National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema released Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001, launching one of the most ambitious fantasy trilogies in Hollywood history. The theatrical trailer circulated widely ahead of the film's release, building anticipation through sweeping imagery drawn from all three planned installments, including footage teasing the then-upcoming The Two Towers.

This cell, titled Pippin by the operator, captures Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee navigating a harsh, rocky mountain terrain. The title card for The Two Towers is visible within the frame, making this a rare trailer moment that looked forward beyond the first film. The pairing of these two hobbits in such a stark landscape carries quiet narrative weight for anyone familiar with their journey.