USA/AFRICA: AUCTION OF MOVIE MEMORABILIA RAISES MONEY FOR UNICEF WORK WITH AIDS VICTIMS IN AFRICA

Record ID: 863099

  • Title: USA/AFRICA: AUCTION OF MOVIE MEMORABILIA RAISES MONEY FOR UNICEF WORK WITH AIDS VICTIMS IN AFRICA
  • Date: 6th March 2001
  • Summary: SOTHERBY'S AUCTION HOUSE, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (MARCH 6, 2001) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF THE ROOM FEATURING THE MOVIE MEMORABILIA AUCTION (0.02) SMV, AUCTIONEER TAKING BIDS (0.07) STILL, PHOTO OF MEL GIBSON AS "BRAVEHEART" (0.12) SMV, THE SWORD GIBSON USED IN THE MOVIE BRAVEHEART (3 SHOTS) (0.23)
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES/AFRICA
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,General,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABUTIQU6SBYV6C91NQPRQVNQW5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Memorabilia from blockbuster movies such as Star Wars Episode One, Braveheart and Zorro were auctioned at Sotheby's in New York on Tuesday, to raise money for "Movie Action for Children," proceeds from which will be used to provide drugs to prevent mother-to-foetus transmissions of AIDS in African countries.
    A sword wielded by Mel Gibson in the Oscar-winning epic film "Braveheart" fetched $170,000 on Tuesday at a charity auction organized by actor Liam Neeson.
    The 54-inch sword, one of several used by Gibson as Scottish warrior William Wallace in the film he also directed, was the top lot of an auction of Hollywood memorabilia donated by top stars to benefit UNICEF.
    Neeson said he and others spent more than a year placing thousands of calls and sending letters to Hollywood stars seeking donated items from their films. All of his efforts went to those fighting AIDS in Africa.
    "The ultimate objective is to wipe out HIV transmission from mothers to their babies in three African countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Ivory Coast. That's what tonight is all about," said Neeson.
    Neeson managed to snag quite a few movie treasures included the bullwhip used by Harrison Ford in all three of the Indiana Jones movies. It sold for $74,000.
    Julia Roberts, an Oscar front-runner this year for "Erin Brockovich," came up with the wedding gown she wore in "Runaway Bride." It went for $16,000.
    The sale's 15 lots have raised a total of $406,850 so far, with another 77 items still on the block. Bidding on those itemson Wednesday.
    Neeson worked with his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, on the project, called "Movie Action for Children," proceeds from which will be used to provide drugs to prevent mother-to-foetus transmissions of AIDS in African countries.
    He cited "disgustingly huge" rates of infection and said it cost only $4 to provide the necessary treatment to stem mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS that has reached epidemic proportions in Africa.
    Over 100 items from Hollywood celebrities will be auctioned off at Sotheby's in New York next Tuesday (March 6th).
    Organized by actor Liam Neeson and UNICEF Ireland, the money will be donated to buy drugs to combat babies born with the AIDS virus in Africa.
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