National Film Vault

OFFICIAL FILM AUTHENTICATION BY CROWN GRADING

AUTHENTIC

CROWN CERTIFIED

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MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer

SCENEPippin

FILM FORMAT35mm

YEAR2001

CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001746

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema released The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001, the opening chapter of Peter Jackson's trilogy adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's epic. Shot entirely in New Zealand and staged as a single, continuous production across three films, it redefined what fantasy filmmaking could achieve on this scale, earning critical acclaim and enduring commercial success. The teaser and theatrical trailer campaigns that preceded it built enormous anticipation, introducing audiences to Middle-earth's central figures before the film itself arrived in theaters, and remain sought after as artifacts of that lead-up.

This cell carries the name Pippin, one of the four hobbits at the story's heart and a favorite among collectors for his role in the Fellowship's lighter, more grounded moments. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee appear alongside him here, placing this frame among the trailer's early glimpses of the hobbits together, likely drawn from Shire or journey footage meant to establish their camaraderie before the wider war intrudes. Trailer cells like this one served to introduce character and tone ahead of release, offering audiences a first, brief acquaintance with figures who would soon become iconic.

Authentication Findings 8 checks

Consistent with a 35mm theatrical trailer print for The Lord of the Rings.

Gauge: 35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations: Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and punches appear clean throughout the visible strip.
Soundtrack: A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-band analog 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-neutral tint; dye image shows rich, saturated colour with no visible fading.
Projection history: No splices, cue marks, or prominent scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture: Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the title text 'The Two Towers' visible on the frames is consistent with a Fellowship of the Ring trailer closing on its sequel title card.
Era check: The dual variable-area optical soundtrack, saturated colour dye image, and four-perforation 35mm layout are all consistent with a 2001-era theatrical release print.

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 000063606

Original Film Capture As received

The film strip as photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation

Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size