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Original 1977 Star Wars 35mm Print Has Been Restored and Released Online (arstechnica.com)

Posted by timothy on from the fine-go-straight-to-the-cantina-scene dept.

AmiMoJo writes: A restored HD version of the original Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope 35mm print has appeared online. While this isn't the first time that attempts have been made to restore Star Wars to its original theatrical version—that's the one without the much-maligned CGI effects and edits of later 'special' editions—it is the first to have been based entirely on a single 35mm print of the film, rather than cut together from various sources. The group behind the release, dubbed Team Negative 1, is made up of Star Wars fans and enthusiasts who spent thousands of dollars of their own cash to restore the film without the blessing of creator George Lucus, or franchise owner Disney.

46 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. The other 2 by Kyokugenryu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here's hoping they can do this with Empire and Jedi, too.

    1. Re:The other 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The LaserDisc version is the remastered version. It doesn't have all the Special Ed. edits, but it does have a few. DVD versions of the LD release have been available for a long time on torrent sites.

    2. Re:The other 2 by malditaenvidia · · Score: 2

      Jedi is still missing.

      Perhaps it's for the best. Who doesn't love the awesome Jedi Rocks! music video, ewoks blinking, Vader yelling NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo while throwing Sheev down the bottomless pit, Jar-Jar yelling "wessa free!" at the end, or Hayden Christiansen being edited in as a force ghost? George Lucas clearly knew what he was doing while re-mastering, re-imagining and re-editing this masterpiece. Bravo, George!

  2. A list of changes by LichtSpektren · · Score: 5, Informative

    This wikipedia article delineates what got changed between the 1977 release and all the re-releases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    1. Re:A list of changes by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      The 2006 release DVD set "original edition" discs keep the original storyline intact. Wikipedia is replete with accurate criticisms of the image quality, etc., but I don't find any serious fault when casually watching it on an old 42" LCD-TV.

    2. Re:A list of changes by plopez · · Score: 4, Informative

      Han shot first! He was a scallawag, which is why the album version liner notes referred to the Millennium Falcon as a "Pirate Ship".

      --
      putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
    3. Re:A list of changes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Han shot first!

      No, Han shot only. Greedo never fired at all in the original.

    4. Re:A list of changes by inasity_rules · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wow. You are way too emotionally invested in this.

      Be more like Spock..

      *Ducks and hides...

      --
      I have determined that my sig is indeterminate.
    5. Re:A list of changes by 91degrees · · Score: 2

      They were a conversion from the laserdisc masters, weren't they.

      I agree, quality is pretty good, although it is limited to standard definition. And you do get all the limitations of both DVD format and Laserdisc format.

    6. Re:A list of changes by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dude, calm the fuck down. You're being illogical, like Spock in Star Wars episode 12.

    7. Re:A list of changes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      You'll either keep a civil tongue in that mouth or I'll cut it out and throw you right off of this Firefly into the Black. Step away from this table. Now.

    8. Re:A list of changes by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      Just, wow... if you care this much you might care enough to know that the set has both editions, the one you detail, plus another that is much closer to the original theatrical release (basically a copy of the big laser disc edition).

      Good luck finding a 9 year old box set, tho.

    9. Re:A list of changes by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

      "Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of big fucking piles of shit."

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    10. Re:A list of changes by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      Pro-tip: not every AC response is from the GP, even if it is worded like it is.

    11. Re:A list of changes by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Funny

      His word order you do not like. Know you not that no difference it makes!

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    12. Re:A list of changes by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      I'd give real money for someone to recut that part of the cantina scene with Jar Jar instead of Greedo.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    13. Re:A list of changes by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 2

      Or maybe Han shoots Greedo and as he slumps over with his pants around his ankles, Jar-Jar who was unknowingly under the table falls on the floor with a blaster hole in the back of his head and a mouth full of cum dribbling down his chin?

  3. May the force be with them by jfdavis668 · · Score: 2

    So they can release it to theaters on May the 4th.

  4. Not "Episode IV" by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A restored HD version of the original Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

    Sigh.

    If it's the original movie it's not "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope."

    Ask any Gen-Xer who saw this movie in the theatres in 1977 (likely multiple times) and they'll tell you the same thing: The movie is called "Star Wars." Nothing more, nothing less.

