MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer
SCENEGimli, Frodo, Merry and Pippin
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR2001
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001758
FILM NOTES
New Line Cinema's release of The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001 marked the arrival of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth on a scale audiences had not seen attempted before, blending New Zealand location work with then-new digital techniques. The teaser and theatrical trailers that preceded it became cultural events in their own right, building anticipation across fantasy and film fandoms alike, and remain sought after as artifacts of that pre-release excitement.
This cell draws from that promotional material, gathering four members of the Fellowship: Gimli, Frodo Baggins, and the hobbits Merry and Pippin. Frodo, the reluctant ring bearer, and Merry Brandybuck, his steadfast companion, anchor the group's appeal for collectors chasing early appearances of the story's central figures. A trailer cell like this one captures the film before release, part of the marketing reel meant to introduce these characters and stir anticipation. Pairing Gimli with three hobbits in one frame sequence reflects the ensemble nature of the trailer's editing, hinting at the wider Fellowship soon to form.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean throughout the visible strip.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, with what appears to be a Dolby Digital data-block strip in the inter-perforation zone on the same edge; a DTS timecode line also appears present as a thin stripe adjacent to the optical track.
Edge print
Text reading 'ENICOLOR' (mirrored as seen) is visible along the top edge; no key numbers or SAFETY FILM legend are legible in this capture.
Base & colour
The base appears with a slight warm-neutral tint; the dye image reads as full colour with no obvious fading or red shift visible.
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines consistent with projection wear are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks are seen in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot and are consistent with a theatrical release print of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Era check
The combination of variable-area optical track, Dolby Digital data blocks, apparent DTS timecode stripe, and colour positive stock on a warm-neutral base is consistent with a 2001-era 35mm 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 000063618
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
