An iconic piece of Indiana Jones history has found a new owner after fetching $630,000 at an auction. On August 15, a “screen-and-photo-matched” fedora worn by Harrison Ford in the 1984 film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was sold through Propstore, a well-known auction house specializing in movie memorabilia.
La impactante cifra por la que fue subastado el sombrero que usó Harrison Ford en “Indiana Jones” https://t.co/m4DmbAwW9u
— Alberto Ravell (@AlbertoRavell) August 18, 2024
This particular fedora, meticulously crafted for the second installment of the Indiana Jones series, holds significant historical value. It matched scenes from the film, production stills, and behind-the-scenes footage, making it an authentic piece of cinematic history. The hat was prominently featured during scenes shot in Sri Lanka, the mine cart chase at Elstree Studios, and the river sequence filmed in the United States.
Notably, the fedora was also worn by stunt performer Dean Ferrandini, who worked on the film’s raft sequences. The hat came from Ferrandini’s personal collection, and the auction included previously unpublished photos of him in costume as Indiana Jones, along with a letter of authenticity signed by his wife, Keefe Ferrandini.
The fedora boasts a slight design update from the original hat used in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. Costume designer Anthony Powell and assistant designer Joanna Johnston collaborated closely with Herbert Johnson, the hat maker, to create a more tapered crown for this installment. The sweatband inside the hat is stamped with the initials “I J” in gold, a feature unique to the hats made for the three original Indiana Jones films. The hat also bears makeup residue on the sweatband, adding to its authenticity.
This prized fedora was not the only notable item sold at the auction. Other high-ticket movie props included a motorized Batwing used by Michael Keaton in the 1989 film Batman, which sold for $406,250; a Ghostface costume worn by Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard in the original Scream (1996), which fetched $270,900; and a Handbook for the Recently Deceased prop from 1988’s Beetlejuice, which sold for $34,650.
Harrison Ford, who has portrayed Indiana Jones across five films over 40-plus years, has become synonymous with the adventurous archaeologist. The franchise includes Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and the most recent Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).
The brown felt fedora worn by actor Harrison Ford in the second installment of the Indiana Jones movies sold for $630,000 at auction, film and TV memorabilia company Propstore announced. https://t.co/bRcGvZFkLF
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 18, 2024
Ahead of the release of the latest film, Ford reflected on the legacy of the franchise during an interview with BBC Radio 1. When thanked by journalist Ali Plumb on behalf of the fans, Ford appeared momentarily emotional and expressed his deep gratitude, saying, “It means the world to me.”
Key Points:
- A fedora worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was auctioned for $630,000.
- The fedora was also used by stuntman Dean Ferrandini and came from his personal collection.
- The hat features updates from the original design used in Raiders of the Lost Ark and bears the initials “I J.”
- Other high-ticket movie props sold in the same auction included items from Batman, Scream, and Beetlejuice.
- Harrison Ford reflected emotionally on the legacy of the Indiana Jones franchise before the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
