Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Labyrinth arrived in 1986 as a Jim Henson production released through TriStar Pictures, blending Muppet-style creature work with Jim Henson's puppetry and George Lucas's involvement as executive producer. Featuring David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, the film underperformed on first release but grew into a cult favorite through home video, prized for its practical effects, Bowie's musical contributions, and its dreamlike fusion of fantasy adventure and coming-of-age story. It stands today as one of the defining fantasy films of its decade.
This cell preserves the opening title card, the frame that announces the film before a single scene unfolds. Such cells are sought by collectors as the purest distillation of a picture's identity, carrying only the name Labyrinth and the weight of everything that follows. For fans of Henson's work and Bowie's era-defining screen presence, this piece represents the threshold moment, the instant before Sarah's journey and Jareth's dominion begin, making it a foundational artifact rather than a scene from the story itself.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm optical-soundtrack theatrical release print of Labyrinth (1986)
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no visible torn or deformed holes
Soundtrack
Two white wavy lines run along one edge consistent with a dual variable-area optical soundtrack; no Dolby Digital data blocks, DTS timecode line, or SDDS outer tracks visible
Edge print
Edge print reads reversed as 'L P P' in amber characters along the bottom edge; no key numbers or SAFETY FILM text visible in this capture
Base & colour
Base appears warm cream-yellow; dye image shows deep blue-black background with rose-gold title lettering, suggesting a well-retained colour dye set
Projection history
Two continuous white horizontal lines run across the full width of the strip in the soundtrack area, consistent with physical scratching on a projected print
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames show the same title card, indicating a title-sequence loop or repeated title frame rather than consecutive action frames; title matches Labyrinth (1986)
Era check
Dual variable-area optical soundtrack, warm polyester-base stock, and rose-gold title treatment are all consistent with a mid-1980s 35mm theatrical release print of Labyrinth (1986)
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 000063031
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
