National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace arrived in May 1999 after sixteen years of anticipation, becoming one of the most culturally significant theatrical events of its decade. Directed by George Lucas and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the prequel introduced a new generation to the saga while reuniting longtime fans with a galaxy they had grown up with. Shot on 35mm alongside early digital photography, the film marked a transitional moment in Hollywood production history.

This cell, titled C-3PO & R2-D2, captures the two iconic droids together in the cluttered workshop setting on Tatooine. Anthony Daniels appears as a partially assembled C-3PO alongside Kenny Baker's R2-D2, the frames preserving a quiet, character-driven moment from the film's first act on original 35mm stock.