Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, August 27th. 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 Wednesday, August 26th or Friday, August 28th or Saturday, August 29th.
Two extraordinarily rare 16mm film prints of David E. Smith's "Dick Smith, Make-Up Artist." Smith, the son of legendary SFX makeup artist Dick Smith, directed the film - later retitled to Dick Smith: Make-Up Artist and formerly known as both "Portrait of Dick Smith" and "Dick Smith: Portrait of an Artist" - while studying at New York University (NYU). The approximately 22-minute short film (known by the Smiths as the "long version") featured behind-the-scenes footage from The Exorcist along with voiceover narration by Dick himself. The documentary later went on to play several prestigious international film festivals, earning the Best Documentary award at the Virgin Islands International Film Festival.
These 16mm prints, among the very last prints known to survive in the world, originate from the collection of Dick Smith. One comes spooled inside a Cine Motion Picture tin hand-marked "David's Dick Smith Documentary" and "Student Film - Complete?" The other comes spooled inside a tin hand-marked "Dick Smith, Make-Up Artist 22 min. Long version with Exorcist" and taped with a label requesting it be returned to David Smith's Larchmont, New York address if found. The second tin also includes a box labeled for the American Film Institute (AFI) with multiple air mail stamps applied throughout.
Also included is a digital copy of the film. Both prints, the tins, and the box show evidence of wear consistent with handling and age, including dust and splice marks on the film. Dimensions: (largest) 13.25" x 13.25" x 2.5" (33.75 cm x 33.75 cm x 6.5 cm)
Estimate: $1,200 - 2,400Regarded 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.