logo
Famous ‘Rosebud' sled from ‘Citizen Kane' sells for US$14.75 million

Famous ‘Rosebud' sled from ‘Citizen Kane' sells for US$14.75 million

CTV News18-07-2025
This image shows the Rosebud sled from the film 'Citizen Kane." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
'Rosebud,' the famed wooden sled at the heart of Orson Welles' classic 1941 movie 'Citizen Kane,' has sold at auction for US$14.75 million.
This was a 'remarkable' price for the 'iconic prop,' Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions said in a statement published Wednesday.
Prior to the sale, the sled underwent scientific testing to confirm its authenticity, the auction house said.
'It bears signs of production use, including original paint, wear, and removed rails likely sacrificed to wartime scrap drives,' the statement added.
'Citizen Kane' tells the story of media mogul Charles Foster Kane, played by Welles himself, and a reporter's quest to uncover the significance of his dying word, 'Rosebud.'
'With its red paint, stenciled lettering and unmistakable aura, this sled embodies the very symbol of Kane's lost innocence and one of cinema's most enduring mysteries,' Heritage Auctions said.
Of the handful of sleds used in the making of Welles' masterpiece, only three were known to have survived.
Previous examples sold to Steven Spielberg for US$60,500 in 1982 and an anonymous buyer for US$233,000 in 1996, according to the auction house.
This particular example had been owned by movie director Joe Dante since 1984. It was thought to have been lost but Dante 'stumbled upon' it while filming on the former RKO lot.
He quietly preserved it and even included it in some of his own movies.
'I've had the honor of protecting this piece of cinematic history for decades,' Dante, whose films include 'Gremlins' and 'Innerspace,' said in the statement.
'To see Rosebud find a new home — and make history in the process — is both surreal and deeply gratifying. It's a testament to the enduring power of storytelling,' he said.
The sale was part of Heritage Auctions' latest entertainment event, which executive vice president Joe Maddalena said was the 'most important' the auction house had ever held. Also among the pieces of Hollywood history on offer were the granite stone tablets from Cecil B. DeMille's Biblical epic 'The Ten Commandments' and Indiana Jones' bullwhip from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.'
'These aren't just props. They're mythic objects. They tell the story of Hollywood's greatest moments, one piece at a time, each tied to a memory, a performance, a legend,' Maddalena said in the statement.
'We're honored to bring them to the fans, collectors and institutions who will preserve them for the generations to come.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alec Baldwin talks his love for ‘Peanuts' and the ‘immeasurable' effects of his trial
Alec Baldwin talks his love for ‘Peanuts' and the ‘immeasurable' effects of his trial

CTV News

time4 hours ago

  • CTV News

Alec Baldwin talks his love for ‘Peanuts' and the ‘immeasurable' effects of his trial

Alec Baldwin arrives for a first round match of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) SAN DIEGO — Alec Baldwin says the year since his trial suddenly ended with a dismissal has been far better than the few years that preceded it, and the affect that time has had on him has been 'immeasurable.' 'Something as powerful as that happens in your life, you don't know how much it changes you,' he said. 'I can't even tell you how different I am from three-and-a-half years ago. And what I want and what I don't want, and how I want to live my life and not live my life.' The 67-year-old actor spoke to The Associated Press at San Diego's Comic-Con International, where he was part of a panel on 75 years of Charles Schulz's 'Peanuts,' whose simplicity, existential philosophy and moral outlook have been very much on his mind. Baldwin spoke while a suited Snoopy character stood nearby after posing for photos with him. In a foreword Baldwin wrote for 'The Complete Peanuts 1977-1978,' he said while reading Schulz's newspaper comic strip every day as a child, he realized Charlie Brown, more than anyone, wanted the things he wanted. Chief among those wants are 'the desire to have friends and the desire to hold your friends close to you.' That hasn't changed in the years since. 'Come on, what man my age doesn't relate to Charlie Brown? If Charlie Brown was 67 years old, he'd be me, but he wouldn't have been stupid enough to have seven (small) children,' he said with a laugh. But he aspires to the qualities of a different character. 'Lucy. I want to be Lucy. Lucy is in charge. She's got it all figured out,' he said. 'She pauses for a moment of self-awareness, but not too long.' Baldwin said he admired Schulz's simple line drawings combined with the real circumstances of the characters, embodied by real children's voices when the animated holiday specials emerged in his childhood. 'It's so complicated and simple at the same time, which is what I think makes it beautiful,' he said. And he admired Schulz's willingness to embrace melancholy, and deeper darknesses, in stories about inner struggle that needed no villains. 'A dog sitting on top of a dog house would have the same impact on you as, like, Nietzsche, he said,' looking across the room at Snoopy. 'They should have named the dog Nietzsche.' Baldwin's career has had several distinct phases. Early on he played tough husbands and boyfriends in supporting roles including 'Married to the Mob' and 'Working Girl.' He moved on to heroic leading man in 'The Hunt for Red October' and 'The Shadow.' Downshifting to memorable character parts, he showed his gift for manly speeches in 'Glengarry Glen Ross' and 'The Departed,' and his comedy prowess in seven seasons of '30 Rock' and as a constant host and guest on 'Saturday Night Live.' In July 2024 his trial in New Mexico on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western 'Rust' fell apart halfway through. A judge dismissed the case on allegations authorities withheld evidence. 'I can't believe that happened on that day the way it happened,' he said. 'And it couldn't have been better for us in certain terms because of the malice and so forth and everything that's embodied in that whole situation.' The next phase is uncertain. He says he's 'just trying to move forward with my wife and my family.' He and wife Hilaria and their seven small kids recently appeared on the TLC reality series 'The Baldwins.' He says he has successfully sold his young ones on 'Peanuts,' especially the Halloween and Christmas specials, as he did with his now nearly 30-year-old daughter Ireland when she was young. He notices their personalities zig-zagging between the traits of Schulz's characters. 'They're Charlie Brown, now they're Snoopy, now they're Schroeder, now they're Linus, now they're Pig-Pen,' he said. 'They're Pig-Pen most of the time, I must say.' And their house is full of themed toys. He keeps a small Snoopy figure among the things in his office, a reminder to try to maintain 'love, kindness, patience.' 'Peanuts are still kind of like, in that zone,' he said. 'Let's just try to be good people.' Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