    1. Re:Not "Episode IV" by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      Today I learned: I'm Gen-X. But, not any Gen-Xer can tell you about the original release, some of them still weren't born yet.

      What I remember the most about the 1977 release was how it was still in theaters for a continuous run through the end of 1978, and beyond in some places.

    2. Re:Not "Episode IV" by cat_jesus · · Score: 2

      I probably watched that movie 50 times in the summer of 77.

    3. Re:Not "Episode IV" by Coisiche · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It may have been billed purely as "Star Wars" but I can remember being puzzled as I sat in the cinema over the fact that the scrolling text at the start was titled "Episode IV: A New Hope". Why haven't I heard of episodes I, II and III, I wondered.

      Now I'm nearly 40 years older and wish I had never heard of episodes I, II and III.

    4. Re: Not "Episode IV" by Lije+Baley · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I was 8 years old in 1977 and there were precious few members of my conservative rural school class who hadn't seen the movie in the theater by the end of the year. Violence, tame by today's standards, was the only thing giving it a PG rating, and once word got around, everybody went to see it.

      --
      Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.
    5. Re:Not "Episode IV" by internerdj · · Score: 2

      Us Gen-Xers born after Star Wars don't really count. We are somewhere between Gen-X and Y. We missed these movie moments. Gen-X's music was changing just as we started to get in to music. The dot-com bubble hit before most of us were gainfully employed. But we are still old enough to know a past where our every moment wasn't consumed with tech. A time before a ubiquitous internet. A time when our computers had to squeal at other computers to communicate. We were mostly mature before social media took off.

    6. Re:Not "Episode IV" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      So basically what you're saying is Star Wars was your generation's Frozen, except with less singing and a slightly worse Christmas special?

    7. Re:Not "Episode IV" by green1 · · Score: 4, Informative

      The original title scroll didn't call it a new hope... that was added later...

    8. Re:Not "Episode IV" by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      You probably saw that in the re-release in 1981 (I think, I forget the exact year, but they re-released it just before ESB.) It absolutely was called "Star Wars" in the original scroll in 1977 (or '78, when I watched it, in the UK.)

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    9. Re:Not "Episode IV" by squiggleslash · · Score: 2
      Minor correction - I believe there wasn't a name in the scroll at all. Basically you saw "Star Wars" and then the scroll, which had no title because it wasn't necessary because Star Wars was already the title.

      Somewhere I have a CED (yes, really) of the first movie, I think it dates back to the pre-1981 cut, so I'll have to watch it and work out how they handled it.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    10. Re:Not "Episode IV" by irrational_design · · Score: 2

      What?! I was 5 years old when Star Wars came out. My dad heard about this new movie at work and when he came home that night he loaded the family up in the station wagon and we drove to the drive-in theater to see it. We saw it numerous times after that. You are insane if you think sub 13 year olds were not watching Star Wars. It was the first movie I remember seeing. Everybody I knew saw Star Wars, whether sub 13 or not.

    11. Re:Not "Episode IV" by laie_techie · · Score: 2

      I was born in 1976, and my parents took me to see it in the theaters.

      As per the PG rating, remember that back then it went G, PG, R, X; PG-13 wasn't introduced until 1984.

    12. Re:Not "Episode IV" by robkeeney · · Score: 2

      Most Gen-Xers would not have seen Star Wars in the theatres.

      Uh, no. I was 4 in `77 and I saw it in the theater. Everyone I went to school with had seen it. If you're gen X and didn't see it in a theater, it's likely because you were born after it left theaters.

    13. Re:Not "Episode IV" by MrLogic17 · · Score: 3, Funny

      You sound bitter about that. You should really just let it go. Let it go.

  5. Good work by Eravnrekaree · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It would be good to see the others restored such as this. I can understand the need for people to experience the movie as they originally remember it. I am of the view both the original version and the CGI enhanced version could have been made available by the studio so people could watch which one they please. But they seem much to arrogant for that. Its appalling how these companies treat their fans which made them a success.

    1. Re:Good work by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Funny

      Can't wait for the 35mm transfer of another Lucas masterpiece: Howard the Duck.

