BEVERLY HILLS, CA.- Julien's Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) held Hollywood: Classic and Contemporary, on Saturday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 23rd, their two-day blockbuster featuring over 1,400 artifacts from the greatest films of the Silent Era, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the biggest and most popular present day contemporary films spanning Sci-Fi, Action and Fantasy classics and beyond. The sale was held in front of a live audience at Juliens Auctions in Beverly Hills and online with thousands of bidders and collectors from around the world participating on Juliens Live.
The most highly anticipated moment of the auction event was the sale of the headlining item, John Travoltas suit from his Academy Award-nominated performance as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. The suit, worn by Travolta in the film, sold for $260,000. In a starmaking turn at the young age of 23, Travolta transforms his characters street swagger and self-assuredness into the stuff of legend when he struts onto the dance floor and showcases his natural dancing ability. Considered one of the most iconic costumes in the history of cinema, this suit is one of only two known to exist used during production, including in the films memorable dance sequences. This specific Saturday Night Fever suit has never been exhibited, nor auctioned before until this weekend at Juliens. Travoltas most iconic costume of the 1990s, an original two-piece suit as seen worn by him as mob hit man "Vincent Vega" from the 1994 cult-classic film Pulp Fiction, later sold for $32,500.
Travoltas suits were among many costume pieces and other items associated with Hollywoods biggest male stars in their most iconic roles. Dick Tracys signature yellow coat and hat worn by Warren Beatty in his self-titled 1989 film won a stunning $91,000, and an original communicator watch prop associated with his portrayal won $13,000. Additional highlights included (with winning bids) an original prop Mattel hoverboard used by Michael J. Fox as "Marty McFly" in Back to the Future Part II ($91,000); an original ensemble worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines with a head model ($22,750), as well as an original Atlantean sword prop from Conan the Destroyer ($39,000); a gas canister prop used by Nicolas Cage in The Rock ($19,500); and Keanu Reevess iconic John Wick suit costume, worn by him in John Wick 3 - Parabellum ($13,000).
A staggering collection of almost 200 lots of original John L. Jensen storyboard sketches conceptualizing iconic moments from the landmark action film, Die Hard, fetched over $300,000 in total, including: Air Duct Lighter Storyboard Sketches ($7,800), Welcome to the Party, Pal Storyboard Sketches ($3,575), and Now I Have a Machine Gun Storyboard Sketches ($3,250).
A stunning array of pieces used and signed by the most iconic stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood dazzled including the Bela Lugosi Dracula screen-matched "Vampire Mirror" cigarette box that revealed the classic Universal monster in the incomparable 1931 film and its Spanish-language film counterpart ($130,000), and a photo-matched colorful, woven, vulture shaped headdress worn by silent film legend Theda Bara when she portrayed the title role in the 1917 film Cleopatra ($58,500). The headdress served as Cleopatra's coronation crown in one of the earliest known films about the Queen of the Nile. The film is now considered partially lost, as only short portions of scenes remain, making this headdress an incredibly rare artifact. Other highlights included a cane personally owned by Charlie Chaplin, one of his most iconic accessories ($39,000); an edition of The Emerald City of Oz by Frank L. Baum, signed by Judy Garland and the cast of the legendary film The Wizard of Oz ($45,000); a dress worn by Jean Hagen in her Academy Award-nominated performance as Lina Lamont in the beloved MGM musical Singin in the Rain ($29,250 nearly thirty times its original estimate of $1,000); a uniform worn by Steve McQueen in his Academy Award-nominated performance in the classic war film The Sand Pebbles ($19,500); and a pair of rare nude photographs of Harpo Marx ($5,850 and $2,275 each).
An exciting moment from the auction was the re-emergence of a program for the May 19, 1962 event "New York's Birthday Salute to President Kennedy" signed by Marilyn Monroe. The item sold for a spectacular $88,900, over eight times its original estimate of $10,000. The star-studded birthday celebration for President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, held 10 days before his actual birthday, remains one of the most discussed events in his and Monroe's career. Monroe famously called in sick to filming Something's Got To Give at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles to fly to New York and serenade the president with a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mister President" while wearing a sheer, skin-tight Jean-Louis gown that she'd been sewn-into just before the event. The program is also signed by other celebrities present that night including Harry Belafonte, Maria Callas, Shirley MacLaine, Henry Fonda, Peggy Lee, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, and others, many of whom performed. Other astonishing highlights from the eternally iconic Marilyn Monroe include a note signed by her with rare photos ($19,500), a signed check written to Doheny Pharmacy on Halloween of 1953 ($7,800), and one of her makeup pencils ($6,500).
The most beloved stars and characters of classic and contemporary comedy were well represented this weekend. Rare treasures from some of Saturday Night Lives most hilarious and adored stars included a collection from the personal archives of Chris Farley, including his personal script for his hit film Tommy Boy ($7,800), a watch he wore in the film and on the Late Show with David Letterman ($3,575), and a vintage 1970s Farley family portrait ($1,950). An original pair of Austin Powerss signature Paul Smith black frame glasses, as seen worn by Mike Myers in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, sold for $16,250. A fan of the recently departed Cindy Williams was undoubtedly thrilled to win an iconic bowling shirt she wore as Shirley Feeney on the TV classic Laverne and Shirley ($5,850).
