An avid prop collector shares fascinating insights into the stunts and secrets behind the scenes of iconic films, including "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars," revealing the hidden world of movie making.
Prop enthusiast Brandon Allinger, the chief operating officer of Propstore and Treasure Hunt, has a passion for uncovering the behind-the-scenes secrets of film making through the iconic props he collects for auction. One of his most prized possessions is the fedora worn by Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
Allinger's acquisition of the fedora was serendipitous, as he and his team stumbled upon stunt performer Dean Ferrandini while researching a jacket worn by another stunt performer in the movie. Through meticulous research and photo matching, they were able to authenticate the hat, adding immense value to its provenance.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Uncovering Movie Magic Through Iconic Props
The auction featuring the Indiana Jones fedora also includes other items from the film, such as a Sankara stone, beetles used in the banquet sequence, a mechanical rat, and production notes. Allinger has learned fascinating tidbits from the set, including the use of both real and mechanical rats during filming.
One of Allinger's favorite aspects of collecting props is gaining insights into the stunt work that goes into films. In "Temple of Doom," he discovered that multiple stunt doubles were used for Ford, including Vic Anderson and Dean Bandini.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Uncovering Movie Magic Through Iconic Props
"I don't know that you always get set secrets from film props, but I think really what you do get is just, a peek behind the curtain at kind of the magic, the magician's tricks, if you will, and how they're doing things," said Allinger. "That, for me, is always the most interesting part."
Beyond Indiana Jones, the upcoming auction features a wide array of props from other popular films. "Star Wars" enthusiasts can bid on a biker scout helmet, lightsabers from the prequels, and an astromech droid head.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Uncovering Movie Magic Through Iconic Props
Allinger is particularly excited about the bat wing from the 1989 "Batman" film, which is the first time it has ever been offered for auction. "It's six feet wide, it's huge, and it's fully motorized and mechanical. It has all the features that you see in the movie," he said.
The auction also includes Rose's sinking coat from "Titanic," White Star dinner plates and tickets, a mask from "Scream," costumes from "Star Trek," Thor's hammer, a book from "Evil Dead," costumes from "Gladiator," and more.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Uncovering Movie Magic Through Iconic Props
"If they wanted to knock down the shine on the mask, they put a tape on it. And then if they wanted to bring the shine back to the mask, they'd take the tape away, and they'd actually get out a little stick of chapstick, and they'd go over it with chapstick and sort of polish it up," Allinger revealed about the "Scream" mask. "So, you know, it's all these tiny subtleties, all these little film secrets."
Allinger's auction offers a unique opportunity for cinephiles to acquire a piece of film history and delve into the hidden world of movie making. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of iconic props and the passion of collectors who seek to uncover the secrets behind the silver screen.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Uncovering Movie Magic Through Iconic Props
