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John Williams’ score is legendary, but in the original 1977 mono mix, the music cue during the famous "Binary Sunset" scene (where Luke stares at the twin suns) was edited differently.
This is the original Star Wars . It has no "Episode IV" or "A New Hope" in its opening crawl. It has no CGI Jabba the Hutt. And most importantly, it has a scoundrel named Han Solo who shoots first. This isn't just a movie; it's a cinematic relic from a long time ago.
On May 25, 1977, George Lucas unleashed Star Wars onto a mere 32 screens across America. The film lacked the subtitle Episode IV: A New Hope . It featured no computer-generated insertions, no altered color timing, and no revisionist character beats. The original cut was a masterclass in practical filmmaking: star wars 1977 original version exclusive
This follows a groundbreaking 2025 screening by the British Film Institute (BFI) of a perfectly preserved Technicolor print, which reportedly brought purists to tears by showing the film’s raw 35mm magic. Why the Original Version is "Exclusive"
The 1977 cut features pure, Academy Award-winning practical effects, model work, and matte paintings by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Modern versions overlay these with dated 1990s CGI creatures, extra stormtroopers, and digital landscape replacements. John Williams’ score is legendary, but in the
In 1989, the Library of Congress selected Star Wars for preservation in the National Film Registry. Ironically, the Library requested an original 1977 print, but Lucasfilm reportedly refused to provide one, offering the Special Edition instead—a substitution the Library declined. Conclusion: The Endurance of the Original Vision
| Release | Changes Introduced | |--------|---------------------| | May 25, 1977 (Theatrical) | Original version. No subtitle, no CGI, Han shoots first. | | 1981 Re-release | Added “Episode IV: A New Hope” to crawl. Minor audio tweaks. | | 1997 Special Edition | Major CGI additions, Jabba scene, Greedo shoots first, new musical number, altered explosions. | | 2006 DVD (Bonus Disc) | “Original theatrical version” included but sourced from 1993 laserdisc master (non-anamorphic, standard def). | | 2011/2019/Disney+ | Only Special Edition or further altered versions (e.g., “Maclunkey” added 2019). | It has no CGI Jabba the Hutt
If you are lucky enough to catch a 35mm film print screening at an indie theater, do not walk— run . Bring your kids. Show them what a real space opera looks like without CGI alien slapstick.
The 1977 version begins immediately with the Star Wars logo and the crawl. The subtitle "Episode IV: A NEW HOPE" was not added to the crawl until the 1981 theatrical re-release.
