propmaker
New Member
Yeah, his signature coat was usually black...
Most Iconic props of all time?
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Yeah, his signature coat was usually black...
nickytea
Master Member
Black and white can be deceiving.
He used many different coats and vest combinations. One of the coats even had red piping on the lapels and sleeves.
There are a couple color shots floating around that are our only real clue into what color any of his vests were. (His team experimented with very early color plates.)
And the cane has always been the signature whangee. (Again, different specific canes, but always the same type.)
EDIT:
Here's a few of those shots I was talking about. I'd wager these were around A Dog's Life/The Kid era ... the prime of the Tramp character.
(You can still walk by that brick section of his studios on LaBrea.)
Last edited:
propmaker
New Member
When I said that Chaplin's signature coat was black I was referring to his most iconic, classic character, "The Little Tramp." That's the character that was loved and adored by millions.
His little tramp comedies were all filmed in black and white so we'll probably never know EXACTLY what color his coats were. You're right, he probably used slightly different coats in his films as he took his tramp character from studio to studio through the years. Although I would argue that the signature tramp look was certainly a black coat. Color illustrations of Chaplin of the time (posters, toys, advertising) depict his tramp coat as black. Heck, Robert Downey Jr. in CHAPLIN (1992) even portrays Chaplin's tramp wearing a black coat in that color film.
It's interesting, Chaplin even used to sign his name with a little sketch of his boots, hat and cane.
propmaker
New Member
Black and white can be deceiving.
He used many different coats and vest combinations. One of the coats even had red piping on the lapels and sleeves.
There are a couple color shots floating around that are our only real clue into what color any of his vests were. (His team experimented with very early color plates.)
And the cane has always been the signature whangee. (Again, different specific canes, but always the same type.)
EDIT:
Here's a few of those shots I was talking about. I'd wager these were around A Dog's Life/The Kid era ... the prime of the Tramp character.
(You can still walk by that brick section of his studios on LaBrea.)
Oh my god! I had never seen those color photos of Chaplin. You're right. Those brick buildings are the old Chaplin Studios on La Brea. It looks like they were just built (no landscaping yet - if they ever had any). I was lucky enough to get a tour inside the studio once.
Nickytea, I can see from your Avatar and knowledge you are a fan of the silent era. Well, so am I.
Jannix Quinn
Sr Member
batarang.
I totally agree on the Leg Lamp and Freddy Glove. Might as well throw in Jason's mask (any version from the 3rd-movie mold would do).
If it hasen't been mentioned yet (don't grudge me for being too lazy to read through every post) but I say the original Golden Ticket!
If it hasen't been mentioned yet (don't grudge me for being too lazy to read through every post) but I say the original Golden Ticket!
Zombie_61
Master Member
Bodybuilding?
I saw Ron Jeremy last weekend at Monsterpalooza. He looks even stranger in person.:eekRon Jeremy's Penis?!
Firefoxm31
Sr Member
The Nautilus was the first, first time a prop became the star of the show and EVERYONE wanted a model of it, Britain and Japan were the first to offer one
Will
Will
Riceball
Master Member
I took the liberty of doing a quick color correcting job on a couple of the pics to kind of get a better idea of what color his costume in those pics might have looked like in person. Like I said, it was a quick color correcting but it's good enough to tell that his vest had multiple colors in (possibly a striped or checkered pattern) and his pants were definitely blue.
My addition to the growing list is the stargate, it may not be super recognizable but it's at least recognizable to most (if not all) sci fi fans.
tardycannon
New Member
I'm just putting this out there to the community: I'm working on an Museum Exhibit that is exploring the intersection of cinema and the museum. Films that have showcased museums in key scenes, cultural artefacts that belong in a museum and so forth. Needless to say, props and production art from films like Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc. are being sought after. I am looking to get in contact with the owner of the following items (original screen used is preferable but will default to replicas):
Maltese Falcon
Kane's Rosebud Sled
Victor Laslo and Ilsa's transit papers in Casablanca
the Temple Idol
The Cross of Coronado
The Headpiece of the Staff of Ra
The Holy Grail from Last Crusade
Carlotta Valdes' necklace from Vertigo
Further ideas are welcomed. Hard data is much appreciated :love
Maltese Falcon
Kane's Rosebud Sled
Victor Laslo and Ilsa's transit papers in Casablanca
the Temple Idol
The Cross of Coronado
The Headpiece of the Staff of Ra
The Holy Grail from Last Crusade
Carlotta Valdes' necklace from Vertigo
Further ideas are welcomed. Hard data is much appreciated :love
Phelyx
Active Member
As a many years vet of uncountable property departments, I can say the moment a piece of wardrobe “does” something besides just being worn, it magically becomes a prop. The wardrobe department will likely hand it over to the prop folks to make/find/rent/purchase/wrangle/maintain, etc... Likewise with a piece of set dressing. A pen that just sits on a desk through a scene is set dressing, but if a character picks it up and stabs someone with it, it's a prop and you'll need multiples, etc... Even a chunk of a set itself can become a prop. Like a giant vault door that has to be blown open or removed, or a window that gets broken. It can be vague, but it's always worked out in production meetings who is going to do what. Generally props are the things on the stage that ”do“ something.
Iconic props...To me, they're things that immediately read as exactly what they are and where they're from and what they mean. Indy's whip might also be a whip from some other film... Chaplin's bowler might be Alex's bowler from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, etc...
Everyone's going to always have different important films in their memories, but to me, the Monolith from 2001 is my choice. It's simple, enigmatic, infinitely discussable and immediately recognizable. Then, maybe the statue of Pazuzu from THE EXORCIST.
Iconic props...To me, they're things that immediately read as exactly what they are and where they're from and what they mean. Indy's whip might also be a whip from some other film... Chaplin's bowler might be Alex's bowler from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, etc...
Everyone's going to always have different important films in their memories, but to me, the Monolith from 2001 is my choice. It's simple, enigmatic, infinitely discussable and immediately recognizable. Then, maybe the statue of Pazuzu from THE EXORCIST.
PHArchivist
Master Member
Nice post, and welcome...
TomGLFan
Well-Known Member
I thoroughly enjoyed your post! (And welcome, from one new guy to another!) I hadn't even thought about the Pazuzu statue; that really is abou as "iconic" as it gets!!
SwampDonkey
Well-Known Member
The Terminator T-800 Skull is the most iconic and instantly impressive/terrifying prop around. Its both functionally simple and brilliantly complex to look at. I guess as a biologist and and engineer im just blown away at the design of the exoskeleton in general. Has anyone noticed that its 100% functional? Hydraulics replacing muscles in all the right places.
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