Door frame
On March 24th, Heritage hosted the Treasures from Planet Hollywood sale, featuring approximately 1,600 pieces of Hollywood memorabilia. Some of the most popular lots were iconic movie props such as blasters from Star Wars, an axe from The Shining, and Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates autographed by Tom Hanks. All in all, the collection fetched an outstanding $15.68 million ($22.8 million with premiums) in sales.
Several items up for grabs came from James Cameron’s monumental 1997 film Titanic. Many of the props featured at Heritage were simple items like plates and silverware, pieces of luggage, and lifeboat oars. However, there were also a few pieces that were more recognizable and far more controversial among film buffs. In the movie, one of the most famous (or infamous) scenes involves Rose, played by Kate Winslet, holding onto a door to stay afloat after the titular ship sinks beneath the freezing waves of the North Atlantic. This scene has sparked much discussion and debate over the years, particularly about whether or not there was enough room on the door for both Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack. The ornate Louis XV-style movie prop, adorned with floral accents and elegant curves, has been revealed to be “part of the door frame just above the [ship’s] first-class lounge entrance.” The fragment sold for an astounding $575K ($718,750 w/p).
Additional notable Titanic-related items included:
- Rose’s exquisite white chiffon dress that sold for $95K ($118,750 w/p).
- The wheel from the ship’s helm selling for $160K ($200,000 w/p).
- The brass engine order telegraph garnered $65K ($81,250 w/p).
Standout items from other films include Harrison Ford’s whip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which fetched a record-breaking $430K ($525K w/p); Bill Murray’s iconic red-rose bowling ball from Kingpin, selling for an impressive $280K ($350K w/p); and the Barbasol can used by Wayne Knight to steal dinosaur embryos in Jurassic Park, which sold for $250K ($312.5K w/p). Bidding wars erupted over many pieces, underscoring the enduring fascination with props, costumes, and other movie memorabilia.