The Motion Picture VHS

[Kpchi]

So I recently went through my grandfather’s movies, and came across this vhs copy of The Motion Picture. Everything he had I dropped at the Salvation Army, except for an original Star Wars vhs and this. The Star Wars is awesome and definitely worth keeping since it’s the original edit. Is there any reason to hold on to the TMP VHS? I know that VHS tapes are basically worthless but I cannot find a single one like mine online. I’ve spent a good deal of time searching online and only come across “wide screen” or “special longer verson” online. There’s a couple similar to my copy Beta versions I’ve seen online, but no VHS copies.

Any thoughts on where this VHS is from? Any of your knowledge you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
https://ibb.co/n6DD893
https://ibb.co/YpRk4q6
https://ibb.co/Zx9czMF
https://ibb.co/cCGsghh

 

[Daddy Todd]

If I were to guess, based on the “1980” copyright on the back, this is the first video release of TMP, at a time when prerecorded videocassettes were intended for sale to the mom & pop video stores of the era (Blockbuster was still years in the future). It probably had a $99.95 retail price, so your grandfather was a big spender!

There are probably very few copies like that around, particularly in such excellent condition — most were beat to crap by being rented hundreds of times. If VHS ever makes a comeback among hipsters (which seems unlikely, but I thought vinyl was dead around 1999, so anything’s possible) this might become extremely collectible. Hang onto it!

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I'm hanging onto my copy of the special longer edition and I feel like watching it tomorrow...

 

[Therin of Andor]

If I were to guess, based on the “1980” copyright on the back, this is the first video release of TMP, at a time when prerecorded videocassettes were intended for sale to the mom & pop video stores of the era (Blockbuster was still years in the future). It probably had a $99.95 retail price, so your grandfather was a big spender!

Yes, in the USA, the cheaper ("sell-thru") commercial release wasn't until the Special Longer Version, so most of the theatrical versions on videocassette in private hands would have been ex-rentals and not in good condition, or those bought new at full price.

In Australia, the theatrical was our only version on VHS and Beta, at first at full price $AU 79.00, and then a budget release on VHS (when Beta was dead or dying) and the price of "sell-thru" tapes had fallen to about $AU 39.00 each. In about 1986, we finally got the Special Longer Version on VHS. A long wait!

 

[Damian]

I would hold onto that. Is it worth anything? I can't answer that, but you definitely have a rare one there.

I've long since replaced my VHS movies with DVD's and/or Blu-Rays. But I have the first 6 Star Trek films on VHS that I've kept. My copy of The Motion Picture is actually the next release, the 'special longer version'. At the time that one came out it was 39.95, which was actually cheap for the time. Movies just weren't being sold for the average joe on the street to buy and keep. Paramount was pretty cutting edge in that respect back then, actually releasing movies for people to buy at a semi-reasonable price. And of course Star Trek was one of the first TV series to see a video release.

So I'd keep what you have there. I'd say it's extremely rare.

 

[Antonovus]

I would definitely keep it. I cannot seem to find anything similar on ebay either.