Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie arrived in 1987 through a joint effort of Atlantic Releasing and the Topps Company, extending the wildly popular trading card line into a live action feature. It followed the cards' irreverent, gross out humor at a moment when the property was a genuine playground phenomenon, and the film remains a touchstone of eighties merchandising cinema, often discussed today for its curious place between marketing tie in and cult artifact. Its notoriety and limited theatrical life have only deepened interest among collectors of ephemera from this era.
This cell centers on Valerie Vomit, one of the Kids whose card based identity carried directly into the film, appearing here alongside Messy Tessie. Casting notes place Sue Rossitto in the Valerie Vomit role, with Terri Benaron and Sue O'Malley both associated with Messy Tessie, suggesting overlapping or alternate appearances captured on this strip. For collectors, a piece naming two of the more recognizable Kids together holds particular value, preserving a moment of character interaction from a film whose surviving visual artifacts are scarce and eagerly sought.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced; punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack track runs along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single bilateral variable-area track.
Edge print
Edge print reads mirrored as 'EASTMAN' visible along the top edge; no key numbers or safety text legible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base shows a warm cream-yellow tint consistent with an acetate safety base; dye image appears slightly warm but not significantly red-shifted or faded.
Projection history
Light vertical scratching is visible running through the frame area, consistent with evidence of a projected print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be the same or near-identical shot, indicating a very short consecutive sequence; subject matter is consistent with a live-action production matching the film on record.
Era check
The Eastman-branded acetate stock, single bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack, and warm base tint are all consistent with a mid-to-late 1980s theatrical release print.
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 000062966
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
