…There might also be actual HDTV airings of the 2-part version.
I recorded an SDTV airing of the original 2-part version a few years ago from a UK channel where old video masters and OOP stuff frequently turn up (especially Warner content). Unfortunately the resolution is 544x576i - nowhere even close to NTSC 720x480, let alone 720/1080p.
Well what do you know? An hour ago, I walked into a local thrift store and found another set of the complete widescreen PAL VHS collection of the first 8 Star Trek films*, how’s that for a spooky coincidence? It only cost the equivalent of $1 USD: definitely worth it alone for the inlay sheets.
I’ll have a look later and see what condition the tapes are in. If there’s any interest, I could do a quick and dirty transfer via the AV pass-through on my Mini DV camcorder and capture via Firewire into my Mac. Or alternatively, HuffYuv on my PC and its capture card - but that would be a longer term project.
*Including of course, the version of TVH with the Challenger dedication and the ST II-III prologue.
And was the VHS cut of ST6 REALLY released on DVD? Because the DVD I have is again a DIFFERENT cut than the one which is on my VHS
Nope, it’s all just a figment of my imagination… 😄
This is the UK W/S VHS:
This is the 1999 non-anamorphic DVD: it has the same cut as the VHS and (presumably LD) release.
Which DVD do you own? Is it the 1999 (2001 outside of North America) release or is it the 2004 SE?
The 2004 SE DVD has a slightly different cut (and aspect ratio). I suspect that is the version you own, hence the differences from the earlier home video release.
Is there a chance that some of you have the UK-only version of Star Trek 4? The version which was called “The Voyage Home : Star Trek” and has unique opening credits (and possibly other unknown changes)? Cause I would LOVE to see it.
Here’s the UK ST IV opening credits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VkCW7Xdpsc
I actually had this on the 1997 UK W/S VHS set.
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Trek_-_The_Movies
TVH is preceded by a featurette where Nimoy discusses its production and even the problems caused by the pan & scan process on home video. Unfortunately I disposed of the set a while back but I’m sure the prologue version has been screened on Film4/Channel 4 over the years. According to some of the comments on YT, the Region 2 DVD of TVH is the UK version, however I haven’t been able to confirm this so far.
Also, any chance you have the VHS version of Star Trek 6? I have it myself but I have no chance how to digitize it anymore and that cut wasn’t released anywhere else as far as I know.
Now, this, I still have - also in widescreen but it’s the same cut that was released on LD and the 1999 DVD. Memory Alpha incorrectly lists the W/S VHS release for TUC as 1997. I purchased it several years before that.
I am guessing nothing picture wise, the PAL probably has more resolution, but it will play at the correct speed. I hate the PAL audio speed up.
Thanks, that convinced me to get the 2003 NTSC 4 disc set. I live in PAL land and despite owning NTSC DVD’s and LD’s and living in NTSC/ATSC countries, I have never really noticed the audio speed up with PAL. I’ve got some questions about this but they’re better posed in a new thread, so as not to derail the main topic here…
I don’t know if OP can answer this, but maybe someone else can.
Is there any difference between the 2003 and 2008 DVD transfers? One site tells me the latter is a remaster while another tells me they’re both using the same transfer.
I own the 2008 (PAL) DVD and it appears to suffer from compression artefacts as a result of Paramount needing to make room for the extras that they decided to include on the same disc as the film for the 2008 release. It’s particularly noticeable during the bar fight scene in Nepal.
I noticed that too. Indy’s face reveal at the start of the film, the same screencap that was posted earlier in this thread, looked like it was full of compression artifacts on my SE PAL DVD.
I compared it side-by-side with the 2006 SW DVDs, and it was night-and-day.
Says a lot, doesn’t it? Considering all of the flack they received.
I don’t know if OP can answer this, but maybe someone else can.
Is there any difference between the 2003 and 2008 DVD transfers? One site tells me the latter is a remaster while another tells me they’re both using the same transfer.
