I am going to be inserting the first two Criterion releases, Citizen Kane & King Kong, as the only ones in the database are the black cover 3rd printings from 1987. My concern is, the first pressing of both titles came in oversized boxes bigger than any other Criterion box, the second were released one year later in the standard size boxes. Besides the size and very small print in the back lower right hand corner, they are essentially the same. Same cat numbers, same isbn, same cover art. Do I list both pressings with the exact same information, or list them once with notes on pressings and size of boxes?

Hmm... I would say "different releases" (even though the cover will be resized to the same 200x200 for the thumbnail picture). With notes explaining the differences of course!

Here is a picture that shows the difference in size from the 1st & 2nd pressings. The 1st pressings of both Citizen Kane & King Kong came in oversize boxes (almost 1" of room on the top and side from the discs themselves), that were very sturdy. The tops were not attached like future releases. It's hard to see how much thicker the boxes are in the picture but they are almost twice the size. Both came with inserts and warranty cards. The cards are numbered. I'm not sure how many copies were made but it must not have been too many as both titles were re-released the following year. My copy of Citizen is either 62 or 462, King Kong is 177.

These were unimaginable.
Even more than the size,
I think in that a failure in the JANUS LOGO missing?

I noticed that. I think it may have been an error in putting the Janus logo on as King Kong was lisenced from RKO. It is another Criterion mystery.

WOW, glad i have the larger box.
always knew about the silver first editions when i saw them new but didn't know that some were larger.
the only silvers i have are the king kong and invasion of the body snatchers

There aren't that many. Invasion of the Body Snatchers was my first silver too. There was a 11x11" insert that came with discs in 1987 that listed what titles Criterion was releasing. I recently found a one page fold-over catalog from 1986! Too bad It's A Wonderful Life was released after the change.

Here's the inside:

Thanks to share.

Unfortunately I do not even have one, at that time they were released.

don't worry i didn't get mine new, we're talking about 125 a piece new.
i picked them up on ebay for cheap .

if you keep searching someone will list them.

wow, after looking that that inner ad i don't remember seeing any CAVs for under 100 back in 1988-89.
but i do remember tower having silver packages.

By 1988 Criterion had gone through at least 1 price increase. This flyer was from 1986. I would have to look at my other flyers but I'm pretty sure by late 1987 all 3 disc CAV titles were 125.00.

Yeah that's right.

Hope this helps guys....I put this together and it will be on my new wordpress laserdisc site by early May, but here is the generic version of it for now. I will post a link to blog/database I created once finished!

Criterion Spine #: 1 – The Spine #1 only appears on the 2nd pressing double cardboard jacket/box and NOT on the 1st pressing Boxset or the 3rd pressing gatefold.

Catalog #: CC101

Pressing #: First Pressing — Silver/Red Stripe Box Set; Second Pressing — Silver/Red Stripe Double Sleeve which had heavy cardboard sleeves with artwork on each. Third Pressing — Black Gatefold Jacket.

Liner Notes Included: Yes — Included in original packaging

Year Movie Was Released: 1941

Year Laserdisc Was Released: December 1, 1984 – 1st Pressing; 1985 – 2nd Pressing; 1987 – 3rd Pressing.

Format: 12″ Laserdisc

Video: NTSC

Package Type: Box Set — First Pressing; Double-Sleeved Jacket — Second Pressing; Gatefold Jacket — Third Pressing.

What’s was included in original package?: Liner Notes, warranty card, self-addressed pre-paid return envelope addressed to Criterion, mini silver/red version of front and back artwork of boxset, “Welcome” letter, 3 laserdiscs, 3 pieces of grey foam that separate contents and discs.

Color: Black & White

Playing Time: 119 Minutes

Sides: 5 (Side 5 is White Plastic and Side 6 is blank)

Chapters: 29 Chapters

Picture Type: Academy Ratio

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 — Full Screen

Encoding: Full Feature CAV Format

Spoken Language: English

Subtitles: None

Laserdisc Special Features: The Theatrical Trailer – A rarely seen 3-minute film made by Weeles from original footage not contained in “Kane” itself. A Visual Essay of over 100 photos — many never published before — by leading authority on CITIZEN KANE Robert L. Carringer covering such topics as: story board sketches; set designs; cinematography; make-up and memos on the Kane/Hearst controversy.

