National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema released Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001, adapting the first volume of Tolkien's beloved trilogy. The film marked a turning point in epic fantasy filmmaking, demonstrating that large-scale literary adaptations could achieve both critical acclaim and enormous commercial success. Its theatrical trailer generated significant anticipation, offering audiences their first sustained look at Middle-earth rendered in live action.

This cell, titled Pippin by the operator, captures Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee on a rocky mountain ledge against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks. Across three consecutive frames the shot shifts in subtle increments, each preserving the title card for The Two Towers, making this a rare trailer piece that teases the second installment while documenting the enduring partnership between the two hobbits at the story's heart.