Some of the most recognizable pop culture relics of the 21st century from todays biggest film franchises swept their way across the podium. An original hero Iron Man Mark XLVI helmet worn by Robert Downey Jr. as "Tony Stark/Iron Man" and used in Captain America: Civil War sold for $127,000. Robert Downey Jr. "Iron Man / Tony Stark" Prototype Mark III Helmet Prop additionally sold for $26,000 and an Iron Man/Tony Stark Mark VII Repulsor Glove Prop sold for $29,250. Other Marvel Universe highlights included a War Machine Mark II Helmet Prop worn by Don Cheadle in Avengers: The Age of Ultron ($39,000); and a pair of claws, worn by Hugh Jackman in the role of "Wolverine" in X-Men Origins: Wolverine ($13,000). From the DC Universe, Juliens and TCM proudly offered rare and iconic pieces spanning multiple decades and generations worn by the franchises most legendary superheroes, including a production used clapperboard from Richard Donners Superman ($45,500 sold over eleven times its original estimate of $4,000); an original "Lasso of Truth" prop used by Gal Gadot as "Wonder Woman / Diana Prince" in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($22,750); and a Batman cowl prop worn by Christian Bale in Batman Begins ($19,500).
From the fantastical world of Harry Potter, came one of the franchises most extensive wand collections ever seen at auction that cast a spell on bidders. Highlights were an "Albus Dumbledore" elder wand prop used by Michael Gambon in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (sold for an astonishing $130,000, over twenty-one times its original estimate of $6,000), a Voldemort wand prop used by Ralph Fiennes in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ($65,000 sold over nine times its original estimate of $7,000), a Harry Potter wand used by Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 ($32,500 sold over eight times its original estimate of $4,000), and a pair of wand props used by Gary Oldman as Sirius Black ($22,750 sold over seven times its original estimate of $3,000) and David Thewlis as Professor Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ($10,400 sold over five times its original estimate of $2,000).
Out-of-this-world memorabilia from 1970s science fiction and beyond, including props from the Star Wars and Alien franchises, thrilled buyers, including: an original Mandalorian helmet worn by Pedro Pascal as "The Mandalorian/ Din Djarin" in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian sold for $39,000; an original hand prop worn by Anthony Daniels as C-3PO in Star Wars: Episode V I- Return of the Jedi ($16,250); original scout trooper gloves from Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi ($10,000); and a quarterstaff prop as seen used by Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($25,400). A spectacular collection of concept drawings and production materials from Ridley Scotts terrifying 1979 sci-fi horror classic Alien sold, including an LV-426 "Space Jockey" Maquette which sold for $6,500 and original concept designs from Ron Cobb, sold well over their original estimates, as with three original Ron Cobb "Nostromo" Spaceship Exterior Design Concept Illustrations ($11,700, $10,400 and $7,800). A Sigourney Weaver and cast-signed Alien film poster hammered for $29,250 and an M240 Flamethrower prop and an M41A Pulse Rifle prop used by Sigourney Weaver as "Ellen Ripley" in James Camerons epic 1986 sequel Aliens sold for $65,000.
Other highlights included:
2010- The Year We Make Contact original U.S.S. Discovery One Spacecraft Filming Model ($45,500);
Star Wars - a post-production Duros head casting from Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope ($29,250);
An original poster for The Godfather signed by Al Pacino and Robert Duvall ($32,500);
An Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "Colonel Vogel" costume worn by Michael Byrne ($29,250);
A trio of items from the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, including an original stunt prop Walther PPK semi-automatic pistol used by Daniel Craig in his iconic role of 007 ($10,400), a black herringbone three-piece Windsor suit worn by Daniel Craig's stunt double ($26,000), and s group of three personal effect props, documents and photographs ($13,000);
Ron Perlmans hero Good Samaritan gun prop from Hellboy ($10,160);
A Star Wars: Rogue One Death Star Plans Data Card prop ($10,400);
A pair of suits from Barry Sonnenfelds Men in Black, worn by Will Smith as Agent J ($12,700) and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K ($15,875);
A wooden Shooting Star Hogwarts School prop broom from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone ($26,000);
Hogwarts acceptance letter and envelope prop used by Daniel Radcliffe as "Harry Potter" in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ($19,500);
Dr. Egon Spengler jumpsuit worn by Harold Ramis in Ghostbusters II ($32,500);
A chair from Ricks Café Americain in the classic film Casablanca ($16,250);
An Errol Flynn and cast and crew-signed The Adventures of Robin Hood book ($13,000);
Bryan Cranstons unmistakable Walter White jacket and shirt from Breaking Bad ($13,000);
A pair of original Edith Head costume sketches for Tippi Hedrens iconic role Melanie Daniels in the Hitchcock classic film, The Birds ($10,400 and $11,700);
Cast and crew signed posters of the horror and cult classics Dawn of the Dead ($16,250), Halloween ($16,250), The Warriors ($16,250), Friday the 13th ($16,250), Aliens ($19,500) and A Nightmare on Elm Street ($13,000);
Three maquettes of Ilm Slimer and the Scoleri Brothers from Ghostbusters IIG ($16,250) and more.