Recently enjoyed the John Wayne experience with my Dad at the Stockyards. I was kind of stunned by the amount of props and wardrobes from his films he and his family had kept through the years. It got me wondering how common that is. Do most actors/actresses in leading roles tend to do that?

I think it depends on the film and how famous the actor or actress is. I would bet it's less common now than it used to be. For my wife's film the producers rented a storage unit after filming to store a bunch of stuff in the event of a sequel. I also know a lot of stuff is rented instead of being purchased. That said, they let us keep a few things from the film. Little mementos, things that could be replaced or stuff that wouldn't for sure be needed again. We also got to keep the seat backs from our chairs on set

Mark Wahlberg famously kept his fake schlong from Boogie Nights.

Reese Witherspoon kept a lot of the wardrobe from Legally Blonde.

Most of the LOTR actors kept their swords. Viggo Mortensen bought one of the horses for himself and one (very expensive) horse for one of the stunt riders. Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood raided the Bag End set for souvenirs.

I bet that on the "big event" movies, the actors and crew take everything that the props department doesn't lock away first.

I've heard that, for Mallrats, Shannen Doherty's contract stipulated that she got to keep every outfit she wore in the movie. That's why she is wearing something different in every scene. Not sure if that's true or not, but there you go.

David Spade picked up the pieces of the ripped up photo of the pope that Sinead O'Connor tore up on SNL.

Will Ferrell kept the ball sack that Brendan drug across Dale's drum set.

I've read that the ball sack Will took cost like $10,000 - something outrageous - and he takes it to restaurants and "whips it out" as a gag to his friends

Seems fairly common that a bunch of the A-listers take a memento or two, but apparently the studios have some pretty strict rules about it bc everytime you see an interview about the topic, almost every actor is pretty shocked they have what they have or are pretty sheepish about it. It also seems like the mementos are either completely random, or something where there were multiple being used. So while common, i dont think the studios like when they take certain things.

I read Chris Hemsworth has taken a prop Mjolnir from each Thor and Avengers film. I'm sure there were a ton though. just like Daniel Radcliff supposedly kept a couple sets of Harry Potters glasses from filming, but again, im sure there were multiple. Rupert Grint supposedly swiped the golden egg from The Goble of Fire but the studio made him give it back so clearly there is a line and/or certain things the studios refuse to let the actors keep.

I recall reading that Samuel Jackson was gifted his lightsaber from the Star Wars prequels.

combat wombat said:

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Reese Witherspoon kept a lot of the wardrobe from Legally Blonde.

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Someone watched The Home Edit!
lol

What's the story behind this?

Carlo4 said:

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What's the story behind this?

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Gillian kept the cryogenically frozen vial of Pierce's sperm (from Community). Just a prop and unlikely to actually contain Chase's seed. Probably.

She's showing it at the table read they did during lockdown.

Ryan Reynolds kept the Deadpool suit.

It has the zip code for Jersey Village on the label, is that coincidental?

AliasMan02 said:

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Carlo4 said:

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What's the story behind this?

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Gillian kept the cryogenically frozen vial of Pierce's sperm (from Community). Just a prop and unlikely to actually contain Chase's seed. Probably.

She's showing it at the table read they did during lockdown.

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Hahaha that is awesome!

HeavyMetalAg said:

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I've heard that, for Mallrats, Shannen Doherty's contract stipulated that she got to keep every outfit she wore in the movie. That's why she is wearing something different in every scene. Not sure if that's true or not, but there you go.

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If I remember correctly, Steve Madden sent a ton of clothes for her to wear/keep on our movie. Nothing super expensive but actors like free.

Looks like Arnold has the Atlantean sword from Conan.

Judge reinhold kept the fake meat he was beating from Fast Times

So, what I gather from this thread is that in addition to being professional liars, actors are also thieves.

HeavyMetalAg said:

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I've heard that, for Mallrats, Shannen Doherty's contract stipulated that she got to keep every outfit she wore in the movie. That's why she is wearing something different in every scene. Not sure if that's true or not, but there you go.

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Kevin says that on the DBD commentary. Not sure why he's lie about it so I'm betting it's true.

Btw, with DVDs gone the way of the VHS, are they still doing things like this for movies?

James Franco kept the camera from the movie 27 hours and a functioning revolver from the movie Flyboys. "I always keep my props"

nai06 said:

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I think it depends on the film and how famous the actor or actress is. I would bet it's less common now than it used to be. For my wife's film the producers rented a storage unit after filming to store a bunch of stuff in the event of a sequel. I also know a lot of stuff is rented instead of being purchased. That said, they let us keep a few things from the film. Little mementos, things that could be replaced or stuff that wouldn't for sure be needed again. We also got to keep the seat backs from our chairs on set

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What movie was this?

Ralph Macchio kept the yellow car from Karate Kid

AliasMan02 said:

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What is this?

Ag-Yoakum95 said:

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nai06 said:

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I think it depends on the film and how famous the actor or actress is. I would bet it's less common now than it used to be. For my wife's film the producers rented a storage unit after filming to store a bunch of stuff in the event of a sequel. I also know a lot of stuff is rented instead of being purchased. That said, they let us keep a few things from the film. Little mementos, things that could be replaced or stuff that wouldn't for sure be needed again. We also got to keep the seat backs from our chairs on set

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What movie was this?

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Dumplin'. His wife wrote the book it was based on.

Pretty well known jeff bridges kept many of the big lebowski clothing pieces, because they were his in the first place from his own closet.

Aye Davanita said:

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AliasMan02 said:

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What is this?

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Chevy Chase's sperm.