Timeless: From Movies to Melodies

Lot #149:

Collection of 4 Screen Used Umbrellas from The Beatles' Help!

The Beatles, 1965, United Artists. Collection of (4) screen used umbrella props constructed of faux bamboo handle, aluminum shaft, ribs and tips, and black cotton cloth canopies. 1-of the umbrellas is a functional, British-made “brolly" with a bamboo handle, while the other three are props designed for the film. 2-of these props are walkie-talkie umbrellas with telescoping antennas, and 1-is an umbrella with a hidden dagger blade (made of cast resin) that extends from the tip. In Help!, the special umbrellas are an important and quirky part of the plot, particularly in relation to the chief priest of the Kaili goddess cult, “Clang" (Leo McKern). Clang uses these umbrella tools throughout the movie, including an early scene where he's sharpening the blade of the dagger umbrella outside The Beatles' apartment. He later uses one of the walkie-talkie umbrellas to break into the apartment, leading to the accidental shrinking of Paul McCartney by a magical elixir. The painted bamboo handle of one of the walkie-talkie umbrellas has even been precisely screen-matched to one used by Clang in the film. These fun and inventive umbrella props are a key element in the film's surreal and slapstick humor, showcasing the absurd yet imaginative nature of Help! Measuring approx. 36 x 5.5 in. Exhibiting production wear and age with some rusting to tips. In vintage good condition.