Since I have been publishing the Original Prop Blog for about six and a half years as a free resource to the public, I thought I would add one article (about of about 1,645 to date) to make note of and promote a few of my own auction consignments in the upcoming Julien’s Auctions “Icons and Idols” sale taking place in Beverly Hills on November 8th, 9th, and 10th. Items from my personal collection included in this sale include six movie prop pistols: a Walther PPK used by Timothy Dalton as James Bond in Licence To Kill, a Colt pistol used by Al Pacino in Michael Mann’s Heat, the .38 Detective Special pistol used by both Pam Grier and Robert Forester in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, a customized pistol used by Bridget Fonda in Point Of No Return, a Winchester shotgun used by Juliette Lewis In Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers, and a Glock 17 pistol used by Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in The Bourne Ultimatum. [Read more…]
Air Gun Movie Prop Used for Publicity Photography By Sean Connery as James Bond Disappoints in Sotheby’s Resale
A little over two years ago, an air gun /pistol used by Sean Connery for some iconic James Bond publicity photos stunned the hobby when it sold at the traditional late November Christie’s South Kensington Pop Culture auction far in excess of its estimate, realizing a staggering £277,250 (US$438,609) including buyer’s premium. In a resale by Sotheby’s this past weekend, it sold for less than half that amount. [Read more…]
James Bond “Live and Let Die” Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Movie Prop Sells for Quarter of a Million Dollars
Offered as part of Christie’s “Important Watches” auction in Geneva this week, the auction house sold a specially customized Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner wristwatch that was used by Roger Moore as James Bond in Live and Let Die. The piece sold for an impressive CHF219,000 (or about $243,959) with buyer’s premium. [Read more…]
Christie’s “Pop Culture” Auction Held Today: James Bond Pistol Exceeds Expectations, Darth Vader Costume Goes Unsold
Christie’s “Pop Culture: Film and Entertainment” auction (Sale 5570) was held today at South Kensington, London. Results from two of the highlight lots have been widely covered in Reuters and the AP, and picked up by mainstream media worldwide. [Read more…]
Stembridge Movie Guns Showcased in NRA’s National Firearms Museum “Curator’s Corner” Videos
The NRA’s National Firearms Museum has recently published some videos on YouTube related to original movie guns obtained from the Stembridge Collection (as sold by Little John’s Auction Service in 2007). The series of installments, called “Curator’s Corner”, feature pieces attributed to Magnum P.I. and James Bond films. [Read more…]
James Bond “Licence To Kill” Walther PPK
I have started a series of more comprehensive profiles of the original props in my own collection, and the second piece to be showcased is a hero Walther PPK from the James Bond film “Licence To Kill” staring Timothy Dalton. [Read more…]
Concealed Carry Handguns Magazine: “Guns of James Bond”
The latest (through “Feb 2, 2009”) issue of Concealed Carry Handguns magazine has a special feature about the “Guns of James Bond” by Dennis Adler. While no original props are featured in the photos, it is an interesting, more technical review of the firearms featured in the films, as well as the holsters. [Read more…]
The Side Arms of James Bond, 007: Part 2 – 1962 Sports Illustrated Article By Ian Fleming
This is a little “off topic” from movie props, but thought this would make a nice companion article to the one published a few days ago, “The Side Arms of James Bond, 007: From The Walther PPK to the P99“.
I came across an interesting article from 1962 written by Ian Fleming about the guns used by James Bond in the novels (the first Bond film, Dr. No, was released that same year). The article is framed by the actual correspondence between Fleming and a fan of the novels (Geoffrey Boothroyd) with real world firearms expertise, showcasing his recommendations for the character and rationale for certain side arm choices, and other related exchanges and anecdotes.
The March 19, 1962 article – “The Guns of James Bond” By Ian Fleming – is available to read at the Sports Illustrated website, SI.com, with scans of the actual magazine available as well in the “SI Vault”. [Read more…]