I own the 2008 (PAL) DVD and it appears to suffer from compression artefacts as a result of Paramount needing to make room for the extras that they decided to include on the same disc as the film for the 2008 release. It’s particularly noticeable during the bar fight scene in Nepal.
Exactly. They are the same master, but the 2008 DVD is more compressed.
Out of curiosity, do you know if the NTSC ROTLA 2003 DVD offers any advantages over the PAL equivalent?
Hi. I will have to check my tapes to be sure of exactly which ones I have. A couple of my notes were not clear. I don’t think I have all of the Nimoy segments, but should have most, if not all, of the Shatner ones. I will try to confirm this for you as soon as I can. Yes, I am willing to share them. I have, however, been disappointed with a couple of members I have corresponded with privately through the Original Trilogy forum when I did not receive a reply to a query on getting info and help on sharing something with me. I completed several Star Wars transfers for them, but since they have not responded to my questions in over two months, and haven’t even asked about the transfers, I am a little leery about my decision to share things with them and have full faith in their integrity. I have been in ill health this summer and just don’t have the time or inclination to deal with anyone that isn’t responsive and may be unwilling to reciprocate in the sharing of material. Thanks.
I’m also sorry to hear that you’ve had bad experiences with particular members. Please take your time and share whatever you like, whenever it’s good for you: rather than upon the demands of the impatient. We’ve all got lives beyond this site. Take care and get well soon. 😃
I don’t know if OP can answer this, but maybe someone else can.
Is there any difference between the 2003 and 2008 DVD transfers? One site tells me the latter is a remaster while another tells me they’re both using the same transfer.
I own the 2008 (PAL) DVD and it appears to suffer from compression artefacts as a result of Paramount needing to make room for the extras that they decided to include on the same disc as the film for the 2008 release. It’s particularly noticeable during the bar fight scene in Nepal.
Excellent!
Out of curiosity, what gear did you use for the capturing and editing?
I have the Special Collector’s Series VHS, the one with the Black cover for the 75th Anniversary, and I just got done capping it this evening. It is the same as the LD version of it but I certainly like the way the VHS picture looks.
Great! 😃
Can you share some screengrabs please? I’m eager to see the results. Does it contain the black screen overture like the theatrical release? The SLV’s TV airings went straight into the opening credits.
Is there still interest in me posting my ST TMP Director’s Cut VHS capture? I was trying to make some basic artwork for it but I haven’t found the right look yet.
😃
Yes, the more, the merrier, I say. 😃
I’m definitely interested. Can you share some screencaps as an indicator of the picture quality please?
Sorry, didn’t pay attention to that. 😦
For the benefit of the rest of us who are unaware, what was incorrect?
Star Wars/A New Hope was never released with just a stereo soundtrack. They used the Dolby Stereo mix which is a 4 channel matrixed surround encoded into 2 channels. I have done a test of the earliest LD archives tracks and have been able to extract the 4 channels from it. I held this misconception until just a few months ago. It seems that Lucasfilm gave them the 6 track audio and CBS/Fox did their own surround mix of it for the 1985 release. He was no longer there when they did the DE, but I would guess that the process was probably the same. I love the description of the transfer process and that they did the surround encoding of the 1985 version form the 6 track audio (it kind of explains why the 1985 ANH audio is identical to the 1977 except for the one line that was added where the 1993 audio has many pieces taken from the mono-mix but omits that line, not to mention the different dynamic of the 3 different audio versions).
He makes a distinction between the recordable video disc format and LaserDiscs. I have no doubt the early recordable video discs were made of glass.
He also seems unaware that the the earliest LD releases were before ROTJ came out and that all of the OT was released with the original theatrical stereo tracks (meaning Dolby Stereo encoded surround sound) had been released before he ever started there.
I usually take all such interviews at face value that they are providing terrific first hand knowledge of their experience, but when they speak of their second hand information they may not be the best source.
