Date: 17th December 2003
The force has been with a Star Wars stormtrooper's helmet as it sold at auction for around five times more than expected.
Made for the 1977 film, it was valued at between £3,000 and £5,000 but fetched £19,387 amid frenzied bidding.
One of the auction's star lots, a Superman suit, remained firmly grounded and failed to sell.
The red and blue outfit worn by actor Christopher Reeve in the 1978 blockbuster had been estimated to make between £8,000-£12,000, but bidding never reached the undisclosed reserve on the costume.
The highest bid was for a Rolex watch worn by George Lazenby as James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
It went for £22,912 but had been valued between £5,000-£7,000.
Film fans flocked to Christie's in London for the auction house's annual sale of film and entertainment memorabilia.
An Imperial Stormtrooper's blaster gun fetched £3,760.
A spokeswoman for Christie's said they were delighted with the results of the sale despite the failure of the Superman suit.
"It was one of our most successful for a few years in this category," she added.
Also featured was a collection of British award-winning costume designer John Mollo, including his original costume designs for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Alien.
There were pieces from the late actor-turned editor Peter Hunt's collection, including his working scripts for all of the 1960s James Bond films.
Prices included the buyer's premium.
Source: Press Release
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