Most Iconic props of all time?
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Benign Robot
New Member
Dorothy's Slippers would fall under costume.
Rosebud. The whole movie is about that sled, and it's the most highly regarded film in cinema history.
Xxblackbird
Sr Member
To be honest, MOST people haven't seen the Maltese Falcon or Citizen Kane.
I worked at a movie store for 4 years while in college and I'd often play both the Maltese Falcon and Citizen Kane (no stores in our area had either to rent or buy). No one knew what they were until I told them, and even then many had never heard of them. Only one woman admitted to ever having seen Falcon because she said it creeped her out as a kid.
They're classics, sure, and Sam Spade is a classic character and Rosebud is a classic quote. But for the average person, these movies are 60 years old, never on tv, haven't been re-released in theaters and I'd venture to say most rental chains don't rent them and most retail stores probably don't sell them. I'd never seen either until I turned 20 and I had to seek them out on the internet.
If you're going to go by what is the most recognizable prop, pick a unique prop from a decent movie that has been replayed 300,000 times on basic cable or something that has become a firm part of pop culture.
In my opinion, I'd say THE most recognizable prop (if you exclude ruby slippers) would be either Kryptonite or a batarang. Everyone knows a batarang and everyone at least knows what Kryptonite is.
I worked at a movie store for 4 years while in college and I'd often play both the Maltese Falcon and Citizen Kane (no stores in our area had either to rent or buy). No one knew what they were until I told them, and even then many had never heard of them. Only one woman admitted to ever having seen Falcon because she said it creeped her out as a kid.
They're classics, sure, and Sam Spade is a classic character and Rosebud is a classic quote. But for the average person, these movies are 60 years old, never on tv, haven't been re-released in theaters and I'd venture to say most rental chains don't rent them and most retail stores probably don't sell them. I'd never seen either until I turned 20 and I had to seek them out on the internet.
If you're going to go by what is the most recognizable prop, pick a unique prop from a decent movie that has been replayed 300,000 times on basic cable or something that has become a firm part of pop culture.
In my opinion, I'd say THE most recognizable prop (if you exclude ruby slippers) would be either Kryptonite or a batarang. Everyone knows a batarang and everyone at least knows what Kryptonite is.
Jaruemalak
Well-Known Member
Just because she wore them on her feet doesn't make the Ruby Slippers only Wardrobe. Anyone who works in the industry will tell you that very often, as special piece of clothing can very well be considered a prop, rather than wardrobe.
Dorothy's Ruby Slippers would fall under Props, not wardrobe, for various reasons.
One, they were a single, special item desired by several people in the film.
Two, they were (supposed to be) a special, magical item, not just something to wear.
Three, they were a main plot point that moved the story along.
Four, they resolved the story (brought Dorothy home).
Five, they are the single piece most remembered from that movie. You say "Ruby Slippers", you know they come from the Wizard of OZ.
Six, they were made by the prop department, not the Wardrobe department. (Thought I'd throw that one in there...)
I mean, if you are talking about something that is worn and not given a lot of specific screen time being wardrobe, Luke's Lightsaber in ANH was more wardrobe than Dorothy's slippers! He light it up once in Ben's hut, practiced for about 2 minutes of screentime on the Falcon and proceded to have it hanging on his belt for most of the rest of the movie. And for the purposes of ANH, Lukes lightsaber was rather unimportant.
(I'm not dissing the lightsaber. I love that thing! I'm just making a point.)
Dorothy's Ruby Slippers would fall under Props, not wardrobe, for various reasons.
One, they were a single, special item desired by several people in the film.
Two, they were (supposed to be) a special, magical item, not just something to wear.
Three, they were a main plot point that moved the story along.
Four, they resolved the story (brought Dorothy home).
Five, they are the single piece most remembered from that movie. You say "Ruby Slippers", you know they come from the Wizard of OZ.
Six, they were made by the prop department, not the Wardrobe department. (Thought I'd throw that one in there...)
