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SIX fantastic brand new preservation projects..... (Released)

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 (Edited)

Thanks to the work of Dark Jedi and many others, most of the US LaserDisc releases have now been captured to DVD.

However, some of the earlier releases have not yet been captured (that I know of). They are:-

Star Wars

1982 Pan and Scan CLV, CX Stereo, 1 disc, Extended Play, Time compressed to 118 mins, 20th Century Fox Video - an ebay auction for this has now been won
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld1.jpg

1983 Pan and Scan CLV, CX Stereo, 1 disc, Extended Play, Time compressed to 118 mins, CBS/FOX
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld2.jpg

1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play - an ebay auction for this has now been won
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld9.jpg

1989 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play with “incredible shrinking ratio”, CBS/FOX
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld3.jpg

1992 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play with fixed “incredible shrinking ratio”, Fox Video - an ebay auction for this has now been won
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld10.jpg

The Empire Strikes Back

1984 Pan and Scan CLV, CX Stereo, 1 disc, Extended Play, Time compressed to under 120 mins
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld1.jpg

1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play - an ebay auction for this has now been won
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld6.jpg

1989 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld2.jpg

Return of the Jedi

1986 Pan and Scan CLV, CX Stereo, 2 disc, Extended Play
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/rotj_ld1.jpg

1990 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/rotj_ld2.jpg

 
In there are the 1977 and 1980 theatrical audios for Star Wars and Empire, the first US release of a Widescreen edition, Star Wars compressed to 118 minutes and Star Wars with the “incredible shrinking ratio” problem - all worthy candidates to be preserved.

My question is, does anyone have any of these discs and would they be willing to mail them away to be captured and preserved. Dark Jedi is on board with this should there be any interest.

I have already put my money where my mouth is as I will be buying the Empire CAV disc just for the 1980 theatrical soundtrack as well as offering with some of the costs. I am also watching a few auctions for other discs too, including the Special Widescreen Edition (with “incredible shrinking ratio” on Star Wars).

Dark Jedi thinks that there may not be much interest in this but I hope there is. Who is right and who is wrong???

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That one is the 1997 Special Edition set which is already available in many transfers.

I am basically looking at most releases prior to the 1992 Pan and Scan set. I have added some pictures of the covers to the first post in this thread.

Most of them are on ebay.com at the moment.

Thanks for looking...............

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russs15,

I have these two:

Star Wars
1992 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play fixed "incredible shrinking ratio"

Empire
1989 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play

and will soon have:

Jedi
1990 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play

I was going to cap them myself, but am very short of time at the moment. Once I get Jedi, I can lend them all to be capped.
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I have the WIDESCREEN EDITION version transfered already, I'll release it in Dec/Jan



“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Great idea! And if any PAL stuff needs to be captured, I'll be glad to do it on my 2950, just so you know.

EDIT: I'm really curious about the pre-THX French discs, has anyone seen those?

That's no moon. It's a LaserDisc.

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Originally posted by: GrinderI'm really curious about the pre-THX French discs, has anyone seen those?


I have the black pyramid box from 1993. The colors are crap (and the audio is french).

Han: Hey Lando! You kept your promise, right? Not a scratch?
Lando: Well, what’s left of her isn’t scratched. All the scratched parts got knocked off along the way.
Han (exasperated): Knocked off?!

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The more the merrier as far as I am concerned. There are plenty of LaserDiscs from around the world that have not been captured and I would be pleased to see any of them.

Not forgetting here and here for even more info.

Throw in the various VHS and Beta tapes as well as the CED discs and we have plenty to do still.

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A bit of an update on this............

The 1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play disc has been obtained and a few more are in the pipeline too.

http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/sw_ld9.jpg


I have these two:

Star Wars
1992 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play fixed "incredible shrinking ratio"

Empire
1989 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play

and will soon have:

Jedi
1990 Widescreen CLV, CX Stereo, 2 discs, Extended Play

I was going to cap them myself, but am very short of time at the moment. Once I get Jedi, I can lend them all to be capped.


Thanks THX for that kind offer. Once I have been back in contact with Dark Jedi, we will maybe need to discuss this further.

Rikter's version will no doubt be fabulous but a Dark Jedi version could still be on the cards.

I for one am intriqued by the "incredible shrinking ratio" problem (if anyone has this disc) and how it was then corrected.

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Mine is the corrected version, but it's easy to pick up the other (CBS-FOX) one on ebay for around $10 if you're really interested.
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Another bit of an update on this............

The 1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play - an ebay auction for this has now been won
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld6.jpg

For those that are interested, this disc contains the original 1980 theatrical stereo mix prior to the 1985 changes.

This disc has been purchased primarily for this mix, to be used on one of the projects discussed elsewhere on originaltrilogy.com

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that's a great idea of backing everything up to a more widely used format Russs

Great work m8

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Great to get the original stereo mixes!
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Originally posted by: oojasonthat's a great idea of backing everything up to a more widely used format Russs

Great work m8


This is the general plan. Once they are in data format, they could survive long after the last LD player has stopped working.

With the LD's, Dark Jedi is doing the hard work but I am planning my own preservation project with my collection (currently 37) of PAL Star Wars VHS tapes.

Has anyone out there got any UK PAL VHS tapes that are pre 1988?? I have all the ones from there onwards.

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Those P&S CAV releases are neat, I've heard they're much better than the '92 P&S releases. But a Jedi P&S CAV version does not exist right?

That's no moon. It's a LaserDisc.

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I am looking forward to seeing the two CAV films, and to hear the original theatrical sound on both for the first time since 77 and 80.

