The stuff of every film fan’s wish list

LONDON -- Film fans beware. This could prove to be an expensive Christmas.

Four helmets from the original “Star Wars” blockbuster 25 years ago will vie for top billing with Jack Nicholson’s jacket from “The Shining” and Pierce Brosnan’s Omega watch from “The World Is Not Enough” at a movie memorabilia sale next week.

But they will also have to do battle with a black satin jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe for a 1956 photo shoot, props from the original “Alien” film and Tom Hanks’ replica tommy gun from “Saving Private Ryan” among 217 lots at auction on Tuesday.

“The ‘Star Wars’ material is very rare. These helmets are from the original film and were made by Shepperton Design Studios in London,” auction house Christie’s film memorabilia expert Sarah Hodgson said at a sale preview Thursday.

The four items are a white storm-trooper’s helmet and an Imperial fighter-pilot’s helmet -- both priced at about $4,700 -- an Imperial-forces helmet and a prototype rebel-fighter pilot’s helmet at about $1,600 each.

But they will face stiff competition from the burgundy bomber jacket worn by Nicholson in the 1980 cult movie “The Shining,” priced at about $4,700.

“Nicholson memorabilia hardly ever comes onto the market, so we are very lucky to have this,” Hodgson said. “And ‘The Shining’ has such a strong cult following.”

The stainless-steel Omega watch worn by Brosnan as James Bond in the 1999 film is expected to fetch up to $19,000, while Hanks’ replica machine gun is a more modest $1,900.

They will have to tough it out against mementos of hardy perennial Marilyn Monroe, including the black jacket, sheer nylon stockings, photographs, letters, a pair of stiletto shoes and a chiffon scarf priced variously between $945 and $11,000.

“The problem with all film memorabilia items is proving their origin,” Hodgson said. “We turn away 50% of the stuff we are offered because of problems with provenance.”