Simply stylish: Julie Andrews’ Maria dress which she wore in The Sound of Music (1965) was sold in 2011 for $676,500 (Rs 4,29,18,817.42). The garment was described in the auction handbook as “a heavy brown homespun Austrian-style dress with a wheat-coloured homespun blouse.”
Script it right: Orson Welles’ Oscar for Best Screenplay, Citizen Kane (1942), sold in 2011 for $861,542 (Rs 5,46,58,335.26). The 3.4 kg statuette was once believed to have been lost. Then cinematographer Gary Craver attempted to put it up for auction in 1994, claiming Welles had given it to him. Beatrice Welles (Orson’s daughter) embarked on a mighty legal tussle both with Craver and the Academy itself, and she lost the battle.
There may be a few film historians out there who believe it would be a nice gesture now for Beatrice to take some of her Oscar-sale jackpot and give it to the surviving relatives of Herman Mankiewicz, Welles’s co-screenwriter and co-winner.
Dress like a lady: Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot dress designed by legendary costume designer Cecil Beaton was sold for over $ 4.5 million at the Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011 (that’s Rs 28,54,91,025) She had paid $100,000 for the dress. The film, My Fair Lady, based on the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion, had won eight Oscars.
Ready for a joy ride: The Aston Martin DB5 — recognised as the James Bond car which first appeared in Goldfinger (1964) — was sold in 2010 for $4.1m (Rs 26,01,14,045). The luxury grand vehicle was designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. The DB series was named honouring David Brown, the head of Aston Martin from 1947-1972.
Starry possession: George Lucas’ Panavision PSR 35 mm camera that he used for the principal photography of the first Star Wars (1977), was sold in 2011 for $625,000 (Rs 3,96,51,531.25). This is a record price for a movie camera. The camera was fully restored and is in working condition.
Face it: The Cowardly Lion costume from the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), was sold in 2014 for $3.07 million (Rs 19,47,68,321.50) at a New York City auction. The outfit had been authenticated as the one Bert Lahr wore in the 1939 film. The face of the lion has been sculpted to resemble the actor.
Hair there: Elvis Presley’s hair sold at an auction for $115,000. His barber had saved some of Elvis’ locks after a haircut. This is twice the amount ever paid for any celebrity’s locks in auctions.
