:
Knightmessenger said:

Also, episode III was never released on VHS. So you'll never see an official VHS set of all three prequels anyways.

 

 It was released at least in my country so I have the full PT on VHS, too. :)

It was definitely released in the UK, I picked it up in HMV when they were getting rid of their VHS cassettes.