Forum: scifi.stackexchange.com
Tags: <star-wars>
Title: How can I watch the pre-"Special Edition" Star Wars?
Question: In the early 90s I remember having "digitally remastered" versions of the  Star Wars  Trilogy on VHS (Letterbox/Surround/THX), it would be good to have higher quality versions of these but I'm unsure whether they are generally available.   I have heard some criticism of the 're-released' trilogy.

Answers:
sents: text: There is a DVD box set release that came complete with the unaltered original films as bonus material .
text: Each movie comes as a two-disc set—one disc is the 2004 remastered version of the film, while the second disc is a version that captures its original theatrical presentation.
text: If you heard that this 're-released' trilogy was not so good.
text: It's because it used non-anamorphic video sourced from the 1993 LaserDisc releases.
text: It's just not good as the restored 1997 Special Edition (Gold or Silver box) and any subsequent release, which you should avoid because it include many changes from the original theatrical version.
text: After that, I think your best bet would be to check garage sales or to go on Ebay for the first VHS release of Stars wars or The "1995 VHS THX Edition" (Black box).
text: The 1993 laser disc Star Wars Trilogy:
text: The Definitive Collection would be also OK, if you have the player to use it, but you wont have a better image than with the DVD, as the source is the same.
text: But, be notified even those versions has some small changes
text: , I recommend to check the wikipedia page about List of changes in Star Wars re-releases to pick the release you want.
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/45/DavRob60
score: 41
sents: text: Another great alternative is Harmy's Despecialized Editions.
text: Basically a guy called Harmy went and reconstructed the original versions from a variety of newer sources:
text: This is a reconstruction of the 1977 theatrical version of STAR WARS.
text: The original shots were painstakingly restored using various sources (listed below) and the film received an extensive shot by shot colour correction based on a fade free 1977 I.B. Technicolor Print.
text: You can find them here:
text: Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi
text: If you want physical copies of them, there are printable covers and disc art included as well.
text: The end product looks like this:
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/25368/Wayzgoose
score: 23
sents: text: LaserDisc will probably be the best quality you can find of the 'original' version of the first trilogy: http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trilogy-Widescreen-Collectors-Laser/dp/B000EDQCC8
text: I reckon that it will be easier to find hens' teeth, though.
text: Also - reputedly - Lucas has destroyed the original masters so that the only 'definitive' studio version available is the special edition which was released at the end of the 90s.
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/373/HorusKol
score: 9
sents: text: It really depends what you don't want.
text: If you want the movies as they appeared in the theaters, you'll have to hunt down one of the original film reels.
text: That's an expensive proposition but ALL of the at-home releases of the films are modified in some way.
text: Even if just to add "Episode IV: A New Hope" to the opening crawl.
text: The VHS releases up to the special edition are the only versions that don't contain the now infamous extra footage and Greedo shooting first.
text: The special editions and the DVD releases are all more-or-less the same.
text: And the new Blu-ray versions are different still.
text: Although exactly how they differ I am not sure.
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/51/DampeS8N
score: 7
sents: text: The best recreation of the original version is Harmy's "Despecialized Edition", which is based primarily on the Blu-ray versions, with most of the SE content removed: http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Harmys-STAR-WARS-Despecialized-Edition-HD-V25-MKV-IS-OUT-NOW/id/12713
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/59433/Yoda
score: 2
sents: text: Certainly in the UK can can get these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Episode-IV-Theatrical/dp/B000FMH8UI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1296458411&sr=8-9
text: They include both the original theatrical release and the Special Edition.
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/620/user620
score: 1
sents: text: This restoration of an original 35mm film print is probably the best pre-Special Edition version currently available: http://www.thestarwarstrilogy.com/starwars/post/2016/01/15/Team-Negative-One-completes-35mm-Restoration-of-Star-Wars http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/team-negative1-star-wars-1977-35mm-theatrical-version-release-details-and-updates/id/14590
answer_details: author: scifi.stackexchange.com/users/59433/Yoda
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
It is recommended to check the Wikipedia List of Changes in Star Wars Re-releases  to pick the release you want. There is a DVD box set release that came complete with  the unaltered original films as  bonus material. However, apart from that, garage sales or eBay might be a good place to look for these versions. The DVD releases and special editions are considered to be more-or-less the same. However, Harmy's "Despecialized Edition", is a recommended alternative, based primarily on the Blu-ray versions, with most of the special edition content removed.
Pre-special editions of Star Wars can be found on DVD, VHS and LaserDisc. However, the best vversion is considered to be Harmy's "Despecialized Edition". The films as they appeared in cinemas are only available on the original 35mm reels.