National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Forrest Gump was released by Paramount Pictures in July 1994, directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Wendy Finerman. The film became one of the defining cultural touchstones of the decade, earning six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Shot on 35mm by cinematographer Don Burgess, its visual warmth and scope made it an immediate classic of American cinema, and original 35mm elements from the production remain among the most sought-after artifacts of 1990s Hollywood.

This cell, titled Lt. Dan, captures Lieutenant Dan Taylor shirtless and wearing a headband aboard what appears to be the shrimping vessel Jenny. The three continuous frames hold a quiet, weathered moment for the character, adrift on open water in one of the film's more contemplative stretches. As a 35mm fragment, it preserves a tangible sliver of Gary Sinise's acclaimed performance in physical, photochemical form.