What was the first "Special Edition" version of a movie ever released?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What was the first "Special Edition" version of a movie ever released?
I've always wondered this. What was the first movie on any format released as a "Special Edition" on any format? I imagine it was a Laserdisc. Probably by Criterion. Back before the studios realized there was money to be made in the home video market. Anyone know?
#2
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the first actual " Special Edition " of a film was the 1991 Aliens laserdisc. James Cameron has been deemed the inventor of the special edition in some people's mind.
As far as a laserdisc or Vhs with bonus features? I guess you could count the 1989 Gone with the wind boxset that came with a few photos and a booklet. Something similer was done for the Wizard of oz that year too.
As far as a laserdisc or Vhs with bonus features? I guess you could count the 1989 Gone with the wind boxset that came with a few photos and a booklet. Something similer was done for the Wizard of oz that year too.
#4
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Boston
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I read that Image entertainment's "Night of the Living Dead" Laserdisc was the first special edition. Or the first disc to include a commentary, I could be mistaken.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
The first commentary track was definitely Criterion's KING KONG in the early 1980s. I suppose that's as good of an answer as any, given the many different ways that people tend to define "special edition."
#8
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ScissorPuppy
I think the first actual " Special Edition " of a film was the 1991 Aliens laserdisc. James Cameron has been deemed the inventor of the special edition in some people's mind.
For that matter, if 'Aliens' wasn't SEd until 1991, wouldn't 'The Abyss' pre-date it as well?
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by ThatGuamGuy
...
For that matter, if 'Aliens' wasn't SEd until 1991, wouldn't 'The Abyss' pre-date it as well?
For that matter, if 'Aliens' wasn't SEd until 1991, wouldn't 'The Abyss' pre-date it as well?
#10
Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Michigan
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The first time I ever noticed a commentary track on a Laser Disc was the film "Angie" with Geena Davis back in 1994.
After this, commentary tracks started appearing all the time.
I was unaware of the Criterion "King Kong" laser disc that BBOISVERT mentioned. Was this in the early 80's as stated? I didn't think that Laser Disc's took off until the late 80's.
After this, commentary tracks started appearing all the time.
I was unaware of the Criterion "King Kong" laser disc that BBOISVERT mentioned. Was this in the early 80's as stated? I didn't think that Laser Disc's took off until the late 80's.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Zombie67
I was unaware of the Criterion "King Kong" laser disc that BBOISVERT mentioned. Was this in the early 80's as stated? I didn't think that Laser Disc's took off until the late 80's.
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes/kingkong.html
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Zombie67
The first time I ever noticed a commentary track on a Laser Disc was the film "Angie" with Geena Davis back in 1994.
After this, commentary tracks started appearing all the time.
I was unaware of the Criterion "King Kong" laser disc that BBOISVERT mentioned. Was this in the early 80's as stated? I didn't think that Laser Disc's took off until the late 80's.
After this, commentary tracks started appearing all the time.
I was unaware of the Criterion "King Kong" laser disc that BBOISVERT mentioned. Was this in the early 80's as stated? I didn't think that Laser Disc's took off until the late 80's.
RichC
#13
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I totally forgot about Close Encounters, Yes as a film that would be the first special edition. Aliens was released in 1991 and The Aybss and T2 special editions where released in 1993 on Laserdisc.
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ThatGuamGuy
I think that the 1980 cut of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was called the "Special Edition". To answer the OP's question, not sure when, exactly, it was released on VHS, but I think it would pre-date the release of 'Aliens'.
For that matter, if 'Aliens' wasn't SEd until 1991, wouldn't 'The Abyss' pre-date it as well?
For that matter, if 'Aliens' wasn't SEd until 1991, wouldn't 'The Abyss' pre-date it as well?
#16
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
The first "double dip" DVD title to first come out in a movie-only then a special edition disc was Tomorrow Never Dies. Animal House followed shortly after (the original DVD of that was only pan and scan, replaced with a widescreen transfer.)
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Alan Smithee
The first "double dip" DVD title to first come out in a movie-only then a special edition disc was Tomorrow Never Dies. Animal House followed shortly after (the original DVD of that was only pan and scan, replaced with a widescreen transfer.)
#18
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The first "special edition" may be the CED of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It was 1.85:1 widescreen, had the extended cut (extra 24 seconds), and the original trailer as an extra.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Kevin M. Dean
The Abyss was the first THX certified laserdisc though if you're interested in that kind of info.
#20
Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Michigan
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BBOISVERT - I wasn't aware of the early 80's Laser Disc's w/commentary.
I was just a teenie bopper with no cash at that time.
I stand 100% corrected.
I wonder what I missed out on then? I bought my first Laser Disc player in 1988. Laser Disc's never really caught on out here in Michigan. Me and one other friend had a player. No one else I knew had one. VHS ruled the region until DVD's emerged from the flames.
I was just a teenie bopper with no cash at that time.
I stand 100% corrected.
I wonder what I missed out on then? I bought my first Laser Disc player in 1988. Laser Disc's never really caught on out here in Michigan. Me and one other friend had a player. No one else I knew had one. VHS ruled the region until DVD's emerged from the flames.