Rare props, costumes and other materials from the classic sci-fi movie Forbidden Planet will be auctioned off this week in Bonhams, Los Angeles, according to foreign media reports. Following the auction house's auction of the original Robby robot in 2017, it was part of a series of memorabilia from collector Wes Shank Estate, who died in 2018.
As artifacts of pop culture, movie memorabilia are always interesting, but there is something special about science fiction and projects in science fiction films, because in addition to giving us an insight into famous stories, they also reveal the art and originality in creation. What at first looks like just a striking outfit or costume is often the tip of a bigger, more interesting story.
One example is the 1956 film Forbidden Planet. This was MGM's first sci-fi film, and it got a full A-list film processing at the time of production. Similar to Shakespeare's The Tempest, the story takes place on the fictional planet Altair 4 sometime in the 23rd century and revolves around commander JJ Adams (Leslie Nielsen) and his crew in the space cruiser C-57D. There, they meet mad scientist Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis), who are guarding the terrible secrets of a long-dead race and must fight an unseen monster of growing power and malicious killing, invisible "identity".
The auction includes an impressive array of projects that reveal the need to put these works into a sci-fi epic before CGI and other high-tech aids can be put in. These include six detailed blueprints for the exquisite set and "co-starring" Robby the Robot produced by Unit Art Director Art. There is also an id monster attacking the space traveler's animated drawings, thus creating a monster.
Other items to be auctioned off are the elaborate locking mechanisms that the alien Krell uses to control the doors; Silk clothing worn by Morbius; "Force field" column for the protection of space cruisers; There were also military uniform tops, shirts, pants, belts and jackets worn by the crew. The jacket is appealing because it's now chocolate brown instead of the original gray, and was later re-dyed when used in another film, highlighting one reason science fiction costumes and props are often hard to find — studios tend to reuse them for years.
Another interesting one was the impact pistol and rifle used by the crew. Made of metal and plastic, they were the first prop ray guns to emit light. The purpose of this is not just aesthetics. It also has a very practical feature that tells the effects team when the actor pulls the trigger, so they know when to add light.
But at the heart of the sale had to be the United Planet Cruiser C-57D. The smallest of the three models of the Cinematic Spaceship, it was one of the main inspirations for Star Trek's USS Enterprise-class starships, including a Plexiglas base and electronics for running the cruiser lights and a super-drive engine at the bottom.
The Forbidden Planet souvenir is part of the "TCM Presents – Wonders of the Galaxy" auction that begins May 14 at 1 p.m. Pacific Summer Time.