MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer
SCENEGandalf
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR2001
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001817
FILM NOTES
New Line Cinema released The Fellowship of the Ring in December 2001, the first installment of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy and a defining moment for modern fantasy filmmaking. Shot in New Zealand with groundbreaking effects work, the film proved that literary epics could succeed as blockbuster cinema, launching a franchise that would reshape the genre and dominate awards seasons. The trailer campaign itself became a cultural event, building anticipation for a film many doubted could be made.
This cell preserves a frame from that trailer bearing Gandalf's name, the wizard portrayed by Ian McKellen whose performance anchors the Fellowship's moral center. As one of the most recognizable characters in the saga, Gandalf draws steady collector interest across every format the franchise has produced. A trailer cell like this one comes from promotional film stock cut specifically for theatrical previews, material distinct from the release print and valued by collectors for its scarcity and its connection to the marketing moment that first introduced audiences to Middle-earth on the big screen.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring trailer (2001).
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 the punched edges appear clean with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge, with what appears to be a second track beside it consistent with a stereo or Dolby SR pair; Dolby Digital data blocks appear present in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote characters reliably.
Base & colour
Base appears with a light blue-tinted carrier consistent with safety acetate or polyester stock; dye image reads warm amber-brown with no visible fading or red shift.
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, consistent with a theatrical release print of the film on record.
Era check
The combination of a dual variable-area optical track with apparent Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print from 2001, when that multi-format soundtrack configuration was standard.
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 000063677
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
