Don’t Miss Your Chance: Original ‘Star Wars’ Cut Returns to Theaters for One Night Only!

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For the first time in many years, the original theater release of “Star Wars” will make a comeback at movie theaters. The British Film Institute (BFI) has planned to exhibit the 1977 version of George Lucas’ iconic masterpiece during their Film on Film Festival on June 12. Tickets for this event will become available to the public starting May 9, while BFI patrons and members can purchase them early from May 6 and 7 respectively. The screening will take place at the BFI Southbank center in London, and it’s important to note that this special edition of “Star Wars” will only be shown on the opening night. This is your one chance to witness the original “Star Wars” on the big screen.

An exceptionally scarce copy of the initial “Star Wars” movie, as screened in 1977 before it was titled “Episode 4,” has been safeguarded by the British Film Institute within their national archive. While valuable to cinephiles as a piece of cinematic history, these early versions are not recognized by Disney within the “Star Wars” universe. Instead, they prioritize the Special Editions as the definitive films to watch. As stated in the BFI’s press release regarding this event:

A must-see spectacle for Star Wars enthusiasts: George Lucas’ pioneering space epic, initially released in 1977 and set in a galaxy far, far away, has enthralled countless minds and left an indelible mark on popular culture. Film on Film brings STAR WARS to the big screen, showcasing it just as it was seen by audiences during its original release. The screening comes from one of the rare dye transfer IB Technicolor prints made for the first British showing, which has been preserved in the BFI National Archive.

It Is Virtually Impossible to See the Original Theatrical Cut of 1977s ‘Star Wars’

If you’re well-versed in Star Wars history, you might be aware of the challenge in finding the original edit of Star Wars. This is the untouched version before George Lucas transformed it into a franchise, gave it an opening crawl titled “A New Hope,” and later made significant changes to the original films, often referred to as “modernizing” them. There are believed to be some unaltered copies in circulation, but a theater screening? The British Film Institute is sitting on a valuable asset, and they know it. Tickets for this event are likely to sell out quickly.

Modern viewers might not realize the significance and scarcity of these specific film cuts. It’s not just a matter of experiencing movies as audiences did half a century ago, but also gaining access to films that are no longer available for viewing, even on streaming platforms. For instance, the original Star Wars films are difficult to find today unless you own expensive VHS tapes or DVDs. The Special Editions released in the late ’90s are the only officially distributed versions of the first Star Wars trilogy.

Indeed, those restorations were impressive, yet they didn’t quite capture the richness of the theatrical versions. Despite their significance and potential popularity among audiences, it appears that George Lucas and Disney have chosen not to release these original cuts again. They remain shelved, with no apparent plans for a public release in the future.

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2025-04-13 15:31