Return of the Jedi, Betamax, CBS/Fox Video USA, 1986

Return of the Jedi premiered on home video in 1986, available in both Beta and VHS formats. The content is the same on both formats. Unlike the early European video releases, the US got proper "theatrical" subtitles for the Huttese. The program starts with the CBS/Fox logo and goes straight into the film. After the end credits there is a trailer for the Star Wars Trilogy on Video. When using reverse picture search the image shifts down, and you can see a watermark in the upper left corner which says "CBSFOX A". (See detail to the right, click image to enlarge). This is not visible on normal playback. Both copies I have of this tape are identical. So far I have seen no variations on the cover or tape. The other copy I have came with a 10th. anniversary insert, but the actual tape was the same as this one, missing the 10th. anniversary intro that the VHS tapes had. It is possible Return of the Jedi only had one pressing on Beta before the format went belly-up. The label glue bleeding through like that is the same on both my copies. This hasn't happened on the Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back tapes, so I guess they used a different glue this time. They all seem to use Scotch blanks as well. From the sticker on the side, "If this label is tampered with, customer must purchase", I surmise that this tape has been used for rental. It was normal to find this kind of seal on rental tape housings, preventing a customer from opening the cassette and switching out the spools with an inferior copy before returning the tape. My copy was purchased on eBay in 2007 and shows noticeable tape wear on playback.

Assorted screenshots:

Company logo	Title card (Squeezed)	Opening crawl (Squeezed)	Star Destroyer
Jabba subtitles	Obi Wan	Shuttle landing	Emperor's slug
Duel	End credits	Trilogy on Video trailer	FBI Warning