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National Film Vault

OFFICIAL FILM AUTHENTICATION BY CROWN GRADING
A
AUTHENTIC
CROWN CERTIFIED
Film cell NFV-000001767 Tap to enlarge
MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer
SCENEGandalf, Legolas and Gimli
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR2001
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001767

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema released The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001, the first installment in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy and a defining achievement in modern fantasy filmmaking. Backed by an unprecedented all-at-once production of three films in New Zealand, it reshaped what studios believed epic storytelling could achieve on screen, earning critical acclaim and box office dominance while setting a new benchmark for effects-driven world building.

This 35mm trailer cell brings together Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli, three members of the Fellowship whose differing natures, wizardry, elven skill, and dwarven resolve, anchor the story's themes of alliance across old divisions. Trailer material holds particular value for collectors since it circulated ahead of the feature, shaping early anticipation for the saga. A grouping of these three figures reflects the film's promise of camaraderie forged through shared purpose, a moment meant to stir excitement before audiences had even seen the full Fellowship assembled on screen.

Authentication Findings 8 checks

Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring trailer

Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three frames
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single-track waveform; Dolby Digital pixel blocks are visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge
Edge print
Text reading 'ENICOLOR' (mirrored) is visible along the upper edge; no key numbers or SAFETY FILM text are legible in this capture
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight warm-neutral tint; dye image reads as a colour positive with no visible fading or red shift
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines consistent with projection are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks seen
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be the same title-card frame repeated, matching the Fellowship of the Ring trailer title sequence on record
Era check
The combination of a variable-area optical track with Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a 2001-era theatrical release print of this title
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 000063627
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