Is there a way to distinguish real film cells from fake ones?

[TomArrow]

For example: https://www.ebay.de/itm/Seltene-SHUTTER-...3027617106

It sucks that people would cut a film apart, but there's also a lot of people who sell fakes. Some of them are explicitly marked as replica, but is there some way to tell the real ones apart from fake ones in general?

[SilverWook]

Maybe the lack of a soundtrack on the side? I would think a fake would be a key frame or sequence. If a seller has more than one of the exact same frame, it's probably a replica. Most of what turns up on Ebay seems to be cut up from trailers rather than whole prints.

[Valeyard]

I haven't heard of "fakes"? A lot come from trailers instead of from features so you could check what scenes are there... but in general I would say don't support film cutters at all!

[TomArrow]

Maybe the lack of a soundtrack on the side? I would think a fake would be a key frame or sequence. If a seller has more than one of the exact same frame, it's probably a replica.  Most of what turns up on Ebay seems to be cut up from trailers rather than whole prints.

Well, but how hard would a soundtrack be to fake for someone with some kind of machine to expose film?

I haven't heard of "fakes"? A lot come from trailers instead of from features so you could check what scenes are there... but in general I would say don't support film cutters at all!

Yeah this is a good point. Trailers. Obviously no point in purchasing that either way. Also the film prints should be anamorphic according to imdb, so it's likely from a trailer I guess.

Yeah it's definitely something that's reprehensible. But then, once it's already cut up, one may as well buy it. But then, that encourages them to keep doing it. Argh.

[Valeyard]

Yeah it's definitely something that's reprehensible. But then, once it's already cut up, one may as well buy it. But then, that encourages them to keep doing it. Argh.

Just don't buy it at all, even trailers are worth preserving as most have never been released in HD. Not even Jurassic Park!

[TomArrow]

Yeah it's definitely something that's reprehensible. But then, once it's already cut up, one may as well buy it. But then, that encourages them to keep doing it. Argh.

Just don't buy it at all, even trailers are worth preserving as most have never been released in HD. Not even Jurassic Park!

That's definitely true. Well, I will see what I do next time I encounter such an ethical conflict.

Though to my credit, I have never bought film cells. Only bought press photo slides once and they aren't part of any reels.

[SilverWook]

I don't see how anyone could copy the soundtrack area without specialized equipment. AFAIK, it's outside the exposure area of ordinary 35mm photographic film.