Embark on a nostalgic journey with us at Heritage Auctions as we present a landmark event: the Treasures from Planet Hollywood Signature Auction. This extraordinary collection encompasses a vast array of memorabilia from various Planet Hollywood venues across the globe. My own fond memories of visiting the late, lamented Dallas location of Planet Hollywood during the 1990s—immersed in its unique blend of casual dining and cinematic wonder—pale in comparison to the excitement of this sale.
Among the more than 1,600 props, costumes, and pieces of movie history on the auction block, there are many that I can scarcely believe are housed in the same building where I work. These include iconic items from some of my favorite films of all time, including Star Wars, Superman, The Shining, The Wizard of Oz, and Planet of the Apes, among others. Delving deep into this remarkable sale, I’ve curated a list of five of my favorite movie relics, each with its own unique story, poised to find a new home. Here, presented in chronological order, is that selection.
Superman (Warner Bros., 1978), “Kal-El” Crystalline Kryptonian Starship Miniature.
We didn’t go to the movies very often when I was a kid, but we did see a few blockbusters on the big screen, including Superman, which had me absolutely mesmerized. I grew up watching The Adventures of Superman on television, which was charming in its own way, but here was a film that made me actually “believe a man can fly,” as the tagline stated. I was a comic book fan as well, and I was fascinated by the differences between the movie and the comics, including Kal-El’s much fancier starship. This miniature used during filming would look amazing on my action figure shelf.
Flash Gordon (Universal, 1980), Sam J. Jones “Flash Gordon” Sword.
Legendary comic book artist Alex Ross once said that Flash Gordon was the movie he wanted Star Wars to be. In other words, he far preferred the former over the latter. While I’m not quite there, Flash Gordon is one of my favorite films of the ’80s. It is colorful, campy, action-packed, and so much fun – it’s basically the perfect popcorn movie. Sam Jones as Flash wields the metallic gold colored scimitar we’re offering near the end of the film, and it was a familiar sight on promotional materials. While it’s not as iconic as the other weapons on this list, it’s plenty cool. And I believe it could lop the head right off of Ming the Merciless.
The Shining (Warner Bros., 1980), Jack Nicholson “Jack Torrance” Hero Axe.
Ask anyone who writes for a profession – it can drive you insane. As a former full-time freelancer myself, staring down a blank page all alone can be intimidating, especially when your family counts on you to pound out enough words to earn a living. Fortunately, most of us don’t go on axe-murder rampages like Jack Torrance, played so memorably by Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Even though you knew from the beginning of the film that things were going to turn out crazy, especially if you read Stephen King’s novel, that didn’t lessen the impact of Torrance hacking through the bathroom door and snarling, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!”
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Paramount, 1984), Harrison Ford “Indiana Jones” Signature Bullwhip.
“When a problem comes along, you must whip it!” Few weapons are more iconic than Indy’s bullwhip, which he used not only as a weapon against enemies and dangerous animals, but also as a tool to swing across chasms, pull levers from a distance, and grab items that are otherwise out of reach. And it simply looked cool onscreen. If Harrison Ford had simply wielded a gun as Indy, his exploits wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable. And we wouldn’t have the hilarious scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where he pulls out a gun during a sword fight – or at least it wouldn’t have been funny.
Misery (Columbia, 1990), James Caan “Paul Sheldon” Stunt Typewriter.
As I began curating this list, the inclusion of several weapons was unintentional, yet here we find ourselves again, this time with an unexpected choice: a typewriter. For those familiar with Misery, the typewriter transcends its mundane role as a writing tool, becoming a pivotal element in the climax of one of the most faithfully adapted Stephen King novels on screen. Its transformation from a simple instrument to a symbol of tension and terror is unforgettable, illustrating the unique power of everyday objects in storytelling. It also acts as the perfect device for a little poetic justice, author-style.
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