STACK Nov #133

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I f you’re old enough to remember lining up
to see Star Wars , The Empire Strikes Back
and Return of the Jedi at the cinema back in
1977, 1980 and 1983, respectively, chances are
you’re still regretting ever having opened and
played with the action figures, or sticking the
original one sheet posters on your bedroom wall
with sticky tape or blu-tack. You’re also likely
to be lamenting that you can no longer see the
versions of the original trilogy as you remember
them from way back when, due to George
Lucas’s persistent need to tamper with and
improve the films in the decades since their very
first cinema release.
Unless you own the US Laserdiscs (and an
LD player) or picked up the Limited Edition
DVDs back in 2006 (which featured the original
versions as bonus features in non-anamorphic
4:3 ratio), the only way to watch episodes IV–VI
at home is via the Special Editions on DVD or
Blu-ray, complete with CGI enhancements and
annoying additions that link them to
Lucas’s prequels.
It’s somewhat disconcerting
that today’s generation of viewers
have only ever experienced the SE
versions. However, with rumours
now circulating
that the original
unaltered trilogy is
being prepped for a
remastered Blu-ray
release to coincide
with the arrival of Star
Wars: Episode VII -
The Force Awakens,
they might finally have
the opportunity to see
what once was.
But not if George
Lucas still has any say in
it. “The special edition,
that's the one I wanted
out there. The other
movie, it's on VHS, if
anybody wants it. I'm not
going to spend — we're
talking millions of dollars
here – the money and
the time to refurbish that,
because to me, it doesn't
really exist anymore.”
Lucas has revised the original trilogy three
times in the last 18 years. The first was in 1997,
when the Special Editions were prepped for
the trilogy’s re-release in cinemas and on
VHS. The changes were mostly cosmetic,
to take advantage of the digital technology
he didn’t have at his disposal back in the
‘70s and ‘80s – visible matte lines were
removed, digital ships replaced models, and
shockwaves were added to the exploding
Death Star and Alderaan. But more
significant additions like Greedo shooting
first and a new song by Sy Snootles in
Jabba’s palace continue to infuriate old
school fans.
Further changes followed for the
trilogy’s DVD debut in
2004 to ensure continuity
with the prequels,
including the Emperor’s
hologram being replaced
by Palpatine actor Ian
McDiarmid (it was
originally Elaine Baker,
wife of makeup master
Rick Baker, in a mask
with the voice of Clive
Revill), Boba Fett
with a Kiwi accent,
and actor Sebastian
Shaw swapped for
Hayden Christensen
as Anakin’s ghost.
Moreover, when the
films returned on Blu-ray
in 2011, Lucas inflicted further alterations that
were entirely superficial – and some that were
just plain dire, like Vader’s howl of “Noooooo” as
he throws the Emperor to his death at the end
of Jedi.
Now that Lucas is presumably finally satisfied
that Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jedi reflect his original grand
vision, it’s unlikely they’ll be altered again. But
never say never. At the very least, the constant
revisions and re-releases of the original trilogy
have ensured that diehard Star Wars fans can be
content with owning all possible permutations
of the films. After all, they’re the only ones with
any chance of recognising the innumerable
audio and visual differences that distinguish
each and every version.
IF IT AIN’T
BROKE…Scott Hocking wistfully remembers the Original Trilogy
that was, before George Lucas's meddling.