Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Muppet Treasure Island arrived from Walt Disney Pictures in 1996, the third theatrical feature to fold the Muppets into a literary classic and the first Muppet film made after Jim Henson's passing, with Brian Henson steering the puppetry legacy forward. Blending Stevenson's pirate adventure with vaudeville songs and puppet mayhem, it introduced Tim Curry as Long John Silver alongside the established troupe, earning a place among the studio's mid nineties family releases that kept the Muppet brand alive for a new generation of viewers.
This cell centers on Gonzo, performed by Dave Goelz since the character's earliest days on The Muppet Show. Gonzo's whatever-he-is nature and reckless enthusiasm have made him a favorite among puppet collectors who prize his design work and Goelz's distinctive performance choices. A single-character 35mm cell like this one isolates the performer's presence within the larger ensemble piece, a keepsake for those tracking Gonzo's continuity across the Muppets' film catalog and his recurring role as the troupe's most unpredictable member.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Muppet Treasure Island (1996).
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 visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible along one edge, and a Dolby Digital data-block strip is visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, consistent with a dual optical/digital release print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight blue-violet tint along the border strip; the dye image reads as warm and well-saturated with no visible fading.
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines are visible across the frame area, consistent with a projected print that has passed through a gate.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, and the character and setting are consistent with the Muppet Treasure Island production design.
Era check
The combination of Dolby Digital data blocks alongside a variable-area optical track is consistent with a mid-1990s theatrical release print, matching the 1996 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 000063439
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
