We all have favorite movies. I happen to be one of those people who, when asked to name my favorite movie, has to answer that I can’t really answer if I am only allowed to say one title because I do not have a single, favorite movie; rather, there are many movies I consider my favorites because I love them all equally but for different reasons. (By that time, the person who asked me the question usually regrets having asked.)
What do you love most about the movies you love? Is it the actors or actresses? Do you love cinematography, casting, costuming or — how about props? Some people are fascinated by movie props. In fact, there’s a market for such items. Collectors are always on the lookout for unique or famous movie props. A coveted item might be something as small as a pair of sunglasses that some superstar wore in a famous film or as large as a motor vehicle.
One of the biggest movie prop sales of all time was a car that was used in a James Bond movie. It sold at an auction for nearly $5 million. The amount of money a movie prop is worth is not solely tied to the type of item it happens to be but rather who used it, in what movie it was used and other trivial statistics. Case in point: The white dress Marilyn Monroe made famous when she stood over a forced air grate that blew the dress and showed her legs in the movie, “The Seven Year Itch,” garnered the same price as the James Bond Astin Martin DB5 that Sean Connery drove.
Another famous dress that was bought for $807,000 was black, not white, and was worn by Audrey Hepburn in, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It seems clothing items are oft-sought movie props, as the ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in, “The Wizard of Oz,” raked in more than $660,000 when they were sold in 2000. Some might call that amount a mere pittance in comparison to her co-actor’s cowardly lion suit, which sold for several million.
You know what they say: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
If you were wanting to take possession of your favorite movie props, what would they be and how much would you be willing to fork over to get them?
Writer Bio: Judy Dudich
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.