- Speculation/Details about Black R2-D2 (It’s not black because of the blue-screen process, they actually used a black-painted R2 to specifically avoid problems with the blue-screen process), 2. Laserdiscs aren’t acutally glass, can’t remember anything else right now.
Just to clarify though, everything in there this is fascinating to hear about. Details about the transfer equipment, politics of the releases, etc. Thanks again for posting.
Thanks for the responses. I agree, it is a very fascinating interview with details that are engrossing not just for SW fans but people who are interested in the processes of how film studios perform home video transfers.
I was surprised by the comments about LD picture quality failing to surpass that of Betamax. Surely he was thinking of CED rather than LD?
Just chiming in to say that I have unopened copies of all the widescreen VHS tapes, including the Special Longer Version (but not the regular, shorter cut). I’d be willing to pop those suckers open if you’d like.
You’ve got the SLV in widescreen on VHS? I thought it was only ever released in P&S on home video.
You are absolutely right, my mistake. For some reason I remembered them being widescreen.
Wishful thinking perhaps? 😃
To my knowledge (particularly after buying the incorrectly labelled box set) the only version of the SLV that got a release in Australia was a pan n scan 4:3 version. I know that I sold the vhs tape eventually for that very reason…which was pretty dumb in hindsight! Isn’t the only “real” SLV version a 4:3 version anyway, because it would have been put together for tv back then…and there were no widescreen beauties around back then! All confusing, isn’t it?
Yeah, ST: TMP (SLV) has never been commercially released on home video in widescreen. I also had the widescreen PAL VHS box set and it contained the the theatrical version of ST: TMP - which was the first time I’d ever seen that cut and I wasn’t impressed at all. I understood why it received a critical thumbs down back in '79. The SLV is so much better, although it’s worth noting that Robert Wise had stated that if he’d wielded artistic control, ala Lucas, both the SLV and the theatrical release wouldn’t exist.
On a side note, films did make it onto TV and early home video occasionally in widescreen during the 80s. The BBC aired 2001 in its original aspect ratio and Woody Allen insisted that Manhattan be shown on TV and home video in 16:9. Amarcord and Monty Python’s …Holy Grail received widescreen releases on CED.
Just chiming in to say that I have unopened copies of all the widescreen VHS tapes, including the Special Longer Version (but not the regular, shorter cut). I’d be willing to pop those suckers open if you’d like.
You’ve got the SLV in widescreen on VHS? I thought it was only ever released in P&S on home video.
For the benefit of the rest of us who are unaware, what was incorrect?
Thanks for the information. I wonder why they didn’t bother to include them on the W/S set?
The Full IMAX scenes are available both on the TDK Ultimate Collector’s Edition BD set and the TDK Full Screen DVD.
The IMAX scenes are also included on TDK’s W/S 2-disc DVD.
Looking forward to seeing your comparison.
Hi SilverWook, JayArgonaut, pittrek, friedcamera, dark_jedi and all others.
I just came back from over two hours of videotape searching. I located a few unexpected things and thought I’d post the basic results of my search here…
…I also have extensive coverage of 9/11, as it happened, from several networks from that day.
Also, most, if not all of the televised coverage of President Clinton’s Senate Impeachment Trial from 1998 to 1999. Don’t ask…
Hundreds of hours on JFK, covering his presidency, life and assassination.
Many hours of programs on the following topics:
RFK
MLK, Jr.
Watergate/Richard Nixon
Pearl Harbor
The Titanic
Sam Shepherd case
Various U.S. and World historical events throughout history.So, anyone and everyone, please mark what you’re interested in and I’ll do my best to keep my wife from throwing the aforementioned videos at me… 😉
😄 This is like a dream come true! I’m very much interested in all of the above topics but in particular, “Various U.S. and World historical events throughout history.” I’ll PM you with my specific requests.
The resident troll cometh, with their perpetual need to belittle and mock others.
Enjoy. 😃