Hi, let me tell you something cool that just happened in Los Angeles. Do you remember that classic whip used by Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? It just sold in an auction for a staggering amount—$525,000!
Yes, half a million dollars for a whip. But this is no ordinary whip—it’s a piece of movie history.
So what’s so special about this whip?
Let me spell it out in brief:
- This whip was used by Harrison Ford in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
- It’s the same one he used in the Holy Grail trials, i.e., the action-packed closing sequence of the film.
- That’s already pretty special — but wait, there’s more!
From screen to royalty
- After the release of the film in the U.K., Harrison Ford gave the whip as a gift to Prince Charles (yes, the future King).
- Prince Charles gifted it to Princess Diana.
- It came into the possession of someone else (the current owner has not been revealed), and it’s now for sale.
So not only is this whip a legendary film prop, but it also has royal lineage. Wow, right?
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The massive auction in Beverly Hills
- This whip was part of a massive auction being carried out by Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills.
- It’s called the Summer Entertainment Auction, and they’ve been auctioning all week. They’ve been auctioning off all sorts of iconic film memorabilia.
Some of the other things being auctioned are:
- Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane – sold for $14.75 million!
- Knit snow cap from Home Alone worn by Macaulay Culkin – still taking bids
- Kurt Russell’s revolver from Wyatt Earp – also up for sale
- Kill Bill swords – that’s right, the iconic “Hattori Hanzo” props are in there
- A signed Harry Potter book set by J.K. Rowling – that’s right, a first edition!
The auction has been such a success that it’s already the second largest entertainment auction ever, and there’s still a day to go!
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And what’s happened to that sled from Citizen Kane?
Oh, and, by the way, that sled I spoke about—well, it was from the 1941 film Citizen Kane, one of the greatest movies in cinema history. The sled, which was called “Rosebud,” was a mysterious character in the movie.
There are only three of these sleds remaining:
- One was bought by Steven Spielberg in the 1980s for $60,500.
- Another one sold in 1996 for $233,000.
- And this third one? It just sold for $14.75 million!
It was purchased by director Joe Dante, who discovered it in 1984 in a lot and held onto it all these years.
Why are individuals so eager to pay so much money for these types of things?
It is not the item—it is the story behind it.
Collectors want to possess a piece of Hollywood. Consider having something that was in your favorite movie or touched by your favorite actor. That is what makes these sales so exciting to collectors and fans.
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So yeah, a whip, a sled, and even a snow cap—no longer merely movie props. They’re history, and now somebody has a piece of movie magic.
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