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Famous Robot from 1956 Movie Auctioned For $5.3 Million (newatlas.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the bidding-on-bots dept.

schwit1 tells us that "Robby the Robot" -- a prop from the 1956 movie Forbidden Planet -- has just been auctioned for $5.3 million, making it the second most-expensive movie prop in history. New Atlas reports: The complete Robby suit, control panel, his jeep, numerous spares, alternate original "claw" hands, and the original wooden stage shipping crates, were sold Tuesday by Bonhams in New York for US $5,375,000 including buyers premium. The only purpose-built movie prop to have ever sold for more is Marilyn Monroe's "subway dress" from The Seven Year Itch (1955) which was sold by Profiles in History for $5,520,000 (including buyers premium) in 2011.
After Forbidden Planet, Robby the Robot reappeared in a movie called The Invisible Boy, and later had a climactic showdown with the robot from Lost in Space. He also made appearances on other TV shows, including The Twilight Zone, Mork & Mindy, and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. And he even appeared in commercials, including one warning about the dangers of depleting the ozone layer -- plus a commercial for Charmin bathroom tissue.

64 comments

  1. Forbidden Planet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Starring Leslie Nielsen!

    1. Re:Forbidden Planet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Link to the public domain release of the best slapstick comedy out there.

    2. Re:Forbidden Planet by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 3, Informative

      Kids these days. Walter Pidgeon was the big name in the cast. Nielsen was pretty much a bit player at the time.

    3. Re:Forbidden Planet by Megane · · Score: 1

      I was sad that nobody ever got him to do a parody of Forbidden Planet using his "Naked Gun" acting style. They could have called it a silly name like "Prohibited Planet", and it would have been an instant cult classic.

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    4. Re: Forbidden Planet by CyberRacer · · Score: 1

      EARL HOLLIMAN. Walter Pidgeon may have gotten a mention on MST3K, but only the Hollimeister got a tribute.

    5. Re: Forbidden Planet by CyberRacer · · Score: 1

      Attack of the the Eye Creatures... Before someone asks for a citation.

    6. Re:Forbidden Planet by Hieronymus+Howard · · Score: 1

      Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet
      Oh oh oh oh....
      At the late night double feature picture show.

    7. Re:Forbidden Planet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Starring Leslie Nielsen [wikipedia.org]!

      yeah, but it was a great movie (rating attained by Anne's legs) anyway!

  2. Waves arms by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    It does not compute!

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    1. Re:Waves arms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Commander Adams: Nice planet you have here. High oxygen content.
      Robby: I rarely use it myself, sir. It promotes rust.

    2. Re:Waves arms by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      I love that the actor's first name is "Marvin".

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Columbo episode, "Mind Over Mayhem" by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It was a delight to see Robbie the Robot show, functioning, in a Columbo episode in 1974. I hope his new owners will maintain him and let him appear in other guest appearances.

    1. Re:Columbo episode, "Mind Over Mayhem" by rilister · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Beat me to it!
      https://pin.it/yygxc5ugqjcbcm
      It's probably one of the weaker episodes, indulging the shows tendency to put some techie gimmick in the middle of the murder plot. But I loved seeing Robbie!

      --
      'This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it' - Eeyore
    2. Re:Columbo episode, "Mind Over Mayhem" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgd9Bx6plhY&t=60

  4. Cosplay in 3...2...1... by mark-t · · Score: 1

    Wanna bet somebody figures out how to make a DIY costume like that for under $500?

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      Forget cosplay. What we need are ROBOT COSTUME OLYMPICS! I want to see Robby Pole-vault!

    2. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wanna bet somebody figures out how to make a DIY costume like that for under $500?

      I have a friend who made a custom vacuum-formed Robby replica. It cost way more than $500 in materials, not to mention his many weeks of labor.

    3. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Well yes... many weeks of labor would go without saying. There are cheaper DIY ways to go than vacuum forming plastic, however... even if they are more labor intensive. I can imagine that for a Robby costume, the most expensive parts would be the electronics and working gadgets that make the costume interesting, and of course the clear dome that goes on top, unless one is able to source it from a place that makes such shapes out of acrylic already in bulk. The materials for the bulk of the costume might only cost about $40 or so.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    4. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      plexi glass, hot water, and an exacto knife, ....i take it construction is not your fortÉ

    5. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      No, it's not. But I've seen some really amazing cosplay outfits that were built for only a couple of hundred dollars or so. I'd imagine that something like robby could be built for a similar price.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    6. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      plexi glass
      exacto

      Yeah, you're clearly an expert.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    7. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      You could do it with fiberglass, by molding balloons. But I think you'd find it adding up to more than $500 rather quickly, especially on your first try.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re: Cosplay in 3...2...1... by CyberRacer · · Score: 1

      If I was to try that it would come out looking more like Mr. Potatoehead.

