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June 5, 2011: Steven Spielberg Vows Never to Digitally Alter Old Films, Says Lucas Can't "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"

Quint from AICN recently had an interview with Steven Spielberg where the subject of Blu Ray releases was raised. In relation, Spielberg says he will no longer alter old films, and expresses regret for having digitally spruced up E.T., following Lucas' Star Wars Special Editions. "I always tell people to go back to the '82 version," he says. "At this point right now I think letting movies exist in the era, with all the flaws and all of the flourishes, is a wonderful way to mark time and mark history." When the subject of George Lucas is brought up, Spielberg agrees with Quint that it is a bit of a shame that people can't watch the version of Star Wars they grew up with. "And I think the other good thing," he continues, on the subject of including original versions, "is that they understand when they see a movie and they suddenly see something that obviously could have been done much better today and could have been corrected in the DVD/Blu-Ray transfer, they really appreciate seeing the strings attached." He states:  "George goes his own way and I respect him for it, but my new philosophy on this is to let sleeping dogs lie."

See the full link here. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49897

The excerpt:

"Quint: Is there a Jaws Blu-Ray in the works?

Steven Spielberg: Yes, there is. Yes, there is. Ive already seen some of it. I dont have a date yet, but theres a Blu-Ray absolutely in the works.

Quint: I cant wait, man. I love that the last DVD release actually had the original mono soundtrack on it as well. I wasnt a fan of the remixed 5.1 sound the splashing sounded canned

Steven Spielberg: Oh, I know. I totally understand that. (In the future) theres going to be no more digital enhancements or digital additions to anything based on any film I direct. Im not going to do any corrections digitally to even wires that show.

If 1941 comes on Blu-Ray Im not going to go back and take the wires out because the Blu-Ray will bring the wires out that are guiding the airplane down Hollywood Blvd. At this point right now I think letting movies exist in the era, with all the flaws and all of the flourishes, is a wonderful way to mark time and mark history.

Quint: Im in total agreement with you. I wish you could talk George (Lucas) into doing the same thing!

Steven Spielberg: Well, I cant!

Quint: (laughs) Yeah, I dont think anybody can!

Steven Spielberg: George goes his own way and I respect him for it, but my new philosophy on this is to let sleeping dogs lie.

Quint: Thats great news for film lovers.

Steven Spielberg: When people ask me which E.T. they should look at, I always tell them to look at the original 1982 E.T. If you notice, when we did put out E.T. we put out two E.T.s. We put out the digitally enhanced version with the additional scenes and for no extra money, in the same package, we put out the original 82 version. I always tell people to go back to the 82 version.

Quint: Having the option is the big deal for me. Using the Star Wars example, I dont think thered be an outcry if we could watch a nice transfer of the original versions. Wed be like, George can do what he wants and Ill watch it but you know maybe the fans would like the option of watching the movie they fell in love with, too.

Steven Spielberg: Yeah. And I think the other good thing is that they understand when they see a movie and they suddenly see something that obviously could have been done much better today and could have been corrected in the DVD/Blu-Ray transfer, they really appreciate seeing the strings attached.

If somebody put out George Pals War of the Worlds and took the strings off the machines Id be very upset. When that machine crashes in downtown Hollywood, and you see the strings going from taut to slack, thats the thing that allows me to both understand this movie is scaring the hell out of me and at the same time this movie is a creation of the human race.

That little taut-to-slack moment of those wires on that wingtip makes the original George Pal War of the Worlds work for me. It embraces my fears and it also alleviates them in the same breath."

March 4, 2011: Star Wars Special Edition Screening with Lucas for DGA History Event

On Saturday, February 19th, 2011, the Directors Guild of America held a panel with George Lucas and Christopher Nolan about important film milestones. This was followed by a screening of the 2004 version of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Apparently the irony of showing a CG version of a 1970s film celebrating important milestones in history escaped everyone. See this article on the event, for example. Iron Man director Jon Favreau was there, according to his Twitter account. Most disturbingly is this Twitter from Jeff Goldsmith, editor of Creative Screenwriting Magazine: "Overheard @ SW Party: Guy asked Lucas what version is being shown- original? Lucas: There is no original. (Was gone b4 1st 70s rerelease)." Apparently Lucas is not exaggerating when he says the original versions don't exist to him.

FYI: There is a new piece in the resources section about Watching Star Wars on Film.

Janurary 3rd, 2011: Empire 35mm Preserved in Library of Congress, Screened in Texas

The 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back was an eventful one. Aside from the extremely sad passing of the brilliant Irvin Kershner in November, that month was marked by another auspicious event: a screening of a 35mm print of the original film in Austin, Texas. Of course, this is prohibited by Lucasfilm, but, like the Star Wars technicolor print screened earlier this year, the owner of a private print decided to put on a free midnight screening to let audiences glimpse the historic original as it was meant to be seen. This was reported by AICN's C. Robert Cargill (a.k.a Massawyrm), who first reported it via his twitter account (see: here), and later talked about it on a podcast for Slashfilm (see: here, about 1 minute in). It is good to know that these rebel screenings continue to pop up from time to time.

In perhaps more important news, however, a 35mm print of 1980's Empire Strikes Back was inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress (see news article here, for example). Each year, twenty-five films are selected for inclusion in this archive, based on being artistically and culturally significant to the heritage of the United States. Star Wars was included in 1989 when the archive first opened. The ironic part is that, even though a print is preserved there, it cannot be seen--normally, the point of archiving a print at Library of Congress is so that, in future generations, if all remaining copies of a film are lost or destroyed, the Congress archive will be a final back-up protected by law and safely stored. In the case of the two Star Wars films preserved there, however, they are "backups" to "originals" that themselves do not exist in negative form and cannot be seen in contemporary quality. The silver lining, however, is that when the films become public domain in six decades, these might possibly be the last surviving copies of them unless Lucasfilm gets its act together very soon.

Heads up: A new editorial has been added featuring Lucas' speech before Congress on the matter of film preservation in 1988. Full transcript coming to resources sometime soon.

September 21, 2010: ILM Tribute Distorted

I debated whether to post this since on the surface it may seem relatively trivial. However, it illustrates the insidious real-world consequences of the suppression of the original versions of the Star Wars films. CNET recently paid a 35th anniversary tribute to Industrial Light and Magic, and of course it begins with Star Wars. However, to illustrate the history-making work of ILM on that film they use...a Special Edition screenshot! The original shot, while compositionally similar, does not look the same as the one they used, nor does it illustrate the state of technology and craftsmanship in 1977, which was the point of the article. Now, this may seem sort of minor, but I think it's important because of that, that these little details are being outright forgotten. People simply aren't aware that the film used to be different--and that is the most unfortunate consequence of the Special Edition of all.

August 23, 2010: Article on The Guardian

UK's pre-eminent The Guardian has a very nice attack on George Lucas for not releasing the original versions on Blu Ray. It's unexpected and refreshing to finally see respected professional journalists calling him out on this. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/aug/19/star-wars-blu-ray-lucas