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SKot

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Join date
3-Apr-2005
Last activity
12-May-2025
Posts
935
Web Site
http://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com

Post History

Post
#114340
Topic
DVD: Return of the Ewok and Other Little Films (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/114340/action/topic#114340
Time
Although it hasn't been torrented, Rikter has put together one heck of a musical compilation.
That disc has 1.1G of OGG and MP3 music in its DVD-Rom content,
in addition to the best Holiday Special available (well, equal to RowMan's I guess)


Tell me more about this version... what station did it air on? Is it as dark as RowMan's version?

--SKot
Post
#114074
Topic
Info: A new edit <em>(The Lost Cut - it was a prank; but some good info in here)</em>
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/114074/action/topic#114074
Time
Actually, the missing scene it cuts to is either the wipe to the Blockade Runner interior (not filmed yet), or a shot of the landspeeder moving across the desert.

However, that does remind me that the "sparkle" shot of the ships firing on each other is not in the footage included on BTM. Strange. If it was from the Lost Cut, then according to Dr. Reynolds it should be there.

--SKot
Post
#114059
Topic
Info: A new edit <em>(The Lost Cut - it was a prank; but some good info in here)</em>
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/114059/action/topic#114059
Time
And I quote Dr. Reynolds from the Insider article (using the UK version since that's the one that's handy):

"The 'Lost Cut' survives today as a silent black-and-white 35mm copy in 13 reels."

Other quotes of interest from this article:

"...before the film was even finished, before the special effects and the shooting of the last scenes on the list - there was an early prototype of the film."

"While shooting in England was drawing to a hurried close in 1976 (the Blockade Runner interior shots had yet to be completed), Jympson assembled for Lucas and Kurtz a work-in-progress from the available footage - a rough cut of the film that lacked all the special effects, some scenes, and all the finishing touches, but which nonetheless offered a vision of how the movie was coming together."

"This early cut of the film was not meant as a polished work for presentation, and it was not the Star Wars that Lucas was ready to show anyone."

This is definitely a different cut of the film than the later rough cut (presumably in color) shown to Roy Thomas of Marvel Comics in February 1977.

"The main deleted scenes in the Lost Cut are those we already know: Luke at work in the vaporator field spotting the space battle overhead (seen as a lens flare with sparkles to indicate laser fire); his interaction with Biggs and the others in Anchorhead, and Han Solo's confrontation with a human Jabba the Hutt, which was restored and enhanced for the Special Edition."

I believe the Treadwell/vaporator scene on Behind the Magic came from the Lost Cut as well. It's silent, and it cuts to a "Scene Missing" card, which is characteristic of the Lost Cut with all its missing effects shots and scenes.

--SKot
Post
#113816
Topic
Info: A new edit <em>(The Lost Cut - it was a prank; but some good info in here)</em>
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/113816/action/topic#113816
Time
The Lost Cut *is* in fact in black and white. The color shots you see from it are just stills that have been printed in color. The footage we do have from the Lost Cut (extended Cantina sequence from Behind The Magic, Death Star hallway shootouts on Empire Of Dreams with drawn-in white arrows for blaster fire) is definitely in black and white.

Whatever this supposed footage is, it would still be interesting even if it was just someone's reconstruction. Some of us have talked about creating a virtual Lost Cut in the past, but the closest I've seen anyone come to it so far is in Garrett's Deleted Magic. And that's mostly in color.

--SKot
Post
#113619
Topic
Info &amp; Help: looking for... other ld-rips to dvd movies ex. blade runner int cut, songs of the south, frighteners dir cut - and much much more...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/113619/action/topic#113619
Time
Great news, Rikter! I was working on putting my (okay but not great) .avi copy to DVD, but I'm sure this will be better.

I think it would be great to do this up with the same chapter skips and titles as the Director's Cut, where applicable. Also, I think a cover based on the single-disc cover art would be nice... since that should have been the non-director's cut version anyway! (damn this not releasing the original as well obstinance...) Either that, or there should have been an alternate two-disc version.

--SKot
Post
#113617
Topic
Help Wanted: Project To Collect All Star Wars Documentaries
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/113617/action/topic#113617
Time
I am in full support of this project, which seems to already be ongoing in some form with babyhum and ocpmovie's releases. I'll forward anything I can get my hands on to these preservation masters to further the release schedule.