    2. Re:Good work by GTRacer · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I know Lucas, then Disney seem hell-bent on releasing "new" versions of these films every few years. What I want, and would pay dearly for, is a DVD Trilogy set (no flames; I just don't do Blu-Ray) where the first thing you get is a list of checkboxes.

      These control the edits. Want original empty Mos Eisley streets + Han shoots first^wonly + CGI hangar Jabba + Ghost Hayden? Knock yourself out.

      --
      Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
    3. Re:Good work by Chelloveck · · Score: 2

      I know you're trolling, but I actually liked Howard the Duck. I thought it did a reasonable job of matching the spirit, if not the details, of the comic. Watching Lea Thompson in lingerie wasn't all bad either.

      --
      Chelloveck
      I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
  6. This Belongs in a Museum! by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    n/t

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  7. Back in the days by k6mfw · · Score: 2

    I saw the this movie at a movie theatre! It was also when gas was 57 cents a gallon, leaded or unleaded, and Calif houses were less than 100K. Anyway back on topic a friend told me, "You gotta see this movie, the special effects are as good as 2001." Which back then every other space movie was cheesy looking. I also remembered some local store made a few Star Wars shirts (7 total) and were promptly served papers to either stop and destroy the shirts or pay $7million. And then Battlestar Gallactica TV series featuring that guy from Bonanza and all that space age Tektronix test equipment (you know, those O-scopes where all the controls were easy except finding the power on/off was always a challenge).

    I find it amusing we are 16% into the 21st century and a lot of people view SW as "something new" which probably there are people seeing this 1977 re-release, "wow I didn't know SW was that OLD!" For me I saw the two sequels on late night TV, I haven't watched any of the pre-re-seq-whatever versions. And probably have no clue what everyone is arguing about.

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
    1. Re:Back in the days by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I haven't watched any of the pre-re-seq-whatever versions. And probably have no clue what everyone is arguing about.

      Good. And stay that way. For your own sake.

  8. Baffled.... by seven+of+five · · Score: 2

    How is this even possible, legally? If you so much as put a Mickey Mouse wristwatch on upside down Disney comes down on you like a ton of bricks. This group... obtains a 35mm print, restores and releases it? Makes my head spin.

    1. Re:Baffled.... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      How is this even possible, legally?

      It's not. Not legal, anyway. But not being legal doesn't make something impossible.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  9. Re:Lucus? by halivar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Justin Bieber Darth Vader and Pocahontas Jedi.

    ...but enough about the prequels.

  10. Re:George Lucus?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am Darth Locutus of George. It is useless to resist. Your restorations will be reverted. We shall add Han shooting Greedo to our own.

  11. From a single Print? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    From the fine article, there were multiple prints used. A spanish language LPP version was the basis for most of the work but several other Kodak Eastman prints were used, especially for effect heavy scenes.

  12. Re:Soon they will feel the power of the Dark Side. by slashping · · Score: 2

    Unfortunately, the image quality is so shitty that the high resolution and low compression are completely wasted. It could easily been converted to a 2GB version without visible loss in quality.

  13. Harmy Despecialized Edition by xororand · · Score: 2

    The currently best reproduction of the original Star Wars trilogy is a fan edit compiled by Harmy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
    http://originaltrilogy.com/top...
    https://docs.google.com/docume...

    This is a reconstruction of the 1977 theatrical version of STAR WARS. 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.

    This fan edit is compiled from many sources, including an earlier scan by Team Negative1, the group this article is also about.

    VIDEO SOURCES:
            STAR WARS Episode IV A New Hope Official Blu-Ray 2011 (Preliminary colour correction by You_Too)
            STAR WARS 2006 Bonus DVD (sourced from the 1993 Definitive Edition Laser Disc Master - upscales by Dark Jedi, You_Too and Harmy)
            Star.Wars.Episode.IV.A.New.Hope.1977.720p.HDTV.x264-DON (2004 DVD Version)
            STAR WARS 1997 Special Edition (Reivax DTV capture)
            Custom mattes, 35mm and 70mm film cell scans etc.
            Team Negative1 35mm LPP print scan of the Mos Eisley sequence
            Puggo Grande (1977 16mm print transfer)

    Harmy has since released restored edits of Episode V and VI as 720p MKV.
    The MKVs also include many subtitles and alternative audio tracks.
    It is currently the definite edition of the original trilogy.