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Warren Crowley's (Al Waxman) taipan-bitten deformed head skin from William Fruet's Spasms. Ex-CIA agent Crowley's head swelled nastily when he was karmically poisoned to death by the same taipan he stole from Jason Kincaid (Oliver Reed) on behalf of the Satanic cult that worshipped the snake.
Crowley's grotesquely deformed head, as well as other graphic snake bite effects, were designed by legendary special makeup effects and the film's "illusions" artist Dick Smith. Smith crafted this skin for a mechanical version of Crowley's head designed to feed chemical solvent through tubing to pre-cut sections of the head painted blood red, creating the illusion of the head bursting open as it swelled. Spasms ultimately received a nomination for the Grand Prize at the prestigious Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival and is today considered a cult classic of the 1980s.
This detailed cast foam mask originates from the collection of Smith. It is hand-painted in flesh tones, textured in several places to appear punctured by snake fangs, and hand-punched with scraggly synthetic hair on the sides. The mask shows visible evidence of wear consistent with age and exposure to the solvent, including stiffness, brittleness, and some missing pieces throughout the foam.
Estimate: $400 - 800
View all lots from SPASMS (1983)
View all lots from Dick Smith Collection
Regarded as "The Godfather of Makeup," renowned special makeup effects artist and author Richard Emerson Smith, known professionally as Dick Smith, was a pre-med student at Yale University when he encountered the theatrical makeup book Paint, Powder and Makeup that changed the trajectory of his life. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Smith began his illustrious career in television as the first makeup director of WNBC. Entirely self-taught, Smith pioneered the development of prosthetic and practical makeup with techniques that are now considered the standard in film and television, such as making prosthetics in multiple pieces to allow actors full range of facial expression. He is also credited with creating realistic age makeup as an alternative to prosthetics, blending special effects with hidden bladders and squibs, and for innovating the combination of makeup with on-set "practical" effects, as seen in William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973).
In a time where makeup artists were secretive about their techniques and unions purposely suppressed the sharing of knowledge, Smith proved to be a generous soul, mentoring and training many younger artists who went on to accomplished careers in cinema, including Rick Baker, Mike Marino, Greg Cannom, and many more. Smith went as far as publishing an instructional book in 1965 titled Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-up Handbook as a special edition of Forrest J. Ackerman's "Famous Monsters of Filmland" series.
With a career that spanned over six decades, Smith is today best known for his work on such classics as Little Big Man (1970), The Godfather (1972), Taxi Driver (1976), Altered States (1980), Scanners (1981), The Hunger (1983), Starman (1984), and Death Becomes Her (1992). In 1985, he won an Academy Award® for Best Makeup for his work on Amadeus, as well as a BAFTA® the following year. He was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences twice with special tribute ceremonies in 2009 and again in 2011, the latter including an Honorary Academy Award® presented by his most acclaimed protégé, Rick Baker. Smith left an indelible legacy in film and television, represented by a curated collection he carefully maintained throughout his career. Propstore is pleased to present these select artifacts from this legendary artist's personal collection, reflecting a distinguished career spanning decades in Hollywood and beyond.
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.