I'd like to see a definitive list of "Making Of" specials, both common and rare. However, I hope I'm not alone in not really wanting to see things like "Star Woids" included (which is on DVD anyway)... I put these in a different category as "unauthorized geek fodder" (not necessarily a bad thing). I don't want to see specials about Star Wars geeks included here, just specials about the films themselves, using real, authorized footage. "Star Woids", "The Fandom Menace", etc. can be a different project if someone wants.

How about a website hosting the definitive list by release year for all to utilize? I'd be happy to put it on starwarscutscenes.com if we can draw up the list first. They are very relevant to cut scenes fanatics anyway, given that a lot of our sources are those specials.

--SKot
Post
#111126
Topic
Idea: original film - get a copy of the original film reels from the Library of Congress?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/111126/action/topic#111126
Time
Hey Karyudo,

Didn't mean to sound like I was harshing on you in particular (since obviously you have just obtained an original film print)... looking back I noticed that it looked a bit that way. My ire is directed more specifically towards winners of recent auctions I've lost out on where the winning bidder obviously just wanted the material possession, while I just wanted the information (which was nearly priceless to me, but not apparently as priceless as bragging rights were to them), but they refused to share anything at all. In fact, in most cases they refused to even contact me back. I hope they enjoy their little treasure hoards.

I understand your point about someone putting down a lot of money for, say, an original film print, then putting lots of time, legwork and money into getting it telecine transferred, and then not feeling like everyone else should be able to get it for free. But I don't look at it that way. In fact, I feel like that person ought to feel compelled to share it with the rest of the true fans who weren't so fortunate (or wealthy enough) to have been able to own the item themselves. Maybe that makes me a pinko or something.

And just to show I'm putting my money where my mouth is, I myself have just paid a large amount of cash for another Star Wars-related film print, also incidentally on 16mm. But I am already making plans to share it with the world: I have located a professional transfer place that will do a very nice digital master for me (additional expense, of course), and I will then put more of my time into placing onto a DVD which I will torrent for anyone to be able to see for free. Of course, I'll still have the bragging rights of having the original item in my possession (and this even happens to be an extremely rare one-of-a-kind item)... but really that's nothing compared to the warm fuzzy I get from being able to make it possible for others to see it. More on this project later...

I'm really eager to hear more about your particular find, though. What version is the print? Could it benefit the ongoing preservation projects?

--SKot
Post
#110188
Topic
Info: Star Wars Holiday Special related - &quot;fighting the frizzies&quot;
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/110188/action/topic#110188
Time
Originally posted by: ReverendBeastly
I just checked, and it does not. Sorry. Why were you interested in a station ID in that segment?


I wanted to find out which version that clip came from. All copies of the Holiday Special come from a limited number of originals that were taped on VCRs in various cities back in 1978. You can usually tell which version you have by checking the station ID during the cartoon segment. Here's a little comparison of versions I know of:

http://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com/versions.htm

There is at least one other version I know of that has no station ID at all, though. Yours apparently is like that.

--SKot
Post
#109677
Topic
Idea: original film - get a copy of the original film reels from the Library of Congress?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/109677/action/topic#109677
Time
What really pisses me off most are all the times when these kinds of people (who obviously have far too much money to burn) pay huge amounts of money for items like this 16mm print... AND THEN THEY SIT ON THEM.

I've been outbid (by a huge margin!) on things on eBay that I wanted to share with the world via one of my websites. And after it got too rich for my blood and the auction was over, I have written to some of these guys and said "hey, this would be really useful for the website... could you possibly scan/copy/transcribe/tell me some details about this particular item?" 9 times out of 10 they just blow me off, and don't even bother responding.

Folks, if you've got something cool and historically interesting... share it!! Don't just sit on it.

I know I'm preaching to the converted here, though, because so many of you are involved in preservation projects that benefit the whole world...

--SKot
Post
#107732
Topic
Info Wanted: this is the best forum ever - which are the best preservation projects?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/107732/action/topic#107732
Time
So Michael, are you actually on the Star Wars Cut Scenes list, or is that the other Michael Coate[s]?

Also, regarding EditDroid... I could be wrong, but I think it may actually be the oldest O-OT release, pre-dating the TR47. Which makes it even more impressive that it's the current talk of the town. The initial EditDroid version of Star Wars with the lesser quality transfer and alternate mono soundtrack came out at least as early as March 2002. The next two films followed soon after. When did the TR47/Cowclops come out?

