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?

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.

I read somewhere that it was Criterion's Citizen Kane released in 1984 on Laserdisc.

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.

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."

Just in case anyone cares, I'm 90% sure the first DVD Special Edition was CONTACT.

For DVD it was definatly a Warner title. I remember Contact, L.A. Confidential & The Devil's Advocate all came out around the same time.

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?

The Abyss box set came out in 1993.

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.

1984, to be exact:

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes/kingkong.html

Yes, it was 1984. Criterion/Voyager was a pioneering company, and released dozens of discs with commentary and other special features during the 80s. No one really disputes that they invented the market for enhanced editions of movies, including restoration of the original aspect ratio in their transfers.

RichC

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.

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.

The Abyss was the first THX certified laserdisc though if you're interested in that kind of info.

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.)

That's what I was thinking too, but I wasn't sure because TND SE was my very first DVD and thought I was blurring the issue in my memories.

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.

A minor nit-pick:The Abyss was the first laserdisc to be credited with THX certification. Prior to that, however, Apocalypse Now, Star Trek VI, and all three Indiana Jones movies had been mastered for laserdisc under the supervision of the Lucasfilm Quality Assurance Program before it had the name THX.

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.