Catalog Number 4102985 Format Extended Play CLV Standard Play CAV

Pressing Location Pioneer Video Manufacturing Retail Price $134.99 Issued November 26, 1997

In 1995, George Lucas began the process of restoring the film elements for the existing Trilogy to be released in theaters during 1997 for the original Star Wars 20th Anniversary. Part of this was in attempt to rescue the original camera elements which had not survived well over time and were in danger of being lost forever. Lucas also took the opportunity to 'fix' certain things he didn't like about the films. These 'fixes' were necessary due to a number of reasons, including limits of technology and budgetary restrictions at the time of original production. The result is Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition. The three films were released to theaters one at a time over the period of January 31 through March 7, 1997. They benefited not only from new special effects, but also new THX certification and Digital Audio presentation. Not all the changes added to the Original Star Wars were necessarily greeted with approval by the hordes of fans. One particular change Lucas made was the infamous "Han Shoots First" sequence in the cantina. Still others have felt that the 'fixes' did not go far enough. It is reported that Lucas himself is still not finished with the tweaking necessary for Episode IV. The events in Episodes 1-III raise certain inconsistencies in Episode IV, which will hopefully be (at least) explained in time. This box set is the only way the films were available in the US in this Special Edition treatment. The box is a deluxe slip case with the three films housed on nine sides in Extended Play CLV. Sides three and six (the final 25 minutes of Episode IV and Episode V) are presented in Standard Play CAV. Side nine includes a 25 minute featurette on the making of the Special Edition.