And Michael's right... this is the best forum EVER. Outside of the Cut Scenes list (which isn't strictly a forum), of course. ;o)

--SKot
Post
#105388
Topic
DVD: Return of the Ewok and Other Little Films (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/105388/action/topic#105388
Time
Originally posted by: Darth Simon
not trying to get the thread off topic, but if you want the muppet show episode with mark hamill its available on myspleen.net. Actually the whole muppet show series (all 5 seasons) is up there, you'd have to check which season its in, and then get a client that lets you select what files to download if thats all you want...but the episodes are pretty good quality.

-Darth Simon


I already have a very good quality copy of that Muppet Show episode... but if it's available as an actual DVD release, then I don't intend to be a cheap pirate bastard; I'll buy the thing! Plus, I always want these items in the best quality possible.

But thanks for the pointer... I don't think the whole Muppet Show series has been made available so far, so it's nice to know one can obtain it. Now if only we could get The Invaders series up there...

(way off topic now)

--SKot
Post
#105383
Topic
Preserving the...<em>cringe</em>...Star Wars Holiday Special (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/105383/action/topic#105383
Time
Well, I've finally gotten hold of a copy of the French version of the Holiday Special (aired the year after it aired in the USA), which I then had converted to DVD from VHS. Quality is not great, but passable, and better than many copies out there.

What's different about this one, you ask?

For one thing, it's dubbed in French! By the same voice actors who dubbed the French version of Star Wars, apparently, which lends it more authenticity. And the title logo is different: it's called "Au Temps de la Guerre des Etoiles" (In the Time of Star Wars). You haven't heard anything until you've heard a French voice sounding EXACTLY like Art Carney speaking French.

But even more odd: it's been heavily edited compared to the US version. In fact, it's FAR BETTER than the US version!

Here is the list of segments that were cut:

- Diahann Carroll introduction during the intro sequence
- Lumpy flying his ship around Itchy, stealing a cookie, taking the garbage out, walking the railing, Malla looking at Chewie's picture, Itchy comforting her, Itchy taking a tape for Lumpy down from the shelf
- Saun Dann giving Itchy his gift, Itchy sitting in the Mind Evaporator, Diahann Carroll as Mermeia singing
- abrupt edit of Jefferson Starship video from beginning to "What are they watching us for?"
- from beginning of Ackmena's song to the end - cut to Leia and Threepio on viewscreen in Wookiee house
- the entire end ceremony set with Leia singing, Chewbacca's flashback

Basically, they trimmed all the most painful parts of the film, making it much more watchable. All the edits are done well, except the inexplicable jump cut in the Jefferson Starship segment (most of it is still there).

Was this done for the original broadcast, or was it done later by an ambitious fan? I can't say for sure. It sure seems like it was broadcast that way. In any case, who knew the French could recognize bad comedy when they saw it?

--SKot
Post
#105376
Topic
DVD: Return of the Ewok and Other Little Films (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/105376/action/topic#105376
Time
I can't wait to see the results now on Restore of the Ewok.

Incidentally, The Muppet Show with Mark Hamill is supposedly available on some Muppet Show DVD. Can anybody tell me, so I can go buy it?

Also, I waited a long time for The Richard Pryor Show with the Star Wars Bar segment to be available on DVD. As soon as it came out, I bought it. There's a 3-disc box set (most common, I think), and then you can also get them as single discs. The Star Wars skit is on Volume 1. If you REALLY like Richard Pryor, buy the box set... it's got bonus material (but nothing more of Star Wars). Otherwise, just get the single disc Volume 1.

--SKot
Post
#105168
Topic
Idea -- Original Theatrical Prequels
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/105168/action/topic#105168
Time
I have been wanting origianal theatrical DVD versions of TPM and AOTC as well... if only for comparison and history's sake.

Back in the days following TPM's release, copies of the film surfaced on the net. First there were tripod-mounted camera recordings from the audience, usually in very poor quality, one of which I acquired and still have. Then, shortly after that, an amazing actual transfer from celluloid appeared, with Thai subtitles. I still have the second half of this version saved. Unfortunately, I was only ever able to get the first few minutes of the first half. Being on dial-up at the time, it literally took a week or two of constant downloading just to get what I do have. But what a fantastic artifact! And what I wouldn't do to get hold of the first half of that film transfer... but of course, there's zero demand for it now. So how do you find something nobody wants?

