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'Blade Runner' blaster gun on auction bloc
'Holy grail' of sci-fi weapons expected to sell for at least $100,000
Reuters
updated 10:20 a.m. ET, Fri., April 10, 2009
LOS ANGELES - A blaster gun used by actor Harrison Ford to hunt down and kill futuristic humanoids in 1982 sci-fi film "Blade Runner" will be put on the auction block in an upcoming sale of Hollywood memorabilia.

Auctioneer Profiles in History expects about $3 million in total sales from the auction, which will include the collection of horror and science fiction promoter Forrest Ackerman and an animation puppet used in director Tim Burton's 2005 movie "Corpse Bride."

The "Blade Runner" blaster, with an estimated sales price of between $100,000 and $150,000, comes from Hollywood marketer and producer Jeff Walker, and Profiles in History called it the "holy grail" of sci-fi weapons.

The movie, directed by Ridley Scott, takes place in the year 2019 when Rick Deckard (Ford) is reluctantly drawn back to being a "blade runner" who tracks down and kills humanoid "replicants" that are revolting against real humans.

The movie was a critical success, but failed to ignite a great deal of excitement at box offices, earning just under $33 million. On video and DVD, however, it has gained a large following and become a cult classic.

Other items from Walker's "Blade Runner" collection being sold include costumes that Ford wore in the 1982 movie.

Ackerman, who edited the now defunct magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland and spent a lifetime collecting props from science fiction and horror movies, died in December at age 92.

Items to be sold from his massive collection include a ring worn by actor Bela Lugosi when he played Count Dracula on screen, and a monocle that director Fritz Lang used when he made the 1927 science fiction movie "Metropolis."

Other items include actress Rita Hayworth's dress from 1946 movie "Gilda."

Profiles in History will hold its spring sale April 30 and May 1 in Calabasas, California, allowing participants to bid live online from anywhere in the world.

Copyright 2009 Reuters. Click for restrictions.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30152391/