MW Friday Five:  Top Five Missing Movie Props Worth Thousands

It is sometimes unbelievable the amount of money Movie Memorabilia can go for.  Movie Memorabilia can be in the form of props, costumes, posters, scripts, or other objects connected to a film.   Take for example a movie poster for, The Mummy.  In 1997, it was auctioned off for 453,000.  Which might not seem like much when you compare it to the costume for the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz film which went for over 3 million.

Because collectors place such high values on these objects, a few are bound to get stolen or go missing.

Below is a list of the top five.  (or watch on Video)

 

1)Ruby Slippers

In August of 2005, a pair of Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz Movie, which were on exhibit at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, were stolen.  They are still missing today with a Reward of $1 million dollars to anyone who can offer information for their return.

2) The James Bond Golden Gun

The Golden Gun in the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, was reported ‘missing’ in October of 2008 from Elstree Studios (England) where it was in storage.  Exact date when it was stolen (or lost) is unknown.  As is the possible thief.  Might this turn up somewhere?  Be on the lookout!

3)The Maltese Falcon

The movie prop, the Maltese Falcon, crafted for the 1941 Film of the same name, The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart, has become one of the most sought-after real life treasures of today.  In 2013, a metal Maltese Falcon was auctioned off for over 4 million.

However, lighter Maltese Falcons were made out of resin.  These too can sell for a hefty price.  In 1991, one was found at a flea market in New Jersey.  It was believed to be an authentic prop for the film and later sold for 305,000.  It is uncertain exactly how many Maltese Falcons (metal or resin) for the movie were made.  Be careful when collecting, as counterfeiters love to try and hock off fakes.  Plus, now, replicas by the 1000’s are being produced.

4)Iron Man Suit

In May of 2018, police were called to investigate a robbery at The Movie Prop Storage facility in LA.  It seems the original Iron Man suit used in the 2008 film, Iron Man, had gone missing. The suit is currently valued at 325,000 and was taken from the storage business.   Where it is today is anyone’s guess.

5)Golden Oscars

55 Golden Oscar statuettes went missing in March 2000.  The 24 Karat gold-plated Oscars were being delivered for the celebrated yearly event, when they went missing in the process. Two men connected to the trucking company were later arrested for stealing them. However, only 52 of the 55 Oscars were recovered from a nearby dumpster at the time.  And then a few years later, in 2003, in Miami, 1 more was found.  Today, 2 remain missing.

 

So there you have 5 of the top stolen (or missing) movie memorabilia objects.

 

Best of luck with all that you seek!  Treasure the Adventure!