# Props from movies you instantly recognize **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410 "2011-12-16T14:27:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/1 "2011-12-16T14:27:20Z")
A friend and I were discussing props from movies that almost have a life of their own, they are easily recognizable. We were talking about this in the context of fantasy movies, so lots of weapons came to mind; the Atlantean sword from Conan, Captain Etienne Navarre’s two-handed sword from Ladyhawke, the Glaive from Krull. But we wanted some examples of items other than weapons. Can you offer some up? And feel free to wander outside the fantasy genre if it is especially icon, like the Maltese Falcon. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/2 "2011-12-16T14:33:47Z")
The [Golden Gun](http://www.originalprop.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/christies-large-d3839543x.jpg). The “Last Crusade” [Holy Grail](http://www.virginmedia.com/images/1indy-idol-holy-grail.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/3 "2011-12-16T14:36:38Z")
I have seen (in real life and in other movies) plenty of sf/f props – Klaatu’s suit from **The Day the Earth Stood Still** , Blasters, uniforms, the Krel Lab panels, the Space Ship from **Forbidden Planet** I thi nk anyobne would recognize the Idol from the opening sequence of **Raiders of the Lost Ark** ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/4 "2011-12-16T14:39:28Z")
[Robby the Robot.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_the_Robot) ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/5 "2011-12-16T14:40:14Z")
Light sabers. Greased Lightning from Grease. The leg lamp from A Christmas Story (or whatever it’s called… you know the movie I mean!) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/6 "2011-12-16T14:41:23Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > The leg lamp from A Christmas Story (or whatever it’s called… you know the movie I mean!) It’s a major award! ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/7 "2011-12-16T14:44:45Z")
The Time Machine from The Time Machine (that’s kind of a vehicle, so I don’t know if you would consider it a prop). Those backpack things they used in Ghostbusters to capture ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/8 "2011-12-16T14:50:43Z")
E.T.'s record-player-and-umbrella phone-home-inator. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/9 "2011-12-16T14:54:34Z")
Have you ever been to a Planet Hollywood? Props, props, and more props. Most instantly recognizable. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/10 "2011-12-16T15:07:14Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Have you ever been to a Planet Hollywood? Props, props, and more props. Most instantly recognizable. Sadly no. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/11 "2011-12-16T15:22:48Z")
I think the ultimate answer would be the BatMobile. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/12 "2011-12-16T15:26:22Z")
the AN/fsq-7 computer has a long history in tv and movies [http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Q7/](http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Q7/) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/13 "2011-12-16T15:26:41Z")
Wilson. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/14 "2011-12-16T15:36:54Z")
Rosebud. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/15 "2011-12-16T15:39:47Z")
I have a print of an oriental watercolor (still life) that is seen in \*\*The Big Sleep \*\*and **The Bad Seed.** I don’t know the artist but I sure recognized it in those movies. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/16 "2011-12-16T15:40:15Z")
Bruce ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/17 "2011-12-16T15:42:19Z")
The Maltese Falcon. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/18 "2011-12-16T15:46:30Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Rosebud. I think I heard recently that Spielberg owns this. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/19 "2011-12-16T15:46:45Z")
Does TV count? The TARDIS ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410/20 "2011-12-16T15:56:03Z")
The lamp in “_ **Joe Versus the Volcano.** _” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-from-movies-you-instantly-recognize/606410.md?page=2)