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Return of the Jedi, Betamax, CBS/Fox Video / Mayco A/S, Norway 1986

This is the original Norwegian rental tape from 1986, in near pristine condition. Full frame, Norwegian subtitles. The title is translated as "The Jedi knight returns". The scroll and credits remain in English. The Norwegian rental tapes came in big clamshell boxes, much like the UK. It is worth noting that the Norwegian censors truncated the force lightning torment that Luke undergoes at the end for this home video version (I don't know if these cuts were made for theatrical showings initially.) It was probably mandated to keep the certificate for the film as low as possible, but they still gave it a 16(!) certificate. All subsequent home video releases of Return of the Jedi in Norway have remained uncensored, and with an 11 certificate. The first paragraphs of the synopsis on the back reads: "This is the final installment of George Lucas' planned 9-part adventure. The middle part started with STAR WARS and continued with The Empire Strikes Back. The story takes place a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." By 1986 the demand for Beta tapes in Norway was almost non-existant. Thus this tape probably saw few rentals. That would explain the excellent condition. All rental tapes at the time came in big covers. Do you have any idea how rare this tape is? No? Neither have I, but I have never, ever come across even a hint of another copy. I have no idea where this tape spent the years since it was taken off the shelf and when I bought it in dec. 2007. I made contact with a Norwegian enthusiast who specializes in collecting and selling old rental tapes, and he casually mentioned he had a Beta copy of Return of the Jedi. Would I be interested? (!!!!!). And the price was very reasonable as well. (*Sigh of relief*)

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