I snapped up the VHS version the moment it was released. And I guarantee, or at least I should say I am 99.99% certain, that there were changes made to TPM when it hit VHS. Some extra bit during the pod races seems to stick out in my mind. And then when the DVD came out, I grabbed that too, and of course there were even further changes there.

Versions of TPM: 3
- Original theatrical version
- VHS version
- DVD version

I have no idea which version of TPM the laserdisc corresponds to, but I always assumed it matched the VHS version.

Then AOTC came out. I saw the theatrical version, and wound up afterwards with a fuzzy copy made from a tripod camera. Unfortunately, I never managed to find better. No celluloid transfers. But at least I can verify what was and wasn't there. Next, there was the digital version... subtle differences there. I drove the 4 hours from Houston to Dallas to see it in a digital theater. I would love to have a copy of this particular version, but no dice to this day. Then, the IMAX version. Different, but only because it was cropped and chopped to fit IMAX format. Having a copy of this would be nice, but is of negligible importance to me. Finally, the DVD version, which I again bought immediately.

Versions of AOTC: 4
- Original theatrical version
- Digital theatrical version
- IMAX version
- DVD version

PM me if you have any info on the unreleased-on-DVD versions that might interest me.

--SKot
Post
#104260
Topic
Idea &amp; Info: Return of the Ewok - on Hyperspace
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/104260/action/topic#104260
Time
Originally posted by: Obi-Wan Spicoli
I saw a Return of the Ewok DVD on ebay about a year ago. I don't know what the source was, probably a cam from Celebration I.

Yep... and I believe that auction got pulled because the copy was given to the seller under strict agreement that it was not to be copied or sold. The footage was most likely from a camcorder, shot at a con in Germany. And although I didn't see any cameras going this time in the Pop Culture Room at Celebration 3 while I was there, I saw at least two people filming it at Celebration 2. I have yet to see their copies surface.

Anyway, why does the Boba Fett shooting at Wicket scene exist is such high quality?


Good question. My theory was that either Lucasfilm took Warwick's VHS copy of the footage, digitally cleaned the heck out of it, and used that (not likely, it looks way too good, even for Lucasfilm's expertise)... or, there was a reel of film in their archives with that particular scene on it (much more likely). There's also the little piece that appeared in the VH1 special (Wicket saying goodbye to the heroes), which I figure is the same story.

--SKot
Post
#103710
Topic
Idea &amp; Info: Return of the Ewok - on Hyperspace
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/103710/action/topic#103710
Time
Originally posted by: baby hum
The version of ROTE available on Hyperspace is an edited version containing all of the relevant Star Wars scenes. The full version actually charts the story of Warwick getting the part of Wicket.

Unfortunately, the edit doesn't even contain all the relevant SW scenes. There's nothing after Wicket meets Vader, including the parts where he talks to Yoda (a highlight for sure!) and fights alongside the Ewoks in the forest.

As they say on the OS it is the best quality print that is available. There is a negative in existence probably in storage at the labs at which it was processed, but the cost to produce a new print would be very expensive. Not to mention the clean up involved.

Do you know for certain that there is a negative in existence? My understanding is that the film was completely lost, and the only remnant left of it was the VHS copy in Warwick's possession. Warwick said at C3 that he loaned the tape to Lucasfilm, who made a digital copy of it, and that's the best copy that is known at this point as well as being the source for the Hyperspace clip. I imagine they did a minimal amount of cleanup on that copy. I can also tell they altered the soundtrack--where there used to be Supertramp's "Take The Long Way Home" as temporary soundtrack, they've dropped in other incidental music (to avoid copyright clearance issues). Also, they seem to have tweaked the soundtrack in other places, and in at least one instance a line is missing (Wicket saying "Crikey, it's Lord Vader!" right near the end).

The film was shot between breaks in shooting ROTJ and were directed by David Tomblin, the first assistant director of ROTJ. And before any of you get too excited, the scene involving Wicket and Boba Fett on the Death Star was shot specifically for ROTE. It was one of the scenes I was lucky enough to see filmed.


You saw this scene filmed on-set? Do tell...!

I think there are only a couple of decent copies on VHS and they belong to the director and the star and possibly a few cast and crew. There is a bootleg doing the rounds but i've only seen it once at a convention.


I think you're dead-on there. I seem to recall Warwick saying again at C3 there were only 6 copies out there.

--SKot