The STAR WARS digests F-48 400’, F-48 200’ and F-64 400’ edited together in chronological order.
A long, long time ago, before I even knew Super 8 film existed, the Star Wars trilogy was officially released on the medium for home viewing.
For those who aren’t aware of what Super 8 is beyond the 2011 J.J. Abrams film, a brief introduction via Save Star Wars:
Super 8 is a special format of 8mm that uses more space on the film frame. The frame is still 8mm wide, but the sprocket holes are reduced so that the picture area is larger and therefore better quality. Super 8 was invented around 1965, and most commercially sold 8mm films are in the super 8 format, which could be played on regular 8mm projectors. As far as I know, all of the 8mm Star Wars films are in the Super 8 format.
So, in the late 70s, the 8mm versions began production and sale to consumers. They came in handheld viewers that contained just a few short clips. More of the film was released later, making owners of this edition the first and only fans to enjoy even segments of the film in their home for 10 years. This all changed when the laserdisc copies were produced.
This fascinating piece of Star Wars history can be yours for around $130 on eBay. You can also watch it on YouTube. It’s certainly a new experience for even the oldest fans who have yet to see the film on 8mm. You can read more about the releases at Save Star Wars.