Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Hocus Pocus arrived from Walt Disney Pictures in the summer of 1993, a modest release that found its true audience years later through home video and cable rotation. Directed by Kenny Ortega and set in Salem, the film paired family friendly horror with musical comedy, and its autumnal setting made it a natural fit for Halloween viewing. Over the following decades it grew from a box office footnote into an annual seasonal staple, prized for its blend of camp and sincerity.
This cell centers on Winifred Sanderson, the eldest and most commanding of the three Sanderson sisters, whose sharp wit and theatrical presence anchor the film. Bette Midler's portrayal made Winnie the character most associated with the franchise, and collectors seek frames tied to her specifically for that reason. A cell bearing her name alone suggests a moment where she carries the scene without the other sisters present, a solitary beat within a story built on trios and spellwork.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital theatrical release print of Hocus Pocus (1993).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges look clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack track is visible running along the bottom edge beside the picture area, with what appears to be a second modulated line consistent with a stereo variable-area pair; Dolby Digital pixel blocks are visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the lower edge, indicating a Dolby Digital SR print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers clearly.
Base & colour
The base shows a warm amber-yellow tint along the lower edge strip; the image dye layer appears warm-shifted with strong orange and gold tones, consistent with a color release print.
Projection history
Vertical linear scratches are visible running through at least two frames, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks are visible.
Picture
Positive color image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the subject matter is consistent with the 1993 film on record.
Era check
The combination of variable-area optical track, Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks, and color positive stock on a safety base is consistent with a theatrical release print from the early-to-mid 1990s, matching the 1993 release date of the film 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 000063378
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