‘Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con
‘Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con

CTV News

time4 hours ago

  • CTV News

‘Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con

Joachim Ronning, from left, Jared Leto, and Jeff Bridges attend a panel for "Tron: Ares" during Comic-Con International on Friday, July 25, 2025, in San Diego. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) SAN DIEGO — The Grid took over Comic-Con on Friday, bringing the stars of the new 'Tron: Ares' films to unveil footage and reveal the story behind the franchise's third movie. The film stars Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith as the story brings the virtual environment of the Grid, complete with light cylces, into the real world. Disney showed off several minutes of footage, including a light cycle chase scene in the real world and another in the red-hued Grid. Propelling the onscreen action is a propulsive Nine Inch Nails soundtrack. 'It's fun to see it on the big screen for the first time,' said director Joachim Rønning. Disney turned the Hall H panel into a spectacle, with red lasers filling the room and characters in suits with red lights entering the massive hall. Asked what excited her about joining the 'Tron' franchise, Lee responded: 'I just wanted to ride a light cycle.' Leto spoke affectionately about the original saying: 'This movie just grabbed a hold of me and took me to a place that I'd never been before. It kind of rattled my imagination and it kind of showed me what was possible in the world.' He praised Bridges and Steven Lisberger, who created 'Tron' and directed the 1982 original. Lisberger attended Friday's panel and laid out his case for why the franchise remains relevant. 'My feeling about 'Tron' is that the most important thing is we kick this technology around artistically before it kicks us around,' Lisberger said. 'I am weary about hearing all the grim news about the future,' he said, and the way he thinks it can be avoided is to 'inspire young people what can be done with this technology.' Friday's panel ended with the premiere of the music video for 'As Alive as You Need Me to Be,' the first Nine Inch Nails song from the soundtrack. 'Tron' has never been in the top tier of sci-fi franchises. The original 1982 film starring Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a man sucked into a computer vortex known as the Grid, was admired for its ground-breaking concept and effects, and was a modest hit with moderately good reviews. Perhaps more importantly, it won a cult following and has been maintained enough in cultural memory to remain a valuable property for Disney. The 2010 film 'Tron: Legacy,' starring Bridges and Garrett Hedlund, made more than US$400 million globally. A TV show that followed, 'Tron: Uprising,' lasted just one season. Rønning has helmed other Disney franchise films: 2017's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' and 2019's 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.' The Norweigan director said he was interested because he dreamed about making a sci-fi film and enjoyed the twist of 'Ares' bringing the Grid into the real world. Leto and Bridges are both Oscar winners, and Rønning is an Oscar nominee. AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report. Anthony Mccartney, The Associated Press

Trump vs. TV: A play-by-play of a wild week taking on the U.S. president's naysayers
Trump vs. TV: A play-by-play of a wild week taking on the U.S. president's naysayers

CBC

time8 hours ago

  • CBC

Trump vs. TV: A play-by-play of a wild week taking on the U.S. president's naysayers

