Original Trilogy: Korean LaserDisc Release

Hi! First of all, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. I have to also say thanks, since I have learned a lot from posts and the preservation initiatives that are works of art, even though I have not been an active member.

I recently purchased the Original Trilogy Korean LaserDisc release, which I believe is from 1995. I was later told that it was actually not that common to see and, upon further researching, there is not much information about it. The release in South Korea was done through Samsung Nices.

The covers use the same artwork by John Alvin as other international releases. Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back have simple covers, while Return of the Jedi has a gatefold. In terms of the movie themselves, they are NTSC and in pan and scan (4:3 / 1.33:1) format. They use different masters with correct 20th Century Fox intros for each movie, different from the last pan and scan release in the USA from 1992. All films are in English, including the opening crawl, with Korean subtitles on the lower part of the screen, over the movie itself.

Star Wars (Simple Cover)
Front:

Back:

The Empire Strikes Back (Simple Cover)
Front:

Back:

Return of the Jedi (Gatefold)
Front:

Back:

Interior:

I do not know much in terms of the technicalities of film preservation. Should this release be considered for digital archiving and preservation? Does anyone have any additional information on the release? Thanks to all and may the Force be with you!

JadedSkywalker said:

I’d be super grateful if you could do such a preservation.

The Pan and Scan THX master has only been preserved as VHS.

And no one has done the Korean or Hong Kong release.

Also, welcome to OT.

Thank you! 😃

At this time, my only means of digitalizing the LaserDiscs is by using a DVD/VCR Combo and recording as I play the LaserDisc. The Combo allows for recording in DVD.

I have a Pioneer CLD-D503 LaserDisc player connected through S-Video to a Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD/VCR combo recorder. Would this setup be adequate? I’m not very familiar with the process, but I would really like to contribute these releases of the franchise we love so much.

I did not mention it before, but the release has edited scenes and different transitions at some points that alter the original release.

For example, in Star Wars, the homestead scene (when Luke arrives in his landspeeder) first makes a long, slow pan from far left of the screen to finish on the entrance of the homestead. This even seems as if the film was slowed down to allowed for this long pan from left to right. The Cantina scenes are also edited with parts left out.

JadedSkywalker said:

Censored or time compressed so they cut some scenes?

CX audio instead of Dolby Stereo also seems odd.

This appears to be its own release. The Hong Kong release is uncut with Cantonese subtitles and is the same master as the US VHS Pan and Scan.

It’s also an officially licensed release. Not a bootleg. Very strange indeed, but this was for the South Korean consumer or rental market I assume.

As far as I know, it was consumer market, but I have not found any official source to confirm this. Here are the entries from the amazing LaserDisc Database:

Star Wars: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/53277/SLC-637F/Star-Wars:-A-New-Hope
The Empire Strikes Back: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/64539/SLC-638F/Star-Wars:-The-Empire-Strikes-Back
Return of the Jedi: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/64540/SLC-639F/Star-Wars:-Return-of-the-Jedi

Continuing with Star Wars as an example, since its running time states that it is 120 mins and there is only 1 disc, I assumed there was time compression. However, I did not see or hear any sign of time compression as the audio is pristine when compared to the time compressed 1982/1983 releases or even the 1992 release.

It seems that the movie was cut into 120 mins by creating an new “version”. Another “shortened” scene is the Rebel’s taking off, it goes directly to Luke and then the starfighters going off planet as “dots” without all the fueling and boarding preparations.

A huge noticeable cut was made in The Empire Strikes Back. It was possibly a result of censorship since almost the entire Dagobah cave scene is trimmed down to the meeting/initial confrontation and the amazed look on Luke’s face after what he sees, but the audience does not actually get to see it.

To the fan that has seen the movie so many times, these differences will definitely be noticeable and pop right out of the screen.

enater said:

I do not know much in terms of the technicalities of film preservation. Should this release be considered for digital archiving and preservation? Does anyone have any additional information on the release? Thanks to all and may the Force be with you!

Welcome to the OT!

Absolutely mate. It is quite a rare release - and as you’ve listed below… there are some intriguing differences with the other similar releases of the time. A preservation project for this unique set would be most welcome. 👍

Wishing you all the best with it.
 

oojason said:

enater said:

I do not know much in terms of the technicalities of film preservation. Should this release be considered for digital archiving and preservation? Does anyone have any additional information on the release? Thanks to all and may the Force be with you!

Welcome to the OT!

Absolutely mate. It is quite a rare release - and as you’ve listed below… there are some intriguing differences with the other similar releases of the time. A preservation project for this unique set would be most welcome. 👍

Wishing you all the best with it.
 

Thanks! I’ll be having a marathon soon to at least make the best possible DVD backup copy to work with.

I forgot to let you know it may be worth sending a PM to the moderators on here to ask them to move this thread into the Star Wars Preservation forum - it’ll likely get a lot more interest in there - especially as you start the preservation process.

Really looking forward to seeing this. 👍

Edit: Awesome to this this project is now finished and released - here…

1995 Star Wars Trilogy - Korean LaserDiscs Preservation - Released
 

All credit and kudos to enater.