I am no expert on LaserDiscs but all my research shows just these two 1985 releases in CAV Pan and Scan and no release of Jedi.

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couple of questions what is the incredible shrinking ratio?

also i have the '82 laserdisc, this has different pan and scan than the later ones, including a squished scene where luke sees the tusken thru his binoculars instead of it being cropped. i read on the davisdvd star wars video timeline that this version was only shown on HBO in the early '80s, and never released on video.

and what was different about the '80 stereo mix of empire?
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"The 1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play - an ebay auction for this has now been won"
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld6.jpg

"For those that are interested, this disc contains the original 1980 theatrical stereo mix prior to the 1985 changes."


I actually have that one.

<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: battlewars
couple of questions what is the incredible shrinking ratio?

also i have the '82 laserdisc, this has different pan and scan than the later ones, including a squished scene where luke sees the tusken thru his binoculars instead of it being cropped. i read on the davisdvd star wars video timeline that this version was only shown on HBO in the early '80s, and never released on video.

and what was different about the '80 stereo mix of empire?


anyone know?
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You might want to give people more than an hour to respond.

[Obi-wan] "He will learn patience..." [/Obi-wan]

And this site answers many questions about the various releases as well.

<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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also i have the '82 laserdisc, this has different pan and scan than the later ones, including a squished scene where luke sees the tusken thru his binoculars instead of it being cropped. i read on the davisdvd star wars video timeline that this version was only shown on HBO in the early '80s, and never released on video.

and what was different about the '80 stereo mix of empire?

thanks karyudo, can anyone answer my other questions above
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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi"The 1985 Pan and Scan CAV, CX Stereo, 3 discs, Standard Play - an ebay auction for this has now been won"
http://www.davisdvd.com/images/starwars/esb_ld6.jpg

"For those that are interested, this disc contains the original 1980 theatrical stereo mix prior to the 1985 changes."


I actually have that one.


Is it any good (compared to the 1992 Pan and Scan for example) and is the stereo mix that much different to the 1985 and 1993 soundtracks??

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The only soundtracks I've listened to side-by-side are the Faces and Def. Col. ANH. This was back when I was deciding which version to use for my first transfer. I've not even played the P&S ESB LD. (<---say that 3 times fast.)

Since it's the only other version I have, I really couldn't tell you. At some point, I can capture it and compare it to the Faces and Def. Col., but someone will have to send me the others. (BTW, I did it by putting both soundtracks in Vegas, and routing each to the left or right headphones. A very interesting exercise.)

I haven't even listened to the entirety of the original mono that Neil S. Buik sent me.

<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: battlewarscouple of questions what is the incredible shrinking ratio?

also i have the '82 laserdisc, this has different pan and scan than the later ones, including a squished scene where luke sees the tusken thru his binoculars instead of it being cropped. i read on the davisdvd star wars video timeline that this version was only shown on HBO in the early '80s, and never released on video.

and what was different about the '80 stereo mix of empire?


Have you any plans to capture this version to DVD?? It is certainly worth doing at some point, particularly if it from a different source.

In answer to your questions...............

"Incredible Shrinking Ratio"

The letterboxed Japanese transfer was used to create this edition and since the picture on that had been shifted up, some slight re-adjustment was necessary to equalize the letterbox bands and place the 2.35 frame closer to the center. How this was done was through a "controlled video scroll" (like adjusting the vertical hold on an older TV set) to move the picture to the approximate center of the screen. The top of the frame, now vacant of the original picture, was matted over with a black letterbox band. Now here's the kicker: since this was all done by eye, at some point during this correction process the top letterbox band began over-matting onto the top edge of the picture. This essentially changed the aspect ratio of the film midway! To check for yourselves, grab this laserdisc and chapter to the cantina sequence. Go up to your screen and mark where the top letterbox band meets the top of the picture frame. At the point Greedo gets shot, the top black band will creep down lower than its original position. And to make matters worse, this happens a second time somewhere during the course of the film. So by the point the rebels are preparing to attack the Death Star, the film's aspect ratio has changed from 2.35:1 to 2.55:1. This "Incredible Shrinking Ratio" was later corrected in 1992 and issued on both VHS and laserdisc. See below for that.


"The HBO Only release"

Despite popular belief, this was not the only transfer made of Star Wars. At some point, a second fullscreen video transfer was created from a 16mm flat print source. Since an anamorphic (2.35:1) 35mm print had been reduced down to a flat (1.33:1) 16mm print, this 16mm source featured different pan & scan decisions made during the print reduction. One main difference in this transfer was that Luke's macrobinocular POV shot of the Banthas was squeezed to actually show the Tusken Raider walking to the side of the frame. This video transfer was only shown on HBO and was never offered for sale or rent.

Thanks to you getting me thinking, I checked my 1988 UK PAL VHS Fullscreen tape (recently captured to DVD) against later versions including the 1992 LD and 1995 Faces and there is the macrobinocular shot and very different pan & scan screen positions. I have e-mailed the DavisDVD editor with my findings.


Finally "What was different about the '80 stereo mix of empire?"

I have not got a clue. Ask me in a few weeks when I have a copy of it and the Star Wars LD with 1977 mix.

All I know is that in 1985 Fox decided to digitally remaster the audio track for the latest re-release, sound designer Ben Burtt asked to be involved and actually ended up creating an entirely new sound mix for the films making the fourth official Star Wars audio mix and third Empire mix. The 1985 CAV Standard Play LaserDiscs were the last and best release of the original mix prior to the release of the re-mastered version.

I do not know if Jedi was re-done for the 1986 release. Any help on that is appreciated.

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