As society undergoes continual change, one of the few things that has remained constant is the hold movies have on the public psyche. Whether it's classic cinema like "Citizen Kane," attention-grabbing action flicks like "Die Hard," or schlocky personal favorites like B-horror movies and other genre-specific fare, people have shown an affinity over the years to drop their hard-earned dollars on an hour and a half or so of escapism entertainment.
That ethos is further manifested in the large and diverse world of movie prop and wardrobe collecting, which is exemplified by the numerous Hollywood memorabilia auctions you can find. One of those auctions, which will offer bidders a chance to take home items from some of their favorite movies of all time, is the Epic Cinema Hollywood Wardrobe and Props Auction that will take place this Friday, Sept. 27, at the Spectrum Auctions Company in North Hollywood, Calif., and online at iCollector.com.
Wardrobes of female heroes
Among the many items of movie memorabilia for sale on the 27th will be several wardrobe pieces worn by some of the strongest and most beloved female characters in modern cinema.
While the ending of 1991's "Thelma and Louise," where the film's heroines drive off a cliff into the Grand Canyon, may be the movie's most memorable moment, the beginning of the film is where audiences got hooked. One of the reasons for that immediate fascination was the lovely Susan Sarandon strutting her stuff in a plain, yet still sexy, waitress uniform. That very uniform is one of the headlining pieces of the Epic Cinema auction (lot #86), and is sure to serve up a lot of interest.
Jessica Alba is another contemporary actress who has made a name for herself playing strong, often action-oriented, female characters. One of the movies where she started making a name for herself was the 2005 thriller "Into the Blue." Telling the story of a group of divers who run into trouble with a drug lord after they happen across a sunken airplane, the movie has become a bit of a cult classic due to its numerous shots of near-naked Hollywood stars and starlets, including Alba, who was also nominated for the decidedly unprestigious Golden Raspberry Award for her performance.
Two of the outfits that have helped "Into the Blue" remain relevant over the years, both worn by Alba during shooting, will be available for bidding. The sleeveless wetsuit shirt and crochet bikini bottoms (lot #41) that Alba prominently displayed in several advertisements for the film, along with another commercial-highlighted outfit that consisted of a dolphin sunset top, blue jeans, beige Reef sandals, Blinde sunglasses, gold rings, earrings, a silver ring and a charm necklace (lot #39) will be just two of the famous costumes on the block.
Movies of the 1990s and 2000s
Other favorites from the past 25 years that will have items available include "The Thomas Crown Affair," starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo; the original "Legally Blonde" and its sequel; and "Mulholland Falls."
iCollector offers movie buffs the chance to take home some of their favorite items from film history, including outfits that can serve as showpieces or choice apparel for Halloween.