Abstract: A method for coding an input video signal to provide a coded signal. The input video signal has a field rate of 60 Hz and is derived from a motion picture film source using 2-3 pulldown. In the method, first frames, consisting of fields derived from different frames of the motion picture film source, are detected in the input video signal. Then, the input video signal is predictively coded to provide the coded signal by using second frames as reference pictures. Second frames are frames of the input video signal other than the first frames detected in the detecting step. In an alternative method for coding an input video signal to provide a coded signal, duplicate pictures are detected in the input video signal, and duplicate pictures are eliminated from the input video signal to provide an encoder input signal. The encoder input signal is predictively coded using plural predictive coding methods to provide the coded signal.