- Title: USA: FILM STARS' MEMORABILIA ARE AUCTIONED AT CHRISTIE'S
- Date: 13th July 2001
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) CU CROWE'S AXE CU PICTURE OF ELVIS; CU PALE YELLOW ELVIS PRESLEY SUIT FROM 'SIN OUT' CUS NUBBY ELVIS SUIT FROM 'GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS'; PICTURE IF ELVIS (3 SHOTS) CU CABINET WITH VARIOUS MEMORABILIA, INCLUDING GLASSES WORN BY AUSTIN POWERS CLOSE UP POWERS' GLASSES
- Embargoed: 28th July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAE0GAXANV1SJT8GUDT95T11DBM
- Story Text: The mystery buyer of Bette Davis' best actress Oscar for the 1938 film "Jezebel," in which she plays a spoiled southern belle, has revealed his identity. Award-winning film director, Steven Spielberg has admitted he bought the statue for a whopping $578,000 at auction on Thursday, the third-highest price ever paid for one of the golden statuettes that represent Hollywood's highest honour.
The Oscar, the second of two Davis won during a career that spanned six decades, was the highlight of a sale of Davis and other Hollywood memorabilia at Christie's. The final figure, which includes the auction house's commission, was more than twice the high estimate of $250,000.
The top price for any piece of Hollywood memorabilia was $1.54 million for the 1939 best picture Oscar that went to producer David O. Selznick for "Gone With the Wind." It was bought by pop star Michael Jackson at Sotheby's in 1999. Clark Gable's best actor Oscar for "It Happened One Night" was bought by director Steven Spielberg in December 1996 for $607,500.
Mark McGwire's historic 70th home run baseball holds the record for celebrity memorabilia, at just over $3 million.
Davis' Oscar for "Jezebel," an antebellum drama set in New Orleans in which she co-starred opposite Henry Fonda, was bought by an anonymous client after a protracted bidding war by two telephone bidders that began around $250,000 and soared to a $520,000 gavel price.
The entertainment memorabilia sale also included props from the classic "The Ten Commandments" and Elvis Presley items at an afternoon session.
The Davis items, comprised mostly of clothing, jewellery, documents, scripts and various household items, were from the collection of Kathryn Sermak, who was Davis' personal assistant and companion in the 1980s until her death at 81 in 1989.
Davis, a Massachusetts native, was among Hollywood's top stars appearing in some 100 films during a career that included 10 Oscar nominations with two wins.
A whole Superman costume, including boots, warn by Christopher Reeves in 1978 was sold for 14,000 dollars (US) including commission.
The axe wielded by super star Russell Crowe in the 2000 movie, Gladiator was estimated at between 1,200 and 1,400 U.S.
dollars but it finally sold for 5,875 dollars (US). Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor while swinging the axe as the gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius. The axe is actually made of hard rubber and appears in the final scene of the movie when Crowe fights the Gauls and the tigers in the Coliseum.
A couple of suits worn by the King, Elvis Presley in two of his movies also went before the gavel. A Yellow linen jacket Elvis wore in the 1966 film 'Spin Out' sold for 9,400 dollars (US), while a nubby beige blazer from the 1962 film 'Girls, Girls, Girls" sold for 9,987 dollars (US).
A pair of glasses worn by Mike Myers in Austin Powers - Man of Mystery sold for 3,290 dollars (US), well above it's low estimate of 1,000 dollars (US). Designed by Cutler-Gross of London, this pair is one of many that were used in the film.
It was given to a crew member by the prop master who predicted the film would be a flop. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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