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National Film Vault

OFFICIAL FILM AUTHENTICATION BY CROWN GRADING
A
AUTHENTIC
CROWN CERTIFIED
Film cell NFV-000001824 Tap to enlarge
MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer
SCENEGaladriel
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR2001
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001824

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring arrived in December 2001 as the opening chapter of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy, a project many in Hollywood doubted could be filmed at all. Shot entirely in New Zealand and released theatrically to enormous acclaim, it redefined fantasy cinema and launched one of the most successful film series in history, earning multiple Academy Awards along the way.

This cell comes from the theatrical trailer that introduced audiences to Middle-earth ahead of the film's release, a piece of promotional material designed to establish scale and wonder before the story itself unfolded. Galadriel, played by Cate Blanchett, is the Lady of Lothlorien, an ancient elven ruler whose brief appearances in the saga carry disproportionate weight, often serving as narration or omen. Trailer cells featuring her are prized by collectors for capturing that early mythic framing, the moment the franchise announced its tone before a single sword was drawn.

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; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, consistent with a mono or stereo optical track; Dolby Digital data blocks appear present in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge.
Edge print
"00-OD" is legible near the top edge; additional manufacturer or key-number text is not clearly resolved in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears with a light blue-tinted surround from the light panel; the dye image reads as warm and saturated with no obvious red shift or fading.
Projection history
Fine longitudinal lines consistent with projection wear are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, and the subject matter is consistent with a theatrical trailer for the film on record.
Era check
The combination of a variable-area optical track with Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a 35mm release or trailer print from the early 2000s, matching the 2001 record date.
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 000063684
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