Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, August 26th. The auction will begin at 9:30 AM (PDT) / 12:30 PM (EDT) / 5:30 PM (GMT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, August 27th or Friday, August 28th or Saturday, August 29th.
A light-up Krell machine four-meter panel from Fred M. Wilcox's Forbidden Planet. High-tech four-meter panels surrounded the 8,000 cubic mile Krell machine Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) showed off to Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen) and Lieutenant "Doc" Ostrow (Warren Stevens), including when Adams confronted Morbius about having used the machine to unleash a monster from the id. In the climactic finale, Morbius' subconscious-generated creature broke through the seemingly impenetrable doors of the Krell laboratory, destroying the Krell machine and the metered panels surrounding it.
Adapted from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Forbidden Planet received critical praise for its techno-futurist production design by renowned designers Irving Block and Mentor Huebner as well as its groundbreaking special effects. It received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Special Effects at the 29th Academy Awards in 1957 and has since been named one of the top 10 science-fiction films of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI). In 2013, it was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Following production, multiple props, costumes, and set decoration from Forbidden Planet were used in Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, a common practice in film and television of the era. Four-meter panels of this specific style appeared in Will Sturka's (Fritz Weaver) secret alien spaceship in the Season 1 episode "Third from the Sun."
This panel is made of wood with acrylic meter windows. The back of the panel is open and features four standalone light bulbs affixed behind each window connected to a power cord. When powered, the lights have a flicker function that can be activated. This lot shows evidence of wear consistent with on-set use, handling, and age. Dimensions: 48" x 36" x 8" (122 cm x 91.5 cm x 20.5 cm)
Contains electronics; see electronics notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Estimate: $5,000 - 10,000This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.