映画『オズの魔法使』のルビーの靴、競売へ

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】ミュージカル映画の名作『オズの魔法使』で女優ジュディ・ガーランドが履いた「ルビーの靴」が来月、競売にかけられる。（写真は、英ロンドンで公開された、映画『オズの魔法使』で女優ジュディ・ガーランドが履いたルビーの靴）
　米競売会社ヘリテージ・オークションズは１２月７日にダラスで行われる競売を前に、英ロンドンでこの靴を公開した。予想落札価格は最高３００万ドル（約４億５０００万円）とされる。
　スパンコールで覆われ、リボンが付いたこのパンプスについて、ヘリテージ・オークションズのニッキ・ヘイル氏は「他に類を見ない伝説的な存在」とコメント。「『オズの魔法使』は、世界中の誰もが知っているカルト的な古典映画として、時を超えて愛され続けている」とＡＦＰに語った。
　１９３９年の映画のために作られたルビーの靴は現在４足のみ現存しており、今回出品されるものは１９７０年からコレクターが所有していた。
　この靴はミネソタ州グランドラピッズにあるジュディ・ガーランド博物館に保管されていたが、２００５年に謎の消失を遂げた。
　米ドルで６桁の報酬金が提示され、米連邦捜査局（ＦＢＩ）が捜索に関与したにもかかわらず、２０１８年になってようやく発見された。
　靴を盗んだテリー・マーティン氏（７６）は、靴が本物のルビーで覆われていると思い込み、犯行に及んだと供述。今年１月に執行猶予付きの禁錮刑を言い渡された。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/11/28-17:05）

Ruby slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in classic film The Wizard of Oz will be sold at auction next month, nearly 20 years after they were stolen.
Heritage Auctions showed off the magical footwear in London before they go under the hammer in Dallas on December 7, with predictions they could sell for up to $3 million.
They are legendary like no other, Nikki Hale, manager of special projects at Heritage, told AFP of the distinctive sequin covered court shoes, which are topped with bows.
'The Wizard of Oz' really stands the test of time as a cult classic, iconic film that anywhere across the world, people know what 'The Wizard of Oz' is.
You see them when she's clicking the heels to go home. You see them when she starts her adventure, when she goes down Munchkinland, Hale added. They are absolutely the Holy Grail as far as movie memorabilia.
Only four pairs made for the 1939 film still survive and those on sale have belonged to a collector since 1970.
They were kept in the Judy Garland Museum in her home town of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, until they mysteriously disappeared in 2005.
Despite a six-figure reward and the involvement of the FBI, it was not until 2018 that they were finally tracked down.
They were recovered, apparently buried in a Tupperware (box), underground, said Hale.
The perpetrator of the theft, Terry Martin, admitted taking them and said he did so because he believed they were encrusted with real rubies.
Now 76, he was given a suspended prison sentence in January this year.
Other memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz will also be on sale, including Garland's wigs, film posters and photographs, as well as other items such as a wooden game board from Jumanji with Robin Williams.