| There are certain props in entertainment that you | | | | originally only one Maltese falcon made for the |
| never forget. They become so much of your life and | | | | production but it was dented in filming and several |
| your heart that the mere memory of them calls up | | | | resin falcons were produced to finish production. The |
| visions, feelings and scenes to play over and over in | | | | original falcon is on display in the Warner Brother's |
| your head. Those are the movie props that | | | | museum and available for viewing. 4 other falcons are |
| transcend just the need to collect and be put in | | | | privately owned and displayed at various venues. At |
| someone's vault at the MGM studios, but are | | | | one time its auction price of nearly $386,000 was |
| important enough that everyone should know where | | | | one of the highest paid in the world. In February of |
| they are. These items aren't just part of a picture; | | | | 2007 the official replica of the falcon used in publicity |
| they are part of our common heritage, our culture | | | | stills was stolen from the second floor vault of a San |
| and our joy. But, where are they? There's No Place | | | | Francisco restaurant where it was being displayed. |
| Like Home Ask anyone who saw the 1939 version of | | | | Rosebud Charles Foster Kane lay on his opulent |
| the Wizard of Oz what is the most vivid image they | | | | death bed wanting Rosebud. The mystery of its |
| remember and they will tell you one of two things: | | | | identity consumed the movie Citizen Kane, considered |
| The witch scrawling "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky, | | | | by many to be one of the best films ever produced. |
| or the brilliant red ruby slippers tapping their heels as | | | | As we watch Charles Kane start out with good |
| Dorothy remembers there is no place like home. | | | | intentions and end a rich, morally bankrupt egoist we |
| Where are the slippers now? There were 6 pairs of | | | | too can't image what Rosebud might be. At the very |
| slippers made for the movie, 5 of them for Judy | | | | end we are rewarded and humbled to know it was |
| Garland and one made for a stunt double. Of the | | | | simply his boyhood sled a symbol of the innocence |
| actual 5 for the movie, one set resides in the | | | | he had which was thrown into a fire. There were |
| Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and are | | | | three sleds made for the movie, but two of them |
| available for public view. Three other pairs have | | | | were destroyed by fire for the filming of the pivotal |
| changed hands many times and been auctioned | | | | scene. The third Rosebud is owned by a private |
| repeatedly (one selling at Christie's auction house in | | | | collector who paid $60, 500 for it in 1982. There is a |
| 2000 for $666,000) and now belong to private | | | | solace in knowing the collector is someone likely to |
| collectors. One pair was stolen from the Judy Garland | | | | take very good care of it, and leave it to the legacy |
| Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and remains at | | | | of film when the time comes. The collector is none |
| large. The Black Bird Sam Spade, everyone's favorite | | | | other than Steven Spielberg. Movie props go |
| private eye took to the streets of San Francisco | | | | overlooked by movie goers all the time. But when |
| looking for the Maltese Falcon and some folks have | | | | they themselves become characters, it's good to |
| been wondering where it is ever since. There was | | | | know they have found good homes. |