    9. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by tipo159 · · Score: 1

      If you try and build a reproduction of Robby the Robot that is seen publicly, expect a cease & desist letter from Fred Barton Productions, which has an exclusive license from Time-Warner. This is an occasional topic of discussion on the RPF (Replica Props Forum).

      Here is an excerpt from guidance providing supplied by Time-Warner with regards to making your own Robby:

      1. The manufacture, or transfer of: unauthorized reproductions of “ROBBY®”, or derivative works pertaining to “ROBBY®” is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED

      2. The manufacture, or transfer of: unauthorized component parts of “ROBBY®”, or derivative works pertaining to component parts of “ROBBY®” is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

      3. The exhibition of: unauthorized reproductions of “ROBBY®”, derivative works pertaining to “ROBBY®”, the component parts of “ROBBY®”, or derivative works pertaining to the component parts of “ROBBY®” is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

      4. The creation, or transfer in any form of any materials depicting: “ROBBY®”, derivative works pertaining to “ROBBY®”, the component parts of “ROBBY®”, or derivative works pertaining to the component parts of “ROBBY®”; for the purpose of promoting the production of unauthorized replicas of “ROBBY®” or the component parts of “ROBBY®” is EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

    10. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Good to know... so I guess we won't see any costume plans posted.

      I think it's unlikely that it would stop someone who didn't know about those guidelines from actually doing it on their own though... especially they had only made it for a SF convention they were planning to attend, unless Time-Werner somehow ensures that alerts are sent to every SF convention all over the world to let their volunteer workers to not allow people in such a costume into the con. Bearing in mind the unlikelihood that they would even know about an unauthorized costume, by the time they even got a C&D to such convention in a some more remote city, for example, a weekend convention would probably be over, and they'd have no way to know who it was that dressed that way unless the convention also kept track of which guests were in which costumes (which I suppose is possible, but I've never seen them do that at any con I've ever gone to).

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    11. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by mark-t · · Score: 1

      I did a bit more reading up on the matter, and found out some interesting stuff.

      The language used in the terms you quoted is not legally enforceable except when either the person is profiting from making a Robby costume, or if they are otherwise engaging in any reproductions beyond making a single costume for their own personal use. A person who was wearing such a costume that they made for themselves would *NOT* be actioned against, simply because it is not worth anyone's time to try and go after every single fan who happens to make a costume. The above example I gave of a person going to a convention dressed as Robby would likely be fine, unless they were profiting from the use of the costume in some way (eg, compensated for being in photos with people, or if they are otherwise being paid to appear at the convention in such an outfit).

      The issue of posting plans on how to build a character that looked like the robot, as long as no profit is being made from it, looks like it would be in the clear, and as long as no attempt was made to affiliate the appearance of the costume with the name of the trademarked character. It seems they could certainly take action against someone who was profiting from the distribution of such plans, even if no explicit reference to Robby existed.

      IANAL... YMMV. But this is what I was able to take from what I've found online about using that character's likeness in a homemade costume.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    12. Re:Cosplay in 3...2...1... by Dread_ed · · Score: 1

      Its been 61 years since his debut. Any idea when his likeness will enter the public domain?

      --
      When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
    13. Re: Cosplay in 3...2...1... by bestweasel · · Score: 1

      It's 75 years after his, er, death.

  5. My dreams turn to ashes by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    Thanks a lot for telling me that Robby the Robot was just a suit with a guy inside. Way to spoil my holiday weekend.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:My dreams turn to ashes by sheramil · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thanks a lot for telling me that Robby the Robot was just a suit with a guy inside. Way to spoil my holiday weekend.

      I hate to be the one to tell you this.. but.. you know all those robots you see in factories, welding car parts together?

      Yeah.

    2. Re:My dreams turn to ashes by shoor · · Score: 1

      I saw the movie as a kid when it first came out. I remember as soon as Robbie 'spoke' I recognized the voice as Marvin Miller who played Michael Anthony, personal secretary to John Beresford Tipton, on a TV show of the time called "The Millionaire". I really wished they'd used a less familiar voice for Robbie. But I loved that movie anyway.

      PS On the TV show you never saw John Beresford Tipton's face. He was a mysterious billionaire. But he was voiced by Paul Frees, who was the voice actor for many cartoon characters, everybody from Ludwig Von Drake to the Pillsbury Doughboy.

      --
      In theory, theory and practice are the same; in practice they're different. (Yogi Berra & A. Einstein)
    3. Re:My dreams turn to ashes by bugs2squash · · Score: 1

      That's not as scary as knowing that the robots in silent running had people inside.

      --
      Nullius in verba
    4. Re:My dreams turn to ashes by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Yeah.

      Very insightful. In other words, it's the latest jobs program. The company gets to depreciate the "robots", and the unemplorables that can't mine coal are able to "work" the lines. It makes sense: we haven't had a really *good* jobs program since the TSA was created.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    5. Re: My dreams turn to ashes by CyberRacer · · Score: 1

      As long as one of them wasn't Bruce Dern, I'm not worried.

