Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Released by 20th Century Fox in 1999, The Phantom Menace marked George Lucas's return to directing after a sixteen year absence and reintroduced Star Wars to a new generation. As the first installment of the prequel trilogy, it carried immense anticipation, expanding the mythology with pod races, political intrigue, and the origins of Anakin Skywalker. Its release was a cultural event, breaking box office records and reigniting mainstream interest in the saga, even as it divided longtime fans and critics.
This cell centers on the Sith Infiltrator, the sleek, distinctive starship associated with Darth Maul's covert pursuit across the film's narrative. Collectors prize imagery tied to this vessel for its connection to the character's stealth and menace, embodying the shadowy reach of the Sith before their full return to galactic power. As a single frame from 35mm printing stock, it represents a tangible artifact from the film's original theatrical run, a piece of the era when Episode I first brought this ship, and the danger it carried, to movie screens worldwide.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
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