National Film Vault

OFFICIAL FILM AUTHENTICATION BY CROWN GRADING

AUTHENTIC

CROWN CERTIFIED

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MOVIEThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Trailer

SCENEFrodo

FILM FORMAT35mm

YEAR2001

CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000001827

FILM NOTES

New Line Cinema released The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, the first installment of Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, filmed simultaneously with its two sequels in New Zealand. The trailer campaign that preceded the film's release was a cultural event in its own right, introducing audiences to Middle-earth well before opening night and helping build the anticipation that made the franchise a landmark in modern fantasy filmmaking. The film went on to earn critical acclaim and numerous Academy Awards, cementing its place as one of the defining blockbusters of its decade.

This cell preserves a piece of that promotional reel, centered on Frodo Baggins, the hobbit whose burden of carrying the One Ring drives the entire saga. As the story's reluctant hero, Frodo is a natural focal point for collectors seeking material tied to the trilogy's emotional core. A trailer cell like this one functioned as an early herald, a fragment meant to stir curiosity and recognition ahead of the feature itself. Owning a piece of that pre-release material connects a collector directly to the moment audiences first glimpsed the character on the path that would define the saga.

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 the top edge; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations: Four per frame on the top edge, evenly spaced and cleanly punched; bottom-edge perforations are also present, evenly spaced, consistent with four per frame.
Soundtrack: A variable-area optical track is visible running along the bottom edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-strip variable-area format.
Edge print: Top edge reads 'BNTICOFOB' as seen in this capture, consistent with mirrored text indicating emulsion-up orientation; no key numbers legible at this size.
Base & colour: Base shows a light blue-cyan tint typical of modern safety stock; dye image appears warm and neutral with no visible fading or colour shift.
Projection history: No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks seen in this capture.
Picture: Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with a release print of the film on record.
Era check: The blue-tinted polyester safety base, dual variable-area optical soundtrack, and clean perforation style are all 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 000063687

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