  6. GRRM bought it? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2

    He owns the Cocteau cinema which has a replica of Robby. Maybe he stumped up the cash for the original.

    https://www.tor.com/2013/08/13...

    https://www.ranker.com/list/ge...

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    1. Re:GRRM bought it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Sir Peter Jackson is building up quite the classic movie prop collection as well... He has the original King Kong (1933) Willis O'Brien puppet armature. Wouldn't surprise me if Robbie got added to his.

  7. Another stupid headline. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why "Famous Robot from 1956 Movie Auctioned For $5.3 Million"?

    Why not "Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet Auctioned For $5.3 Million"?

    I was born in 1982, and I've never seen Forbidden Planet, but I still know who the fuck Robby the Robot is.

    Do you think the slashdot audience are so stupid that they don't know who Robby the Robot is?
    Or is just that slashdot editors are so stupid that they don't know who Robby the Robot is?

    1. Re:Another stupid headline. by sysrammer · · Score: 2

      Why "Famous Robot from 1956 Movie Auctioned For $5.3 Million"?

      Why not "Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet Auctioned For $5.3 Million"?

      I was born in 1982, and I've never seen Forbidden Planet, but I still know who the fuck Robby the Robot is.

      Do you think the slashdot audience are so stupid that they don't know who Robby the Robot is?
      Or is just that slashdot editors are so stupid that they don't know who Robby the Robot is?

      No, the headline was consciously used to filter out obnoxious twits. It was a good attempt, but failed, obviously.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  8. A bargain at twice the price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    When you have a robot that can produce unlimited bourbon why quibble over price?

  9. Buyer's Premium by tobiasly · · Score: 1

    I was going to Google wth a "buyers premium" is and then realized I'll never be rich enough for that knowledge to be useful.

    1. Re:Buyer's Premium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just the "buyers premium" fee is out of my price range.

  10. The Seven Year Itch? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    The only purpose-built movie prop to have ever sold for more is Marilyn Monroe's "subway dress" from The Seven Year Itch (1955) which was sold by Profiles in History for $5,520,000 (including buyers premium) in 2011.

    So... that was a movie about pon farr?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  11. Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Robby, Lost In Space, Data, or Robocop?

    1. Re: Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No contest. Robby, claws down.

    2. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1

      Oh, that's easy. R2-D2 shoots first, everybody else dies.

    3. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Marvin, of course.

      When you've been around as long as he has, you've learnt how to deal with those relative mayfles.

    4. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by mark-t · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Both Robby and Lost in Space would not be able to kill Robocop, because they would perceive that he was alive, recognizing him as human. Data is more agile than any of them, and he could probably dodge most attacks in hand-to-hand combat, so I think the smart money would be on him.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    5. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Marvin would probably win as his depression would cause the others to self-destruct.

    6. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Data is not a robot!

    7. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes he is—he's an android robot.

      Robocop OTOH is a cyborg.

    8. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by Pseudonym · · Score: 2

      Twiki, obviously. biddi-biddi-biddi

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
    9. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Good, well-considered /. type of question. Kudos.

      Point of fact: The name of the robot in LIS is "Robot".

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    10. Re: Which robot would win in a showdown? by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      No contest. Robby, claws down.

      Agreed. I have to admit, Robby was my first. Others came later--there are so many to love, but you never forget your first.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    11. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by tipo159 · · Score: 1

      Though called "Robot" on the show, the Lost In Space robot was a B-9-M-3, usually shortened to B9.

    12. Re:Which robot would win in a showdown? by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I forgot about that.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  12. Gort FTW by mfnickster · · Score: 1

    Gort. Klaatu barada kickass!

    --
    "Slow down, Cowboy! It has been 3 years, 7 months and 26 days since you last successfully posted a comment."
    1. Re:Gort FTW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gort. Klaatu barada kickass!

      Yes! And he predates Robby by a few years. BTW, "Forbidden Planet" was my "Hallowe'en night movie" this year-I have a soft spot for the ole bourbonizer!

    2. Re:Gort FTW by Sporkinum · · Score: 1

      Real Kansas City bourbon! Cough cough! And smooth too!

      --
      "He's lost in a 'floyd hole"
  13. Good excuse for some HEVC testing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://sample.vodobox.com/planete_interdite/low/planete_interdite_228_h264_144p.m3u8

    I dont remember it being in color!

  14. Famous Costume from 1956 Movie by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

    This is not a robot

    1. Re:Famous Costume from 1956 Movie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can you think of a movie that has a *real* robot in it?

  15. Forbidden Planet == The Tempest by Shakespeare by twosat · · Score: 2

    https://falconmovies.wordpress...

  16. hyphen fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > the second most-expensive movie prop in history

    That means that it's the most expensive movie prop in history, and there has in the past only ever been one such record setter.

    What was intended was "second-most expensive movie prop in history".