HT Version 1.0

The first releases of the "original" or "holy" trilogy (HT) (not the "first" trilogy, as that would be Episodes 1-3) we will call ANH 1.0, ESB 1.0, and ROJ 1.0, from the first theatrical releases in 1977, 1980, and 1983 respectively.

• The very first VHS version of Star Wars was originally released by 20th Century-Fox Home Video in 1982 (hereafter known as VHS 1.0a or ANH 1.0a). From Tomart's Price Guide to Worldwide Star Wars Collectibles: "The first and rarest Star Wars cassette  ... comes in a plastic case with a pasted-on label, with "Video Rental Library" in large letters on front, back and spine. ... [Y]ou might be able to find one of the rare unplayed ones today, still shrink-wrapped, for $100 to $200."

• CBS-Fox Video also released a VHS version of ANH in a "drawer" case sold that same year. Let's call this ANH 1.0b.

• >In 1983, CBS-Fox released ESB 1.0 as well as "The Making of Star Wars" and "SP/FX: The Empire Strikes Back," in both a regular and "drawer" box.

• Soon thereafter, ROJ 1.0 was released by CBS-Fox Video. There was also a "Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi" video released around the same time.

• The 1.0 laserdiscs (LD's) followed in the latter half of the decade (LD 1.0) These were apparently bare-bones standard-play discs.

• In 1989 the video documentary From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga came out. Then in 1990, the three VHS 1.0 videos were put in new packaging and slipcased together in a nifty box with fold-out sides. (HT 1.0)

• There were actually several editions of ANH on VHS -- the first did not contain the line by C3PO "The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave." (Although it was in the script, this line was not in the 1977 theatrical release of the film, but was added in the 1978 theatrical re-release.) The second edition did contain Threepio's line, plus it had a commercial for the trilogy added at the end. The third edition was the same but with 1977-1987 commercial at the beginning of the tape.¹ So by the time we got to 1990, ANH was up to version 1.0e (at least), released in the boxed set with ESB 1.0d and ROJ 1.0c. But really, who's counting?
  ¹(Source: http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~jruspini/starwars/collect/)

HT Version 1.1

• In the early 1990's, CBS/Fox released extended play laserdiscs in regular and wide screen editions (which we'll call LD 1.1). For the first time since their original theatrical runs, the Holy Trilogy could again be experienced with their original aspect ratios intact. However, as some may remember, the transfer for Jedi (ROJ-LD 1.1) had, for some unexplained reason, shifted the picture upward in the screen. In other words, the lower matte frame was considerably thicker than the upper frame, and the picture, while not missing any of the image, was not vertically centered. My best guess attributed it to the fact that some of the translated Huttese subtitles, which read in the lower frame instead of in the picture, ran somewhat high, and Fox Video was unable to find any smaller a font. I doubt this was really the reason, but ... well, who cares? The movies were letterboxed, and that's what was important.

• In 1992, the VHS "SW Collector's Edition" (approx $100) was released by CBS/Fox. It featured letterboxed cassettes, the "From Star Wars to Jedi - The Making of A Saga" documentary, and a neat navy-blue box with a hologram of the original 1977 artwork. This VHS 1.1 was essentially a tape version of LD 1.1. In fact, the same "vertically-uncentered" ROJ was presented in the set, prompting several VHS owners to join with the crowd of LD buyers in asking "What the. . . ?"

HT Version 1.2

• In 1993, Lucas commissioned an "ultimate" collection on laserdisc. It was a nine-disc, CAV, THX-mastered version of Trilogy 1.1 (original, letterboxed). The set -- ironically titled "The Definitive Collection" -- was in a black box with
  silver artwork and contained a hardcover version of George Lucas's
  biography. (I believe it was entitled "George Lucas - The Man With All Your Money.") [It was George Lucas: The Creative Impulse - Toryn] The discs had several LD supplemental materials, including three original trailers per film, film-to-storyboard comparisons, interviews with Lucas, Ben Burtt, and a few others, tons of behind-the-scenes stills, a look at the sound design on the films, and intermittent commentary tracks. It cost about $250. This is LD 1.2, and was considered for a short time to be "the one" to make all your friends jealous. (Especially since the "ROJ-LD 1.2" transfer was finally centered!)

• Because no VHS version was released at this time, we will avoid confusion by saying there was never a VHS 1.2 version of the trilogy.

HT Version 1.3

• Flash forward to 1996. Lucas is preparing the Special Editions and wants to re-release the original trilogy one last time before putting it in "permanent" retirement. So they take the THX master of LD 1.2 and transfer it to VHS (this is VHS 1.3). It came in Pan & Scan and Letterbox versions. You could also get all three in a slipcased box.

• LD 1.3 is merely a copy of LD 1.2, but they advertised these LDs as more affordable than the "Definitive" set since they are without supplements.

VHS 1.3 and LD 1.3 are the ones with the Vader / Stormtrooper / Yoda artwork on them. When I once pondered why these images were the new artwork, my ever-brilliant friend, Brandon, pointed out Lucas didn't need to pay for likeness rights on his own property. Sorry, Mark, Carrie, and Harrison.

Why we bought this version, knowing that we were also going to buy the Special Editions once they came out, is anyone's guess. Perhaps we heard about VHS 1.3 and LD 1.3 being

a) "Digitally mastered" and ostensibly improved, and
b) The last time they'd ever be available