Pre-Special Edition
Although not as obvious as the 1997 Special Edition re-release of the original trilogy, there were still some alterations made between versions.
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A New Hope
* The line "Episode IV: A NEW HOPE" was added to the opening crawl from 1981 onward. The new opening crawl also capitalized the word "rebel" in "rebel spies", which was not capitalized in the original 1977 crawl.
* The film was originally released with Dolby Stereo and 70mm 6-track audio. A mono mix was produced later for exhibition in cinemas with no Dolby Stereo support, which contains some changes from the stereo version. Most video releases until the Special Edition were based on the stereo mix.
* Alternate takes of C-3PO's dialog are used in the mono sound version.
* The line "Close the blast doors!" was added to the mono release.
* C-3PO's tractor beam line was added to the mono version. (This line was also included in the 1997 special edition and 2004 DVD versions.)
* The line "Blast it, Biggs, where are you?" from the original stereo sound version was changed to "Blast it, Wedge, where are you?" for the mono sound releases.
* Beru Lars is voiced by a different actress in the mono version.
* The 1985 VHS release features a digitally remastered sound mix supervised by Ben Burtt, which contains C-3PO's tractor beam line. Another remix was produced for the 1993 Definitive Collection Laserdisc, which removes the line again.
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The Empire Strikes Back
The 70mm version of the film was substantially different from the 35mm version that was more widely seen.
* After the Probot lands and moves left, there is an optical wipe to the overhead shot of Luke on his Tauntaun.
* After Luke wanders through the snow and falls face down, there is an optical wipe to Han instead of a straight cut.
* The bacta tank scene starts on a close-up of Two-One-Bee and pans right to a close-up of Luke in the tank. It then cuts to FX-7 extending its arm to the tank. There is no cut to Leia, Han and Threepio observing.
* In the snow battle scene, when Luke drops into the snow after throwing a charge into the Imperial walker, the AT-ST in the background has no atmospheric depth. It looks too close and small.
* In the Emperor scene, the hologram of the Emperor is already present in the first shot - it does not "tune in" gradually.
* The Imperial fleet establishing shot after the magic tree scene has a different TIE fighter sound effect.
* When Luke falls from Cloud City into the Millennium Falcon, the Falcon's radar dish is not added to the shot.
* The telepathy between Luke and Vader during the "Hyperspace" cue has straight cuts instead of quick dissolves.
* On Hoth, right after C-3PO tells R2 to "Switch off," R2 gives out a little 'blurp.'
* When Luke finally collapses in the snow, he lets out a grunt as he lands on his face.
* Han says "until I can get the shelter up" instead of "until I can get the shelter built."
* Luke says an additional "Ben... Dagobah..." just before Han says "and I thought they smelled bad on the outside."
* When C-3PO tells Luke "It's so good to see you fully functional again," Luke replies "Thanks, Threepio."
* The line "Headquarters personnel report to Command Center" is repeated three times instead of two.
* The line "The first transport is away!" is said in a different voice altogether.
* When R2 is being loaded into Luke's X-Wing, C-3PO says the word "and" before saying "do take good care of yourself."
* Han's line "Transport, this is Solo. Better take off, I can't get to you. I'll get her out on the Falcon" is followed by, "Come on!"
* In the asteroid field, after C-3PO says "Oh, this is suicide," he says, "There's no where to go."
* Luke says "You were lucky to get out of there" instead of "You're lucky you don't taste very good."
* Yoda makes a frightened "Ehhhhh!" sound just before Luke says "Like we're being watched" and points his blaster at him.
* Yoda says the word "Run!" before "Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the force." The following lines "But beware the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side of the force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight" are also much louder and clearer.
* In Cloud City, after C-3PO says "That sounds like an R2 unit in there. I wonder if it..." he says "Hello?" only once instead of twice.
* Before C-3PO gets shot, a different voice says "Who are you?"
* While C-3PO is on Chewie's back when they enter the carbon freezing chamber, the line "Now remember, Chewbacca, you have a responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish" is louder and heard more clearly.
* During the duel, when Luke knocks Vader off the platform, Vader lets out an "ooooh!" instead of an "aaargh!"
* Lando's line at the end, "Luke, we're ready for takeoff." is a different take.
* In the final scene, there is no tracked music from "Yoda and the Force".