Social Sharing First he came for late-night TV, then a daytime talk show and a crude cartoon. U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are fighting battles on all fronts when it comes to mockery and criticism of the 47th commander-in-chief. As speculation swirls that CBS might have turfed The Late Show with Stephen Colbert because of his recent criticism of parent company Paramount Global agreeing to a $16-million US settlement with the president over a 60 Minutes interview, the White House has also come out swinging this week against the animated series South Park and ABC's The View. South Park 's 27th season premiere episode, which aired on Wednesday, lampooned the president and the CBS-Colbert drama and depicted a naked Trump climbing into bed with Satan. That same day, a co-host of The View accused Trump of being "jealous" of former president Barack Obama's looks and marriage. Even though he's known for mocking a range of people he doesn't like, Trump's image, persona and brand are what made him a household name, and he doesn't take it well when he senses attacks on any of them. While he would largely take out his anger in a Twitter tirade during his first administration (what X was known as back then), there are concerns that Trump is using his power in his second term to influence corporate decision-making and settle grievances — especially when it comes to the news and entertainment industry. But freedom of expression groups say the political satire and parody that are now under fire are art forms that are not only constitutionally protected but vital to public discourse. "We have mocked presidents and leaders in this country since before this was a country," Will Creeley, legal director of the Philadelphia-based advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression (FIRE), told CBC News. "If you can't make fun of who's running the country, then the First Amendment doesn't mean a damn thing." WATCH | Questions swirl around cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Why CBS axed The Late Show: Ratings or politics? 7 days ago A 'chill' setting in Earlier this week, Trump seemed to take credit for the cancellation of The Late Show and putting Colbert, a vocal critic of the president, out of work. Although CBS, when it made the announcement last week, said the decision to end the show in 2026 was "purely financial," Colbert and others have suggested it may have something to do with the settlement and Paramount's merger with Skydance Media that the Trump administration approved this week. As a storm of backlash brewed, including from Colbert's late-night compatriots, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel, Trump appeared emboldened and even claimed in a post on his Truth Social platform that ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! could suffer a similar fate. Creeley said no matter the reason for The Late Show 's cancellation, both the timing of it and Trump's "glee" contribute to what he sees as a "deeply depressing chill" setting in when it comes to satirizing and criticizing the president and his administration. "This is ugly, strongman authoritarian territory we're entering, and it should chill all Americans, regardless of your partisan commitments," he said, comparing Trump to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been accused by such groups as Human Rights Watch of limiting press freedom and freedom of expression. Creeley pointed to another White House clapback this week as further indication of how the political climate has changed. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers lambasted Wednesday's episode of South Park, which coincidentally airs on Paramount-owned Comedy Central, saying the show "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years" and that no "fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone brushed off the rebuke while speaking at Comic-Con in San Diego on Thursday, but Creeley said the mere fact that this episode has gotten so much attention speaks to the current state of affairs. "It used to be that South Park making fun of people wasn't front-page news, but it shows you how far we've slipped, that all of a sudden it feels like this extremely important, extremely righteous act," he said. WATCH | Trump in bed with the devil in South Park premiere (contains profanity, cartoon nudity): The View in Trump's sights But it's not just comedy shows that are in the Trump administration's sights — it's criticism in any form. Joy Behar, a longtime co-host of ABC's top-rated daytime talk show The View, appeared to hit enough of a nerve that both the White House press office and the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reacted. Responding to Trump calling for an investigation into former president Barack Obama over unsubstantiated allegations that he tried to "lead a coup," Behar, a former standup comedian, called out Trump for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2020, riots at the U.S. Capitol and said that the sitting president was jealous of his predecessor. "The thing about him is he's so jealous of Obama, because Obama is everything that he is not: trim, smart, handsome, happily married ... and Trump cannot stand it. It's driving him crazy," she said. White House spokesperson Rogers called her "an irrelevant loser suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome" and warned in a statement to media outlets that The View could be "next to be off the air." FCC chair Brendan Carr, in a later interview with Fox News, also said The View may face "consequences" but didn't elaborate. Tough to snuff out satire Attempting to silence political satire, parody and criticism isn't a winning strategy, said Sophia McClennen, a professor of international affairs at Pennsylvania State University and author of the book Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn't. Speaking with CBC Vancouver's On The Coast on Thursday, she said satire helps people develop their resilience to consume news and information that is interspersed with "lies, misinformation and B.S." "Having that sort of more playful source of information is really the heart of what makes satire such a really powerful remedy," she told guest host Amy Bell. But McClennen said that's also why "satirists are some of the most attacked entertainers in the world." Still, she said, it's important to remember that satire "doesn't die" when people in power try to muzzle them. Instead, it continues to evolve and show up in other forms. Another example of limiting free expression Trump butted heads with network television stars and comedians during his first administration, but Creeley, of the group FIRE, said the president now appears to have more of a "willingness to use extra legal means or abuse the power of the federal government to intimidate critics." He said what has happened in recent days is part and parcel of Trump cracking down on freedom of expression in other venues, which includes cutting funding for public media, threatening companies over diversity, equity and inclusion policies and putting legal and financial pressure on Ivy League universities. Creeley said the "hypocrisy" of Trump and his Republican Party is "staggering," having once sold themselves as champions of free speech, in the face of Democrats and left-wing groups and institutions, but are now the ones trying to put limits on political discourse.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store