Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Brandon Allinger, Chief Operating Officer of Propstore and Treasure Hunt, unveils secrets and trivia about the iconic movie props, including Harrison Ford's fedora, stunt performances, and hidden cut scenes.

Brandon Allinger, the Chief Operating Officer of Propstore and Treasure Hunt, has developed a deep passion for collecting and studying movie props, which has led him to gather fascinating insights into the filmmaking process. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Allinger shared his experiences with collecting props from the second installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

One of the most valuable items in Allinger's possession is the iconic fedora worn by Harrison Ford in the movie. Through extensive research and authentication, he was able to trace its provenance directly to stunt performer Dean Ferrandini. "Obviously, in this one you have direct provenance. You know exactly where it came from. The guy worked on the film. Everything stacks up there," Allinger explained.

Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Allinger emphasized the importance of proper authentication when dealing with movie props. By meticulously comparing photographs and screenshots, he was able to conclusively identify the hat as the one used in the film. This meticulous approach not only enhances the value of the prop but also provides collectors with a unique connection to the filmmaking process.

Through his research, Allinger has discovered that multiple stunt doubles were employed to perform Harrison Ford's stunts. In addition to the legendary Vic Anderson, stunt performer Dean Bandini also took on the role of Indiana Jones. "I don't know that you always get set secrets from film props, but I think really what you do get is just, a peek behind the curtain at kind of the magic, the magician's tricks, if you will, and how they're doing things," Allinger said.

Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Allinger's research has also uncovered a wealth of behind-the-scenes trivia from the set of "Temple of Doom." For example, he learned that both real and mechanical rats were used during the filming of the infamous banquet scene. "Sometimes you learn about cut scenes," Allinger explained. "I think we have another piece in the auction that is specifically from a cut scene in ‘Temple of Doom.’ It ties back to that same banquet scene that they use the beetles for. It's like a big pig roast dish that they made for that film."

Allinger's passion for movie props extends beyond "Indiana Jones." The upcoming auction will feature a diverse collection of iconic items from various films, including Star Wars, Batman, Titanic, Scream, Star Trek, Thor, Evil Dead, and Gladiator.

Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

One of the highlights of the "Star Wars" collection is a genuine film-use biker scout helmet. "It's also known as the Scout Trooper, and it's just a gorgeous helmet. It has a cool face that flips up on the front of it. Instantly recognizable," Allinger said. "This is a really nice example. All the original paint and decals are there. It has a great weathered finish, and we expect a lot of attention on that one."

Another prized possession is the only bat wing ever built for the 1989 "Batman" film. "It's six feet wide, it's huge, and it's fully motorized and mechanical. It has all the features that you see in the movie," Allinger said. "So it has the functional balloon clippers that come out and grab the balloons. It has a little remote controlled Gatling gun. It has strobe lights and running lights and the whole kit and caboodle. Batman turns his head. It's an incredibly cool piece."

Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Allinger's collection also includes Rose's sinking coat from "Titanic," White Star dinner plates and Titanic tickets, a mask from "Scream," costumes from "Star Trek," Thor's hammer, a book from "Evil Dead," costumes from "Gladiator," and much more.

Through his auction, Allinger aims to connect movie enthusiasts with a tangible part of their favorite films. "If they wanted to knock down the shine on the mask, they put a tape on it. And then if they wanted to bring the shine back to the mask, they'd take the tape away, and they'd actually get out a little stick of chapstick, and they'd go over it with chapstick and sort of polish it up," he said of the "Scream" mask. "And that would become the glossy version of the mask, depending on what they wanted for that specific shot."

Prop Enthusiast Shares Fascinating Details from the Making of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Allinger's passion for movie props and his meticulous research have led him to uncover a wealth of fascinating behind-the-scenes secrets. Through his auction, he offers collectors a unique opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history and gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate art of filmmaking.