Recently, Invaluable.com contacted Staying
Scared and posed an interesting question…
What movie prop would I like to find on an auction block?
Although the question was in general and not genre specific,
this horror writing clown is going to peer from the shadows to answer it.
Many horror fans might choose Michael’s mask or Jason’s axe
or Freddy’s hand and that’s all well and good. Hell! I would love to possess
one of these prized pieces myself and what horror fan wouldn’t? However, would
it be something I would specifically like to find on an auction block? Maybe,
but let’s delve deeper shall we?
Now, before we begin this fantasy, let’s cover some ground
rules and eliminate any and all monetary aspects. Let’s simply allow the dream
to flow, pretend that we managed to have the opportunity to grasp that one
single piece that made our hearts flutter or bleed, your choice.
Like nearly every fan, regardless of genre, there will
always be that one item on their list. I am no different and coming up with a
single item was easy enough. However, the thought was so titillating that it
forced a pondering of what my numbers 2 thru 5 items would be, and that’s where
the contemplation grew a little tougher. After careful consideration, listed
below are five movie props I would like to see and/or own.
 |
| #1 |
An authenticated wooden stake from any Christopher Lee
Hammer horror film. These include Dracula Has Risen From the Grave, Dracula,
Prince of Darkness, Scars of Dracula and Taste the Blood of Dracula. With my
younger years filled with watching Chilly Billy on Pittsburgh’s channel 11
Chiller Theatre, many frights and fears were experienced and these films
cemented my perception of Dracula. This is no critique or smear of Bela Lugosi’s
version. It was simply my era and thus would make this top 5 list.
 |
| #2 |
Peter
Cushing is my all-time favorite horror movie actor. For those unaware, he was
the guy usually playing Dr. Van Helsing in those Christopher Lee vampire
flicks. But, that was not the only roles he portrayed. In The House that
Dripped Blood, an anthological film featuring five tales surrounding an old and
eerie house, his head ends up on a silver platter much like in Creepshow’s
Father’s Day. Odd to want a silver platter? Maybe…probably…yep, but hey, every
single film prop has a home somewhere, where it will be viewed with reverence, typically
taken from fond memory. Speaking of Peter Cushing, in Dr. Terror’s House of
Horrors, another anthological film from Amicus, he portrayed a rather
mysterious rail traveler who used tarot cards to reveal destinies of five
fellow travelers. Just a single one of these tarot cards would be prized also.
 |
| #3 |
The
Exorcist, a demonic film that terrified audiences near and far will always rate
high for this dark heart and as a matter of fact, there is one thing from the
film I wouldn’t mind seeing…Father Merrin’s purple Surplice…and I wouldn’t even
mind if there were a split pea soup stain on it. While not what you would call
religious, I do believe, but there is something about that upside down wooden
cross too.
 |
| #4 |
Branching
away from mainstream horror for a moment, a tooth from the massive mechanical
star in Jaws would be interesting enough. However, I highly doubt Universal
would appreciate a corrupted clown scuba diving in one of their theme parks.
Besides, the red nose would probably get in the way.
Number five is too tough to call and so I’ll
list a few items which equally rank.
 |
5a
A Walking Dead prop, say a screwdriver that had been
driven into an undead head. Actually, anything from The Walking Dead would be
choice.
|
 |
5b
Chainsaws are fine and these machines have chewed
flesh in a number of movies. While not his preferred choice, Jason used one,
and Leatherface always did, even perfected the use, but if I were to choose a featured
chainsaw, it would be the one that The Evil Dead’s Ash used in place of his
haunted hand.
|
 |
5c
In Missile to the Moon, a most cheesy science fiction
film of the 1950’s featuring Rock Men and of all things, a giant spider, there
was a great emphasis on avoiding direct sunlight. It wasn’t until the end of
the film that we knew exactly why. When the astronauts were attempting to get
back to their spaceship, they took great care in remaining in the shadows of a
sheer rock wall. However, large rock men took note and gave chase forcing one
of the astronauts out into the sunlight where he proceeded to sizzle inside his
spacesuit and became nothing more than charcoal. I wouldn’t mind having the
helmet and the suit.
|
Note:
Now you might be wondering why this horror writer’s all-time
favorite fright flick, The Night of the Living Dead, isn’t included on this
list. Well…had I not personally visited the Evans City Cemetery and snapped off
a small piece of bark from the tree that Barbara crashed her brother’s car into
during the film’s opening sequence…it probably would have been.
But wait! There’s more!
Not only did this most intriguing question push thought boundaries,
it also coerced and compelled a website visit and I learned that Invaluable.com
had previously offered the Han Solo’s DL-44 Blaster (see it here) and although
impressive, more importantly I found the auction site to be refined and classy,
where hundreds of specialty items are offered, primarily aimed at the most discriminating
collector. Of course, being a horror fan I delved straight into the dark side, admired
such things as lobby cards and signed posters and eventually found myself
exploring a number of other items, including bottles of fine wine…you know…the
ones you buy and never taste. Believe me, there is more than I could ever cover
here.
And so, I’d like to thank Invaluable.com for
taking the time to propose such an interesting question. I could select even more and may in the near future. Nonetheless, this was so interesting that
I’ll solicit it myself to other bloggers.
What movie prop would you
like to find on an auction block?
And now back to chapter 22 of my novel A Lawnly Existence
By the way, I also submitted a Reject a Hit to Writer's Digest, I'll keep ya tabbed.
Until next time Creeps, keep the grave mound moist and wormy.
Stay Scared!
Thomas
