The Helmet Rick Moranis Wore as Dark Helmet in SPACEBALLS is Up For Auction
A couple props from Mel Brooks' classic Star Wars spoof film Spaceballs are currently up for auction, and if your pockets are full of cash and you can afford to buy a $675 Jurassic Park hoodie, you might want to consider placing a bid on one of these items.
The first item is the giant helmet that Rick Moranis wore as Dark Helmet in the film. The price is currently at $8,000 and this is the description from the auction site:
This articulating oversized signature helmet was worn by Moranis as Dark Helmet throughout the Mel Brooks classic Sci-Fi spoof. Consisting of 20 in. round by 14 in. tall cartoonish “Darth Vader”-stylized helmet constructed of heavy vacuum formed plastic component shell affixed to internal construction worker’s hard-hat liner to fit the actor. With screw-hinged movable faceplate section featuring vents, metalized shower drain mouth piece and triangular embedded tinted see-through lenses. Exhibiting only minor production wear and age. In vintage very good to fine condition.
Moranis previously talked about the original idea for the helmet and mask in an interview with THR. He explained that the original idea for the mask a was a full-body prop, but that was later scaled-down to what we saw in the film. He also said, "It was very light — actually took one prop guy to maneuver it. Where's it now? The Smithsonian?"
Now it's going to end up being in some rich guy's private collection. The other prop up for auction is a miniature model of Lone Starr and Barf's Eagle 5 space Winnebago used for filming. The bidding for that starts at $20,000. Here's the description:
The most iconic prop from the Sci-Fi send-up of the Star Wars phenomenon. Director Mel Brooks brings us his campy take on the “Millennium Falcon” with this, the “Eagle 5” Space Winnebago! The hyper-realistic miniature RV, retrofitted for space travel, measures 35 in. long x 10.7 in. tall x 37 in. wide. Constructed of custom made cast resin, vacuum formed plastic panels, metal, plastic and wood components. Assembled and finished with obsessive attention to minute detail like tiny rearview mirrors, a truck horn on the roof, door handles, fuel ports, decal branding to air conditioning vents, minuscule windshield wiper, realistic striping and badging, and much more. With impressive spaceship engines affixed under each wing and the “Eagle 5” insignia displayed proudly on the doors. A closer peek through the model’s windshield reveals both pilot and co-pilot in place in the form of striking miniature, likenesses of “Lone Starr” (Bill Pullman) and his faithful sidekick “Barf” (John Candy) with applied hair and fabric costumes. The very finest examples of model making magic are on display in this iconic piece. Highly visible in scenes where Eagle 5 journeys through space. In production used very fine condition. Provenance: The collection of Grant McCune.
Spaceballs is such a funny movie and no matter how many times I've seen it, it still manages to make me laugh my ass off.