One very general question: what happens to all the props that are used in film?
Most of them are probably kept, others sold or destroyed? So does anybody know what happened to these two pictures that were used in two of Errol's films? The first one is a cartoon from “That Forsyte Woman”, I just copied it from what I saw on the screen, so it is not the original. The second is this beautiful portrait from “Essex” – are they still at the MGM resp. Warner Archives, or has somebody purchased them maybe? Who can solve the mystery?
— Inga
Hi Inga;
Excellent question! I wonder if they still exist – I love the Essex picture!
Most props and costumes were (and in many cases, still are) the property of the respective studio. Sometimes independent suppliers like Western Costume would be used. At Western I once saw the gold box in which Maid Marian tried to hide her warning letter to Robin. Made my fingers very itchy…….
Last week I saw a gold banquet bowl from Robin Hood in the Warners prop department. These discoveries never cease to excite and entertain me.
Who would not be excited by such discoveries?! But tell me: how do you get access to such places? Am I right supposing that not any average person gets access to the prop departments?
I get into the studios when I rent props and costumes for my paintings. Paramount once rented me the actual basket from the baby Moses scene in “The Ten Commandments”. I can assure you they wouldn't be THAT risky anymore! My recent visit to Warners was with Robert Matzen, whom I've been helping with his upcoming Errol & Olivia book.
wow!!!! thanks for enlighting me! maybe next time you can have a look if you can find the essex picture somewhere? would be really interesting. have they got an inventory of what is still there?