When it comes to explosive sequels, few in the industry can make a more bombastic blockbusting entry into a franchise like James Cameron. Having taken audiences on a pulse-pounding tour de force with his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Alien and made a splash with the cutting-edge special effects technologies that brought to life his memorable creations in The Abyss, one would think that Cameron would be hard-pressed to continue his upward trajectory as the King of Blockbusters. Then, on July 3rd, 1991, it happened. Like a nuclear blast from his harrowing future vision of a robotic apocalypse, he unleashed yet another pioneering action film with Terminator 2. A sequel that not only raised the stakes presented in the original film but proved to be an even bigger critical success. Among the memorable characters and sequences, a particular liquid metal menace played by a then-unknown actor, Robert Patrick, captivated audiences and the vast pop-culture consciousness, the T-100.
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Flash forward 32 years, and I find myself typing this entry while sitting in a large warehouse. Don’t worry. It might be a little imposing, but a fallout shelter it is not. The world hasn’t been taken over by artificial intelligence (yet), and as a cataloger working on Heritage Auctions’ various upcoming auctions, I continually find myself in a movie memorabilia mecha. And though I’ve held pieces from iconic films spanning the history of Hollywood, very few pieces have made my heart race the way these prop T-1000 hooked arms have.
Seeing them, I’m instantly taken back to some of my earliest memories of enjoying action films, admittedly way too young, with my father. Popcorn bowl in hand, eyes clinched, the T-1000 mystified me as much as frightened me all the way to its grisly end. Terminator 2 defined the action genre for me and to this day it still stands as one of my all-time favorite movies. Also, you cannot convince me my younger sister, Sarah, isn’t named after one of the film’s greatest action heroines.
Expertly painted and crafted by The Stan Winston Studio, these props have stood the test of time. Featured in the iconic Pescadero State Hospital escape sequence, these hooked arms are constructed of heavy plastic, metal, and rubber and feature black police uniform cloth sleeves for the actor or stunt performer’s arms to hide in. The T-1000 manifests these deadly implements first when attempting to pry open the doors of an elevator, and soon after to hitch a ride on the back of a commandeered patrol car. Displayed, they are instantly recognizable and still demand the awe they commanded over three decades ago. Whoever ends up taking home these pop-culture icons will own a piece of Hollywood history that is still in reference to this day. From Wayne’s World to amusement park rides, commercials, and video games, the T-1000 will forever continue to mold itself into the public consciousness. And for this writer, it’ll always stand as an early introduction to the truly powerful impact movies and characters can have when shared with others.
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