Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Edward Scissorhands arrived from Twentieth Century Fox in December 1990, directed by Tim Burton and headlined by Johnny Depp in his first collaboration with the filmmaker. The film paired suburban satire with fairy tale melancholy, cementing Burton's signature blend of gothic invention and tender storytelling. It became a defining work of early 1990s American cinema, launching a long creative partnership between Burton and Depp while establishing Danny Elfman's score as inseparable from the film's identity. Its mix of pastel neighborhoods and dark fantasy imagery has kept it a touchstone for collectors of studio era genre crossovers.
This cell places Edward Scissorhands alongside Kim Boggs, the two central figures whose bond drives the story's emotional core. Edward, the artificial man with blades for hands, and Kim, the suburban girl who comes to understand him, represent the film's central relationship, prized by collectors for its rarity among character pairing frames. A 35mm cell featuring both together captures a pivotal connection point in the narrative, the kind of pairing sought after for its narrative weight and its representation of the film's enduring romantic and tragic themes.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Edward Scissorhands (1990).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds two complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced; punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A dual variable-area optical soundtrack track is visible running along the lower edge beside the picture area.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at a readable resolution; no key numbers or manufacturer text can be confirmed.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; dye image shows strong blue and dark tones consistent with an intact colour print.
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines are visible across the picture area, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; both frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot and are consistent with a theatrical release print of Edward Scissorhands (1990).
Era check
A dual variable-area optical track on 35mm positive colour stock is consistent with a 1990 theatrical release print, predating Dolby Digital and DTS optical formats introduced in 1992.
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 000063483
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
