James Bond, Obi Wan Costumes Up For Auction

LONDON (March 6, 2007) — What’s it like to slip into James Bond’s three-piece suit? What about disappearing beneath Obi-Wan Kenobi’s rough wool cloak? Or maybe strapping on Supergirl’s blue elastic leotard and red knee-high boots?

It cost nothing to find out. However, owning the look was another matter.

More than 400 movie, TV and theater costumes were up for auction Tuesday at Bonhams in London, in what the British auction house called the country’s largest such sale.

Bidders were allowed to try on the clothes before the auction.

There was an outfit for every taste, from Mel Gibson’s kilt in “Braveheart,” to Helen Slater’s cape in “Supergirl” and Terry Jones’ helmet from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

The costumes were from Angels The Costumiers, which said it was trying to clear space in its warehouse and cut insurance costs. The London-based outfit-maker boasts more than 1.5 million costumes on 5 miles of hanging rails.

During a three-day pre-auction showing, admirers of Agent 007 could slip into Pierce Brosnan’s impeccable Italian suits, or don the navy battle dress jacket worn by Roger Moore in “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Those more in touch with their inner Bond Girl were able to try on Halle Berry’s macho camouflage combat trousers from “Die Another Day” or Michelle Yeoh’s brown leather cat-suit from “Tomorrow Never Dies.”

The black wool dinner jacket worn by Sean Connery in “Thunderball” was expected to sell for about $68,000. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s cloak, worn by Alec Guinness in “Star Wars,” was estimated at around $106,000.

For military movie buffs there were uniforms, helmets and jackets from “The Great Escape,” “A Bridge Too Far” and “Saving Private Ryan.”