I mean, if you are talking about something that is worn and not given a lot of specific screen time being wardrobe, Luke's Lightsaber in ANH was more wardrobe than Dorothy's slippers! He light it up once in Ben's hut, practiced for about 2 minutes of screentime on the Falcon and proceded to have it hanging on his belt for most of the rest of the movie. And for the purposes of ANH, Lukes lightsaber was rather unimportant.
(I'm not dissing the lightsaber. I love that thing! I'm just making a point.)
How are these props/non-human characters/vehicles for instant recognition by the multi-generational, multi-national public, because they were unique and exclusive to one film, show, or character:
* The Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (do vehicles count?)
* The H.G. Wells Time Machine from the Rod Taylor version
* T-800 Endoskeleton (do cyborgs count?)
* Gort (do robots count?)
* TMA-1 "The Monolith" from 2001
* Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum (i.e., "Are you feeling lucky, PUNK???")
* Wilson!!!!!!!!
* Maria from Metropolis
* R2-D2
* Darth Vader's helm
* The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
* Spock's ears
* A Tribble
* The '66 Batmobile
* The Trojan Rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
* Rambo's combat Bowie knives in all their versions
* Bruce the shark
* Devil's Tower ("yeah, I've got one in my living room...")
* Masks of Zorro or the Lone Ranger
* Master Yoda
* The One Ring
* Patton's Chrome helmet
* The knife from Psycho
* The Phantom of the Opera's mask
* The Little Tramp's hat, cane, and shoes
* The pumpkin carriage & glass slipper (do animated classic props count?)
* Godzilla suit
* M-203 (M16 with 40 mm grenade launcher) from Scarface ("say che-llo to my leetel friend!")
* Flash Gordon's ray-gun
Too tired to come up with more, but you get the point.
Bottom line, even if a non-collector doesn't recognize any of these right off the bat, good chance he or she would get them right if they appeared on a multiple choice test!
Regarding some of the others mentioned, I think Luke's lightsaber is probably the most iconic SCI-FI prop ever and No. 1 on the wish list of every young boy (still is on mine at 42, lol!), but only when the blade is SWITCHED ON - I doubt most people who are not prop collectors or hardcore SW fans would recognize any of the hilts for what they are. I also wouldn't count the Ten Commandment tablets because they are HISTORICALLY recognizable, and in many forms - I'm not convinced even someone who's seen the film would be able to pick the screen-used set out of a line-up of other full-scale tablets.
P.S. - great way to introduce myself, don't you guys think? :angel
* The Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (do vehicles count?)
* The H.G. Wells Time Machine from the Rod Taylor version
* T-800 Endoskeleton (do cyborgs count?)
* Gort (do robots count?)
* TMA-1 "The Monolith" from 2001
* Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum (i.e., "Are you feeling lucky, PUNK???")
* Wilson!!!!!!!!
* Maria from Metropolis
* R2-D2
* Darth Vader's helm
* The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
* Spock's ears
* A Tribble
* The '66 Batmobile
* The Trojan Rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
* Rambo's combat Bowie knives in all their versions
* Bruce the shark
* Devil's Tower ("yeah, I've got one in my living room...")
* Masks of Zorro or the Lone Ranger
* Master Yoda
* The One Ring
* Patton's Chrome helmet
* The knife from Psycho
* The Phantom of the Opera's mask
* The Little Tramp's hat, cane, and shoes
* The pumpkin carriage & glass slipper (do animated classic props count?)
* Godzilla suit
* M-203 (M16 with 40 mm grenade launcher) from Scarface ("say che-llo to my leetel friend!")
* Flash Gordon's ray-gun
Too tired to come up with more, but you get the point.
Bottom line, even if a non-collector doesn't recognize any of these right off the bat, good chance he or she would get them right if they appeared on a multiple choice test!Regarding some of the others mentioned, I think Luke's lightsaber is probably the most iconic SCI-FI prop ever and No. 1 on the wish list of every young boy (still is on mine at 42, lol!), but only when the blade is SWITCHED ON - I doubt most people who are not prop collectors or hardcore SW fans would recognize any of the hilts for what they are. I also wouldn't count the Ten Commandment tablets because they are HISTORICALLY recognizable, and in many forms - I'm not convinced even someone who's seen the film would be able to pick the screen-used set out of a line-up of other full-scale tablets.
