Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Ghostbusters II arrived in 1989 as Columbia Pictures' long-awaited sequel to the 1984 blockbuster, reuniting the original cast and creative team behind one of the era's defining comedies. Directed again by Ivan Reitman, the film returned the Ghostbusters to a changed New York, trading on nostalgia while carrying the weight of expectation that comes with following a genuine cultural phenomenon. It remains a touchstone of late-80s studio filmmaking, where proven ensemble chemistry was the main draw for audiences returning to a beloved franchise.
This cell preserves Dr. Raymond Stantz, played by Dan Aykroyd, co-creator of the Ghostbusters mythology and the heart of the team's earnest, gadget-loving enthusiasm. Stantz has always been a favorite among collectors for embodying the franchise's blend of genuine wonder and deadpan comedy. A 35mm frame under his name and character together represents a piece of that specific screen presence, a fragment of Aykroyd's performance as originally projected, tying actor and role into a single physical artifact from the film's theatrical run.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour theatrical release print of Ghostbusters II (1989).
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 torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as two white lines with a modulated waveform pattern between them, consistent with a stereo variable-area optical track.
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-yellow tint along the top edge; the dye image reads as a positive colour print with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
Light horizontal scratching is visible running the length of the strip, consistent with a print that has passed through a projector gate.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the subject matter is consistent with a live-action theatrical release print matching the film on record.
Era check
The stereo variable-area optical track, warm-tinted polyester-type base, and colour positive stock are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the late 1980s to early 1990s, matching the 1989 release date on record.
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 000063287
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
