BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Beverly Hills auctioneer Profiles in History will auction treasures from the archive of filmmaker Gary Kurtz on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Kurtz was the producer of Star Wars and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, as well as American Graffiti, Return to Oz and Dark Crystal. He received two Academy Award nominations for Best Picture (Star Wars & American Graffiti). Working closely with George Lucas from 1973-1981 as vice president of Lucasfilm, Kurtz was instrumental in developing the Star Wars trilogy and bringing the first two blockbuster films to the silver screen. Throughout his lengthy career, he has amassed a huge personal archive of film memorabilia. To help fund the restoration and conservation of artifacts in the Kurtz Archive, over 75 Star Wars related pieces have been selected for de-accession. Their sale will ensure that many more pieces in the Archive can be preserved for future generations.
HIGHLIGHTS from the KURTZ COLLECTION
* Luke Skywalker hero light saber from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977) Estimate:
$60,000-80,000.
* Luke's X-Wing flight suit from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.
(TCF, 1977&1980) Estimate: $60,000-80,000.
* Darth Vader hero light saber from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
(TCF, 1980) Estimate: $40,000-60,000.
* Original screen-used Stormtrooper blaster from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977)
Estimate: $25,000-30,000.
