National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Hocus Pocus was released by Walt Disney Pictures in July 1993, directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert. Though it performed modestly at the box office, the film found a devoted second life through home video and cable broadcasts, becoming a genuine seasonal touchstone for a generation of viewers. Its blend of comedy, horror-adjacent atmosphere, and committed performances gave it a durability that few studio comedies of its era have matched.

This 35mm cell, titled Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson by the operator, presents three frames of Winifred Sanderson in a dimly lit interior, her chin resting on her hand, warm practical lighting glowing behind her and period costuming and elaborate hair completing the composition. The slight framing variation across the third frame reflects natural film strip curvature, a characteristic artifact of original photographic film.