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 action picture that quickly became a cultural fixture. Built around illegal street racing and a undercover cop drawn into that world, it launched a franchise that would grow into one of the highest grossing series in film history. At the time it was simply a taut, character driven B picture elevated by charismatic leads and a genuine affection for car culture, marking the beginning of something far larger than anyone at Universal anticipated that year.
This cell preserves the opening title card, the frame where the film announces itself before a single character speaks. Such cells are prized by collectors precisely because they mark origin, the first physical trace of the franchise on celluloid, untouched by later edits or reissues. A title card carries no performance, no scene, only the film's name rendered in its original theatrical presentation, a plain assertion of identity. For archivists this is the purest artifact available, the moment a movie becomes itself on the reel, predating every character, every line, every mile of race footage that follows.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm 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 holes appear clean and rectangular with rounded corners.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral waveform pattern.
Edge print
The title lettering 'THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS' is printed within each frame as title card text; no key numbers, manufacturer name, or SAFETY FILM legend is legible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly cool; the dye image reads as a dark, near-opaque black with light title lettering, consistent with a positive print.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are seen in this capture.
Picture
Positive image; all three frames show identical title card content, consistent with a title sequence hold or repeated title frame from the film on record.
Era check
A dual bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack on a 35mm positive print is consistent with a 2001 theatrical release print of this title.
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 000062896
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
