MovieChat Forums > Star Wars (1977) Discussion > Disney Buys Fox. Original Version Releas...

Disney Buys Fox. Original Version Releases Possible?

posted 7 years ago by Keelai (35388)
22 replies | jump to latest

Finally. I hope.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

Nope. Not happening because Lucas considers his edited versions to be the final versions and Kennedy and Disney won't upset him.
http://comicbook.com/starwars/2017/12/28/star-wars-the-last-jedi-bombs-messages/

Grrrr!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Can't say i trust a site that titles an article the last jedi bombs.

Say what you like about the quality of the movie, but even taking account of the big second week dropoff its going to rake in a lot of money.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

That was a bad link. Sorry. I just noticed when you scroll down, the page automatically changes to a different one. Grrr! Bad website design! (The bomb info is only about fighters writing messages on bombs before launching them - not that the movie bombed.)

It would've made even more money if people liked it more.

"Curators at the National Film Registry picked the 1977 version of Star Wars to preserve for history’s sake, but they still don’t have a copy in the registry. When they asked for a copy, Lucas refused, saying that he would no longer authorize the release of the original version. The Library of Congress does have a 35mm print of Star Wars, one that was filed in 1978 as part of the movie’s copyright deposit, but the registry, where films are meant to be preserved for history, is still without one."

I read on a different site that Lucas had tried to give the the curators his edited version and they refused to take it since that wasn't the version that had won awards, etc. The same site said Lucas destroyed the master copy by editing it so it no longer exists and he considered his edited version to be the completed final version.

I hope there is a master copy somewhere but I'm not holding my breath. I'll enjoy my VHS and despecialized versions.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Doesn't matter. Resourceful people can watch the ORIGINAL grainy theater film edition released, or the updated great looking HD edit.

Wish they WOULD release an official one since it is the ONLY version I watch. Uncleaned DVD version is the one I own. And I'd buy the original release in HD, 4K, 8K if available.

Heck, Disney could download the above mentioned cuts themselves, burn discs or stream it - ZERO EFFORT - and $ell it. It is, legally speaking, theirs already. So, no work, grab that version and sell it. It's theirs, just do it.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

"It's theirs, just do it."

Maybe. But, there would be a backlash from fans if they did. Stan Lee holds no rights to Spiderman or any other superhero he created since he was as an employee, but the studio pays him money to avoid upsetting fans.

There must be copies of the films that theaters used. Disney would need to spend serious money restoring them. Lucas would have a fit, though.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

why would there be a backlash? Lots of fans WANT the original version. the copies are out there, free to all right now, cleaned and corrected. Disney grab those and release them. They already own them.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

"Disney could download the above mentioned cuts themselves, burn discs or stream it"

Do you mean Harmy's Star Wars Despecialized Editions? If so, there would be a backlash because he worked on them for years as a fan without pay, just dedication to the movies. If Disney sold his versions without compensation, then it's exploitive. I don't think there would be a problem if Disney paid the guy, though.

BTW, Lucas really supported fans. I know one case in which he hired a fan who did a SW podcast for free and paid him to write a SW comic. And he supported the SW fan film contest. Also, gave away an entire game engine to some guys who only wanted a few resources so that they could update a classic SW game. Lucas was a class act when he ran Lucasfilms. I wish the fans had been nicer to him.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

So, STOLEN GOODS, reedited, makes it not stolen anymore? Sweet! I may switch to a new line of work.

Everyone wants to gloss over the reality of it: edits are of someone else's property. Exactly like piracy.

It is owned by a company, made for profit as a business.... may be should all stop using money in the world and donate all our hard work in our businesses for free? Not too realistic there.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

Lucas didn't mind as long as the person didn't profit from it. Harmy never made any money from it. If you're a fan, then the original version is a must see.

Lucas was smart because by allowing people to create fan films, podcasts, etc. it helped keep SW popular by fanning the passion for SW. He is an intelligent businessman (with the exception of selling to Disney).

Meanwhile, Star Trek fans used to be sued even when it was nonprofit. The company wonders why ST isn't very popular.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

very true points.

I jsut wish they would release a full, real original version in HD or 4K.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

All fans do. I don't believe the originals exist anymore since Lucas probably used the them to make changes. Or at least that's the rumor.

Maybe one day Disney will restore and release the originals.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

just so you know, there was an original theater print that turned up in Europe or someplace in the last couple years. they have scanned and released it - I forget the name of it, I've seen it, it looks fantastic - not HD - just nice and grainy like film.

yes, to the people that own SW, it does not exist. to the world, it is available should one choose to go that route, which I am not condoning. And why Disney should simply nab and release it. Its already there in the pie rate lanes FOR FREE. They should profit from its existance.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

I don't know why you guys keep saying they don't exist. The OT was released on DVD a few years back in two disc sets that included the original, unaltered movie and the special edition. I bought Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at Walmart in that format.

The original, unaltered version was not restored and it was letter boxed and pillar boxed. Of course the special edition was widescreen, restored etc. etc. Because Lucas wanted it that way. I guess he thought he was throwing a bone to us fans but was also trying to push everyone to watch and accept the special edition so that's why the original films looked so bad.

All that to say, the original films still exist. They just need to be restored and released in widescreen HDR 4k.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I own that original version on dvd and some laser dosc version, but seriously, the dvd is one of the worst looking dvds ive seen. I mean it looks like it is half dvd resolution. Really sad. So yes it exists, just looks completely aweful. Not film grain awefrl, but you can see obvious resolution lines in the curves, blocky, horrid.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

Right. And the point of that was that Lucas didn't consider the original films to be the official films. He was just trying to placate the fans who continually cried for the release of the unaltered originals. So he made them look as pitiful as possible in order to drive people to watch the special edition versions.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Well, he's wrong and we all know it. Been said a thousand times before, but he COULD HAVE made Han shoot 2nd in the original cut, he COULD HAVE put more rocks infront of R2D2, etc.

What we all saw is what created a legend, not some CGI stuffed crap edit. Calling THAT the REAL verion. HA! Idiot.

[–] Keelai (35388) 7 years ago

I meant the original master copy on film.

I'm not sure if what they released on DVD was high quality. I read people complaining about it. I have the original version on VHS, but Lucas had to restore the colors before releasing it because they were fading. I remember seeing a Star Wars movie rerelease in the theater and the blacks had changed to a dark blue. Vader's costume was dark blue - not as menacing. My VHS looks fine after the restore though - unfortunately it's letterbox.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 7 years ago

No, the ones released on DVD weren't high quality. And that was by design. George didn't want them to be high quality. But the accompanying disc of the special edition was high quality because he wants everyone to watch that one and not the originals.

I suppose the source for the original films on DVD could've been from a laser disc or somesuch. Now that it looks like it's out of George's hands, we have a better chance than ever to get the original versions in HQ. Unless of course George put some stipulation about it in the sales contract. Here's hoping that we get the originals in HQ. **crosses fingers**

[–] GunWillTravel (198) 7 years ago

The Despecialized Editions are the ONLY way to watch Star Wars.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

It's ONE way to watch it. To time travel back the the theater, the SILVER SCREEN edition made from 35mm is the way. And, we can watch both ways now.

[–] GunWillTravel (198) 7 years ago

Didn't know about that until now - Thank you!