As a collector, I love having more than one version of something. It’s always interesting to see how they are the same and how they differ. Old technology often gets forgotten as it becomes obsolete. But I believe there’s history that deserves to be remembered in all old things!

In a world where streaming has become the preferred way to view movies, VHS and even DVDs are relegated to the Charity Shop or yard sale. But on Disleelandia, we’re putting two versions of Disney’s The Cat From Outer Space movie back on the viewing schedule:

I found the VHS copy recently and had to buy it if for nothing else than the awesome cover photo. I already had the DVD copy. Both contain the same movie, obviously, but the DVD has an extra minute of footage. It also has French and Spanish subtitles and a Widescreen presentation.

The Cat From Outer Space was released in 1978. If you haven’t seen this movie in awhile, it basically follows the story of a UFO that makes an emergency landing on Earth. The occupant turns out to be a cat named Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7. Since his Mother Ship can’t send a rescue party before it leaves the solar system, he sets about investigating how to repair the ship himself. Using a special collar that amplifies telekinetic and telepathic abilities, he recruits a lab scientist named Frank Wilson (Ken Berry) to help with the repairs.

As they say, hilarity ensues.

Why I buy actual hard copies of movies is to have the physical packaging with the artwork. They often make great display pieces! Often you can chart the differences in marketing from one release to another of the same product.

The VHS I have below was released in 1997:

The DVD I have below was released in 2004:

Just seven years makes a world of difference! The VHS looks more dated or vintage with the DVD looking more modern and flashy. As far as I can research, this movie has never been released on Blu-ray to compare any further progression of the packaging.

Well, as the marketers say: “There’s Disney Magic in the Memories”!