Star Wars Radio Program.....Quite Good! (1 Viewer)

[Philip Verdieck]

I have them on disc (SW, TESB, ROTJ). I like them a lot. Good for long drives...

 

[alan halvorson]

There is, of course, The Phantom Menace on CD (and cassette) also, in abridged and unabridged versions. This one I haven't listened to yet so I don't have an opinion.

 

[Ric Easton]

It appears The Phantom Menace is a reading of the novelization by Terry Brooks. Alot different than a Radio Drama.
There is also this version it is described as...

30-minute movie adaptation featuring the voices of Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, plus 3D sound effects

A 30 minute adaptation? I don't think so!
-Ric

 

[Matt Krapf]

Kraig, I thought I was the only one who listened to these before bed.
Cool story about the StarWars Series on Radio.
GL released the rights to the Star Wars script for use in the Radio Play for...get this...$1. Yep. It was for (my memory fades on this)...UCLA School of Radio/TV, and ultimately broadcast by NPR.
Think of the $1 dollar as a charitable donation and even more as a marketing vehicle. The rights were transferred before the film was released, and it made sense for GL to get the film "out there" as much as possible.
We know how big the movie AND the Radio versions got, and thus, the negotiations for the follow-up stories were much more complicated. I believe that the more the rights cost for each story is directly related to how little was produced for radio in the successive editions.
Also, Return of the Jedi for Radio(more accurately for CD) was a bit of a trick, because someone associated with the Radio Drama series was gravely ill. I don't think it was Brian Daley, but it may have been. ANyhoo, the series WAS produced, and released. Jedi it the weakest of the series, which should come as no surprise, given the movie.
I used to own them on Tape, but switched up to CD for all three stories, when Jedi finally got pressed. They are all great listens, and one shouldn't miss them, given the chance.
Matt

 

[Philip Verdieck]

Right

SW 7 CDs

ESB 5 CDs

ROTJ 3 CDs

 

[Evan Case]

I like everything about them save Darth Vader's voice. I mean, it's not even an attempt to sound similar. It's not even menacing.

BTW, I managed to find a 28-minute "making of" radio documentary chronicling the creation of the original ANH NPR release. Really excellent stuff, and would've fit perfectly on the 7th disc after episode 13.

Evan

 

[Ric Easton]

Wow, I'd like to hear that making of documentary.

As for Brock Peter's portrayal of Vader, I thought it was chilling, especially the interogation scene. Each to his own I guess. Also, Chewey and Artoo were dead on!

-Ric

 

[Kraig Lang]

I didn't know that about the release costs. Wish I had known about it back then
If I'm not mistaken, the documentary is on the Star Wars CDs after Episode 13. I seem to remember listening to Brian Daly talk about the Sound layering over the scene when Luke is fixing the moisture vaporators.
I still listen to these at least once a year. I've gotten so used to them that I have a hard time listening to Carry Fisher or Harrison Ford as Leia and Han.
Another famous voice involved, I think, without looking at the voice talent list, was Howie Mandel. Lots of good stuff on here. I especially liked the whole Biggs story line that wasn't in the movies until the new releases. Also the scenes in Star Wars prior to the Tantave IV sequence, where Leia is on Alderaan with her adopted father.
BTW, I saw the link for the HGTTG above. Needless to say, I went to check it out 4 seconds later. I din't realize that I could order from Amazon UK with my regular Amazon account. The disks will be here next week.
I'll let you all know how they sound when I get them. Gonna transfer 'em to Minidisc and listen to them at work.
Have a great Day!!!
Kraig

 

[Geoffrey_A]

I absolutely love the star wars radio dramas, ANH and ESB especially. ROTJ, while decent, feels more forced than the other two, the descriptive dialogue is a little more forced than the other two. One thing I was surprised about is that the tape versions are actually shorter than the cd versions. Certain epiusodes on the tapes have been edited for some reason beyond my comprehension. I was really surprised listening to the cd's for the first time after having owned the tapes for so many years and hearing parts in episodes I'd never heard before. Anyone know why this was done?

 

[David Von Pein]

Will Phantom Menace make it to radio?

 

[Deepak Shenoy]

Does anyone know if the Lux Radio Theater recordings from 1934-1956 (performed by the original actors in most cases) are available on CD ? I have the few episodes that were included on the Criterion DVDs, but I would prefer to have them on CD so that I can listen to them in my car.

 

[Rob Gillespie]

Yes, I've got all three. I've edited out the opening and closing credits on each episode and encoded them into MP3. Instead of ten CDs, then now fit onto one

 

[Kraig Lang]

Well Gang,
I received my CD collector's set of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" today.
Now I just need to transfer them to minidisk so I can listen at work. Should fit on 2 blanks. I did get the Star Wars programs on 3.
For those of you interested, the HHGTTG set came on 10 disks with all of the BBC Radio program on 8 and 2 disks of interviews and behind the scenes stuff. I'm excited as hell to listen to these.
I'll let you know what I think of them.
Kraig

 

[Steve Tannehill]

Hmmm, Kraig, my HitchHiker's Collector's Edition (which I found through the earlier link in this thread) arrived on Saturday, but it was only 8 discs. The original radio shows are 2 per disc, for a total of 6 discs. Douglas Adams' Guide to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is on 2 discs.

- Steve

 

[Mark_Wilson]

Kraig, got mine yesterday too! Can't wait.

 

[Kraig Lang]

My Bad, I didn't get a chance to dig too much into it and thought I counted 10. :b I'll be better in the future...I promise...errrr....okay.....done now...

 

[Steve Tannehill]

I just wanted to make sure I didn't need to send mine back and ask for the one you got!
Great stuff, BTW. I'm glad to finally be able to ditch my tapes of the original radio shows.
- Steve

 

[Matt Krapf]

So...it IS 8 discs? yes? If I order it, which I will, I want to be sure I get the right package.

 

[Kraig Lang]

Yep, it's eight. And they're absolutely wonderful. I'm almost done with em and then I get to listen to Mr. Adams.