Additional LD Information: Criterion pressed 3 different CAV versions of “Citizen Kane” in 1984, 1985 and 1987, changing the basic package type for all releases, making the First Pressing (Silver with Red Stripe Boxset) much more collectible and valuable, especially when ALL ORIGINAL INSERTS are included for completeness. They also subsequently released a CLV version {CC115L – Spine #1A} and a 50th Anniversary Criterion Edition in CAV {CC1259L – Spine #142} and CLV {CC1285L – Spine #142A}.

This is the very first SPECIAL EDITION Home Video…in any format!…This Criterion Special Edition Laserdisc will forever be known as the first movie ever to contain special features as mentioned above.

And here is the same info for King Kong...

Criterion Spine #: 2 — The Spine #2 only appears on the 2nd pressing double cardboard jacket and NOT on the 1st pressing Boxset or the 3rd pressing gatefold.

Catalog #: CC102

Pressing #: First Pressing — Silver/Red Stripe Box Set; Second Pressing — Silver/Red Stripe Double Sleeve which had heavy cardboard sleeves with artwork on each. Third Pressing — Black Gatefold Jacket.

Liner Notes Included: Yes — Included in original packaging

Year Movie Was Released: 1933

Year Laserdisc Was Released: 1984 – 1st Pressing; 1985 – 2nd Pressing; 1987 – 3rd Pressing.

Format: 12″ Laserdisc

Video: NTSC

Package Type: Box Set — First Pressing; Double-Sleeved Jacket — Second Pressing; Gatefold Jacket — Third Pressing.

What’s was included in original package?: Liner Notes, warranty card, 4-page pamphlet (Dear Film Enthusiast,), mini silver/red version of front and back artwork of boxset, “Welcome” letter, 2 laserdiscs, 3 pieces of grey foam that separate contents and discs.

Color: Black & White

Playing Time: 101 Minutes

Sides: 4

Chapters: 19 Chapters on 1st & 2nd Pressing; 20 Chapters on 3rd Pressing

Picture Type: Academy Ratio

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 — Full Screen

Encoding: Full Feature CAV Format

Spoken Language: English

Subtitles: None

Laserdisc Special Features: Video Documentary by noted film historian Ronald Harver — Chapter 19 on first and second pressings; Chapter 20 on third pressing; A Visual Essay on the making of King Kong and its release by Ronald Harver, noted film preservationist and historian covering such topics as: Preliminary sketches, special effects, model design and construction, script pages and budget, original footage from CREATION, Willis O’Brien’s pre-Kong prehistoric monster film.

Additional LD Information: Criterion pressed 3 different CAV versions of “King Kong” in 1984, 1985 and 1987, changing the basic package type for all releases, making the First Pressing (Silver with Red Stripe Boxset) much more collectible and valuable, especially when ALL ORIGINAL INSERTS are included for completeness. They also subsequently released a CLV version {CC116L – Spine #2A}

This is the very first Commentary ever recorded…in any format!…This Criterion Special Edition Laserdisc will forever be known as the first movie ever to contain a commentary…That’s Right…A Laserdisc! Here are some of the first commentary words ever spoken by Ronald Haver – Film Historian:

”Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am Ronald Haver, and I’m here to do something which we feel is rather unique. I’m going to take you on a lecture tour of King Kong as you watch the film. The laserdisc technology offers us this opportunity and we feel it’s rather unique…

For a few more days, this is where you can find these blogs I wrote complete with Hi-res scans of everything included, including the discs. This link will disappear in a few days, but will be back once incorporated with my main website in May 2012.

http://www.laserdiscworld.com/2011/09/1 ... isc-cc102/

Kevin

Thanks Kevin
Really interesting

Great stuff Kevin. Thank you.
Couple things. It appears the first printing of King Kong and Citizen Kane do not have the Janus logo on the front cover.
Citizen Kane is the only one that has a pre-paid envelope.
Woops. I see King Kong has the pre-paid envelope too.