P.S. - great way to introduce myself, don't you guys think? :angel
Suprised I haven't seen it listed yet, but some may just consider it a model....
The original 5ft Millenium Falcon.
I dare you to find someone who is even moderately versed in films or TV and they will recognize this item right off. The slippers, maybe. Luke's lightsaber, maybe.... I actually had to go back and rewatch ANH to convince myself that the Icons replica is what Luke's lightsaber actually looked like in the film. And I lived and breathed Star Wars (not props at that time though).
-Adam
The original 5ft Millenium Falcon.
I dare you to find someone who is even moderately versed in films or TV and they will recognize this item right off. The slippers, maybe. Luke's lightsaber, maybe.... I actually had to go back and rewatch ANH to convince myself that the Icons replica is what Luke's lightsaber actually looked like in the film. And I lived and breathed Star Wars (not props at that time though).
-Adam
Jaruemalak
Well-Known Member
I agree completely. I'd be willing to bet that you could show your average person who's seen any of the Star Wars movies a lightsaber (without blade) and they wouldn't know it was a lightsaber. They certainly wouldn't know who's belonged to who. BUT... show it lit up (on film, obviously) and they'd know instantly it was one of those light thingies - or laser swords - or whatever that thing was called from Star Wars! (I've even heard a light saber referred to as "one of those, whachacallit, wizz-wand things")
And, yes, great way to introduce yourself! Welcome! (I'm pretty new here, myself.)
PHArchivist
Master Member
Forgot about those. The rank up there too.
PHArchivist
Master Member
Solid point. And to call in my perspective, I'm not sure if the production used more than one sled or not. Anybody know?
Aku-Aku - nice list. The original 1701 model would be a top contender with the Death Star model. Any difference in "score" on my list of metrics would be minimal enough to fall into the category of subjective opinion.
Certainly Star Trek (TOS) made just about as big, if not bigger, cultural splash as Star Wars, and clearly, there was only one model made.
The Falcon model enters into this realm, but if you look at its role and significance to the plot compared to the DS, it becomes debateable. The USED the Falco to get there, but the whole plot of the film was to rescue the chick from the DS and then to blow it to smithereens...
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Darbycrash
Well-Known Member
The original Time Machine from the George Pal movie would have to be it for me. My parents would recognize that or Mary Poppins Umbrella and Bag.
Force Commander
Sr Member
The top half of the Statue of Liberty in POTA.
Tan Djarka
Sr Member
Just for the record, isn't an "iconic prop" one that's instantly recognisable or beloved by the public, and not one that's rare or bears some great importance to the plot?
Since we've listed the Batmobile or BTTF Delorean and cars are fair game, how about:
-V-8 Interceptor from Mad Max/The Road Warrior
-Steve McQueen's green Mustang from "Bullitt" (the even recently issued an Bullitt Anniversary Edition Mustang, so...)
Since we've listed the Batmobile or BTTF Delorean and cars are fair game, how about:
-V-8 Interceptor from Mad Max/The Road Warrior
-Steve McQueen's green Mustang from "Bullitt" (the even recently issued an Bullitt Anniversary Edition Mustang, so...)
PHArchivist
Master Member
That's the inherent challenge with a topic like this - the question alone bears subjective interpretation, let alone the response.
I would agree that "iconic" translates predominantly to recognition, but intertwined with recognition would be cultural impact. Being recognized by virtually every human beyond the indigenous tribes of the greater Amazon basin doesn't automatically translate "iconic", though I suppose most often it does, at least to some degree.
Things like rarity, importance to the film's plot, etcetera, drive value to an item (particularly for avid prop collectors), but I'd agree that for the most part these characteristics do not necessarily factor into how memorable or iconic something is.
:lol Sorry, man. The only reason I have a Sting sword is because I got it for a gift. My house is lousy with movie props. I have yet to have one person (even those that have seen the LOTR movies) identify the sword. Matter of fact, it often gets overlooked all together.
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