Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Universal Pictures released The Fast and the Furious in the summer of 2001, a modest street-racing picture that outperformed expectations and became the foundation of one of the industry's most durable franchises. Built around underground car culture, illegal racing, and the uneasy alliance between an undercover cop and the crew he is sent to infiltrate, the film introduced audiences to a world that would expand across two decades of sequels. Its low-budget origins and surprise box office success made it a turning point for Universal and for star-driven action filmmaking heading into the new decade.
This cell centers on Dom's Car Rolls, a moment built around Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Conner, the two figures whose rivalry and eventual respect anchor the entire series. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's portrayals remain the reason collectors seek out material from this film, since their partnership defined the franchise's identity. A cell tied to Dom's vehicle rolling captures a pivotal narrative beat rather than a quiet character interlude, marking one of the film's more consequential turns for the character and his relationship with Brian.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour theatrical release print of The Fast and the Furious (2001).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, evenly spaced; punched edges appear clean with no visible torn or deformed perforations.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-bilateral (two-track) waveform pattern.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight warm-amber tint consistent with a colour dye-coupler image; dye saturation appears intact with no obvious fading.
Projection history
Horizontal scratches and abrasion lines are visible along the soundtrack area and lower frame edge, consistent with a projected print.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with action sequences associated with The Fast and the Furious (2001).
Era check
The dual-bilateral variable-area optical track, colour dye image, and four-perforation 35mm format are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the early 2000s.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
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.
CROWN SERIAL 000062885
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
