MARC21-007: Base of film of motion pictures
mixed base (nitrate and safety)
Combination of nitrate base and safety base film.
m
The use of a mixed base was common in the early 1950s when nitrate base stock shots were spliced with safety base film for low-budget motion pictures. In such releases, up to 50% of the film consisted of stock shots on nitrate base film.
nitrate base
Cellulose nitrate film base.
i
Cellulose nitrate support or base was used in the manufacture of 35 mm. film (and some 17.5 mm. film) until 1951. Nitrate base film is no longer manufactured.
not applicable
Item does not have a film base.
n
E.g., paper film.
other
Base of film other than safety base, undetermined, safety base, acetate undetermined, safety base, diacetate, nitrate base, mixed base (nitrate and safety), not applicable, safety base, polyester, safety base, mixed, safety base, triacetate.
z
safety base, acetate undetermined
Acetate safety base film whose exact type cannot be determined, i.e., where it is unknown if the type is diacetate or triacetate.
c
safety base, diacetate
Cellulose diacetate film base.
d
Introduced before World War I for home movies, diacetate base was more expensive and unpredictable than nitrate base and so failed to gain acceptance in professional 35 mm. film production.
safety base, mixed
Mixed safety base films spliced together, but no nitrate film.
r
safety base, polyester
Film base made of a synthetic resin.
p
E.g., estar.
safety base, triacetate
Cellulose triacetate film base.
t
Cellulose triacetate is a high acetal compound with very low flammability and slow burning characteristics. From 1951, triacetate has been used for professional as well as for amateur produced moving image film.
safety base, undetermined
Safety base film whose type has not been identified.
a
unknown
Base of the film is not known.
u
Published