tk13
08-01-2005, 01:55 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050730/ennew_afp/afpentertainmentusfilm_050730230243
Luke Skywalker's lightsaber reaps 200,000 dollars in prop auction
Sat Jul 30, 7:02 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The lightsaber used by intergalactic hero Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars" sold for 200,000 dollars at an auction of Hollywood props that fetched far more than expected, officials said.
The deadly laser sword brandished by actor Mark Hamill in the original 1977 film was the star of a lot of 550 pieces of movie memorabilia that went on the block Friday and fetched a total of more than two million dollars.
The fictional weapon sold for well over its estimate of between 60,000 and 80,000 dollars at a live and online sale in Beverly Hills, said Lorna Hart of auctioneers profilesinhistory.com.
Skywalker's lightsaber, which gave rise to a generation of replicas and knock-offs, is in reality a short chrome tube with a rubber hilt.
Also performing far better than expected was the lightsaber used by Skywalker's dark nemesis Darth Vader in 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back," which fetched 118,000 dollars instead of the estimated 40,000-60,000 dollars.
Some 85 items used in producer George Lucas's cult "Star Wars" series went on the block after one of the film's original producers Gary Kurtz put them up for sale to help maintain and restore his historic collection.
Skywalker's orange X-Wing flight suit sold for 70,000, while a walking cane used by the Jedi sage Yoda in "The Empire Strikes Back" fetched 50,000, instead of the expected 9,000.
A face mask used by the actor playing the hirsute Chewbacca in the movies went for 50,000 dollars, while a Stormtrooper blaster fetched 56,500.
Among the non-"Star Wars" items sold was a leather jacket worn by rough and tumble movie hero "Indiana Jones," played by heartthrob actor Harrison Ford in Lucas's other hit movie series. It was snapped up for 94,400 dollars.
The jacket, worn by Harrison in 1989's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," had been estimated to go for only 40,000 to 50,000 dollars.
A leather "hero jacket" worn by former action movie icon and current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Terminator" was bought for 41,300 dollars, while Oscar-winner Tom Hanks' complete costume from war epic "Saving Private Ryan" went for 29,500.
A teddy bear belonging to the character Radar on the hit 1970s television shoe "M.A.S.H" also went under the hammer for 11,800, while a costume sketch of Marilyn Monroe from 1953's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" went for 7,670 dollars.
Bidders from around the world took part in the six-hour live auction of Hollywood history Friday via phone and live Internet bidding, profilesinhistory.com said.
Luke Skywalker's lightsaber reaps 200,000 dollars in prop auction
Sat Jul 30, 7:02 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The lightsaber used by intergalactic hero Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars" sold for 200,000 dollars at an auction of Hollywood props that fetched far more than expected, officials said.
The deadly laser sword brandished by actor Mark Hamill in the original 1977 film was the star of a lot of 550 pieces of movie memorabilia that went on the block Friday and fetched a total of more than two million dollars.
The fictional weapon sold for well over its estimate of between 60,000 and 80,000 dollars at a live and online sale in Beverly Hills, said Lorna Hart of auctioneers profilesinhistory.com.
Skywalker's lightsaber, which gave rise to a generation of replicas and knock-offs, is in reality a short chrome tube with a rubber hilt.
Also performing far better than expected was the lightsaber used by Skywalker's dark nemesis Darth Vader in 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back," which fetched 118,000 dollars instead of the estimated 40,000-60,000 dollars.
Some 85 items used in producer George Lucas's cult "Star Wars" series went on the block after one of the film's original producers Gary Kurtz put them up for sale to help maintain and restore his historic collection.
Skywalker's orange X-Wing flight suit sold for 70,000, while a walking cane used by the Jedi sage Yoda in "The Empire Strikes Back" fetched 50,000, instead of the expected 9,000.
A face mask used by the actor playing the hirsute Chewbacca in the movies went for 50,000 dollars, while a Stormtrooper blaster fetched 56,500.
Among the non-"Star Wars" items sold was a leather jacket worn by rough and tumble movie hero "Indiana Jones," played by heartthrob actor Harrison Ford in Lucas's other hit movie series. It was snapped up for 94,400 dollars.
The jacket, worn by Harrison in 1989's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," had been estimated to go for only 40,000 to 50,000 dollars.
A leather "hero jacket" worn by former action movie icon and current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Terminator" was bought for 41,300 dollars, while Oscar-winner Tom Hanks' complete costume from war epic "Saving Private Ryan" went for 29,500.
A teddy bear belonging to the character Radar on the hit 1970s television shoe "M.A.S.H" also went under the hammer for 11,800, while a costume sketch of Marilyn Monroe from 1953's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" went for 7,670 dollars.
Bidders from around the world took part in the six-hour live auction of Hollywood history Friday via phone and live Internet bidding, profilesinhistory.com said.