Even if for some absurd reason they aren't, there's perfectly viable film elements out there to make new video transfers. This is not and never has been a question of film elements in poor condition but a creator that has continuously stood in the way of it to happen. The official words from Lucasfilm was:
I wanted you to know how much we appreciate the passion and enthusiasm you have for Star Wars, and thank you for sharing your concerns about our upcoming DVD release.
The DVDs being released in September will contain two versions of Star Wars: Episodes IV, V and VI—the Special Editions (which represent George's vision of the movies) and the first versions, which will be included as bonus material. We hoped that releasing those "original" movies on a bonus disc would be a way to have some additional fun with the debut of the movies as individual DVDs. We certainly did not want it to become a source of concern or frustration for any of our fans.
As you may know, an enormous amount of effort was put into digitally restoring the negatives for the Special Editions. In one scene alone, nearly 1 million pieces of dirt had to be removed, and the Special Editions were created through a frame-by-frame digital restoration. The negatives of the movies were permanently altered for the creation of the Special Editions, and existing prints of the first versions are in poor condition.
So many fans have requested the original movies, we wanted to find a way to bring them to you. But since these movies do not represent George's artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions. The 1993 Laserdisc masters represented the best source for providing the original versions as DVD bonus material. Although these are non-anamorphic versions, they do preserve the original widescreen composition of the movies.
We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.
We hope you will understand our decision and, again, want to let you know how much we appreciate your interest and enthusiasm.
Sincerely,
Lynne Hale
publicity@lucasfilm.com
The whole thing was basically just a big fuck you to the fans, the lousy 2006 bonus feature was trumpeted on the official site as a major release along with tasteless "Han shot first" T-shirts for sale even though the transfers located on the 2nd discs was 13 years old at that point.
Here's how known film historian and preservationist Robert A. Harris responded:
"Dear Lynne,
I've read the statement which has been released under your name.
I wanted to make very certain that you totally understand what both Star Wars fans and Home Theater aficionados have been trying to say. Occasionally the message may have become muddled from passion.
Everyone respectfully understands that Mr. Lucas prefers his updated versions of the films.
There is no argument.
Everyone understands that a proper restoration of the films could be both expensive and time-consuming.
There is no argument.
Allow me to explain that this has nothing to do with "prints." It doesn't matter if prints are faded, scratched, or even missing every scene in which a favored character appears.
Prints are disposable.
That said, we must believe that acceptable Pre-print elements survive in the form of interpositives, dupe negatives and / or separation masters. If this is the case, then Fox would be totally capable of creating a new anamorphic video master. This is what their archival staff does on a daily basis, and they do it exceedingly well.
Assuming that these elements exist, then no one is suggesting the reconstruction of elements or a restoration that isn't necessary.
The single point that has so many people dissatisfied is that the original films are not being placed into home video distribution in WIDE SCREEN ANAMORPHIC format.
No one is requesting that the films be digitally cleaned and re-mastered to perfection, although many feel that they may be deserving of such treatment.
A bit of dirt; an occasional scratch; an errant mark here or there is not what this discussion has been about.
While the use of your 1993 masters, which were the highest quality of their era, would have been fine almost a decade ago, they are no longer of a quality requisite to be screened with black on all four sides on wide screen monitors, no less an modern projection devices.
Now that we all seem to have better communication, can we please re-consider a simple re-transfer in anamorphic widescreen as opposed to using archaic video masters.
This isn't what LucasFilm, which has always led in both quality as well technology has ever been about.
Without any high cost, without any restoration, and yet allowing Star Wars fans to properly screen on modern devices what to many is a veritable holy grail...
This should be a simple, painless and viable answer.
With best regards,
RAH"
I'm fond of his following addendum to his previous email:
"Dear Lynn,
Please forgive a short addendum to the email which I sent last evening.
Staying with simple facts.
I've checked my library, and have located, in proper alpha order in the "S" area, the rather beautifully packaged boxed set released in September of 2004 as a four disc set. The Ultimate, consummate Star Wars Trilogy. This is a quality product.
The set streets at $56.
In December of 2005 you issued a Special Edition without the Bonus disc.
This is street priced at $36, and was apparently aimed toward the less fortunate. It allowed the starving masses who are unable to afford DVD players or food, the ability to own the Star Wars Trilogy.
Released as a Special Edition, I would think that it would have been added to the libraries of those see themselves as Star Wars collectors. These folks would now have two sets, which are essentially the same product.
One can still purchase either (or both) of these sets.
For the wealthy, the four disc edition, and for those with more mouths to feed or more affected by the price of gasoline, the three disc Special Edition.
Now, a mere nine months later, LucasFilm wants to give us yet another variant, but this time with something that no one needs, ie. a poor quality version of the original films.
While the creation of a proper six disc set would be applauded if it contained quality transfers, this release does not fall into that category.
If anyone at LucasFilm actually believes that something nice or something special is being done for "fans," this belief is delusional.
I must readily admit that this new set will absolutely sell to those with the "collector" mentality, who will, as of September, own three sets of DVDs.
The bottom line here is that if LF is not going to do things properly, then please simply cancel a release which few have requested and no one needs.
The films as intended are already available, not once, but twice.
If I were running LucasFilm, which I acknowledge that I am not, I would cancel an unnecessary release as opposed to suffer the coming reviews and commentaries which are assured to represent one of the lowest ebbs in the history of home video.
With best regards,
RAH"
For those interested in revisiting old rage, you can check out RAH's lengthy old thread here: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topic/233484-star-wars-discussion-from-the-bits/
