Forbidden Planet (MGM, 1956), "Robby the Robot" Original Hand. ...

Description

Forbidden Planet (MGM, 1956), "Robby the Robot" Original Hand. Vintage original robot hand constructed of latex rubber, metal, and tape, spray-painted silver and gray. Measures 11" x 3". The cast latex rubber mold for the fingers has been set into a metal tube to create the wrist that would affix to the robot's arm, and is finished on the top with a layer of tape and a small metal band to complete the "robotic" appearance. The memorable assistant Robby the Robot, often referred to as the "hardest working robot in Hollywood", was a mechanical servant for the mysterious Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) on the planet Altair IV in the iconic film. His character was roughly based on the spirit Ariel from Shakespeare's play The Tempest, while Dr. Morbius was based on Prospero. Robby was designed collaboratively by production designer Arnold Gillespie, art director Arthur Lonergan, writer Irving Block, and mechanical designer Robert Kinoshita, who also designed the iconic B-9 robot for television's Lost in Space (CBS TV, 1965-1968), with construction executed by the studio's props and art departments. Exhibits signs of production wear and age, including desiccation to the resin resulting in notable collapsing to the form's fingers along with knicks and scuffs to the outer paint layer of the metal area. A complete original Robby the Robot suit sold at Bonham's in 2017 for $5.3M. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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