Captain Kirk's Star Trek phaser gun from the second pilot of
the wildly popular 1960s television series sold for a hefty US$231,000
(NZ$274,300) on Saturday in Los Angeles, Julien's Auctions said.
The phaser, created at the request of Star Trek creator Gene
Roddenberry for use by William Shatner, who played Kirk in the beloved sci-fi
show, had been estimated to sell for about US$50,000, but achieved more than
four times that including commission.
Other extraterrestrial highlights at the two-day Hollywood
Legends sale of hundreds of costumes, memorabilia, props and other items
included the "alien survey buggy" seen aboard the Nostromo in the
1979 movie Alien, which sold for US$10,625, and a complete costume worn by
Anubis, played by Carlos Lauchu, in the 1994 movie Stargate, which sold for
US$16,250, more than three times the estimate.
An archive of autographs from Academy Award winners fetched
US$15,625, while a 1966 Imperial Crown car nicknamed the Black Beauty built for
the 2011 production of The Green Hornet movie sold for US$46,875. It was the
only one of several versions left intact after production, Julien's said.
Old Hollywood was represented as well. Claudette Colbert's
Cleopatra cape from the lavish 1934 Cecil B. DeMille film sold for US$5,625,
while a Munchkins flowerpot hat from 1939's The Wizard of Oz made US$15,000.
Fast-forwarding to the 1980s, Christopher Reeve's Superman
IV flying suit sold for US$25,000, in line with the estimate.
Items connected to film siren Marilyn Monroe continued to
draw interest some 50 years after her death: a nightshirt fetched US$15,000, a
bra from Some Like It Hot sold for US$28,125 and a one of her cocktail dresses
soared to US$25,000, more than four times the estimate. Monroe's Capo di Monte
cups and saucers sold for US$17,500.