{"id":23789,"date":"2011-02-27T01:00:34","date_gmt":"2011-02-27T09:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/?p=23789"},"modified":"2011-05-13T22:42:29","modified_gmt":"2011-05-14T06:42:29","slug":"padme-costume-with-bbc-wardrobe-tag-star-wars-the-phantom-menace-or-french-saunders-rebelscum-storydiscussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/2011\/02\/27\/padme-costume-with-bbc-wardrobe-tag-star-wars-the-phantom-menace-or-french-saunders-rebelscum-storydiscussion\/","title":{"rendered":"Padm\u00e9 Costume with BBC Wardrobe Tag – “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” or “French & Saunders”? (Rebelscum Story\/Discussion)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A few days ago, the popular Star Wars fan site Rebelscum published an “eBay Today Express” article about a costume attributed to use by Natalie Portman as Padm\u00e9 in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace<\/em> (1999), and subsequently posted a retraction based on further research.\u00a0 Per the article, it appeared to match a costume worn on the BBC series, French & Saunders<\/em><\/a> in a parody Christmas 1999 episode titled “The Phantom Millennium”.<\/p>\n

The original Rebelscum story can be found at www.rebelscum.com (“Retraction eBay Today Express: Screen Used Padm\u00e9 Costume”<\/a><\/strong>):<\/p>\n

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The eBay auction listing with an $8,750 “Buy It Now” price – which has since been ended early by the seller – claims the costume was sold in the last Profiles in History sale event (Hollywood Auction 43).<\/p>\n

The eBay auction can be found via the link below (“Natalie Portman \u201cPadme\u201d costume Star Wars: Episode 1<\/a>” | eBay Listing Archive<\/a><\/strong>):<\/p>\n

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The original marketing page on the Profiles in History website is still active, with a higher resolution photo and the catalog description at www.profilesinhistory.com (“Natalie Portman \u201cPadme\u201d costume from Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace”<\/strong><\/a> | Catalog Archive<\/a><\/strong>):<\/p>\n

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Per online auction service provider iCollector’s archives, the costume sold at auction for $2,500 (plus $450 buyer’s premium), which can be found at www.icollector.com (“Hollywood Auction 43 – Lot 644<\/a>” | <\/strong>Archive<\/a>)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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The Profiles in History auction description states:<\/p>\n

Natalie Portman \u201cPadme\u201d costume from Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace Featured<\/strong><\/p>\n

Natalie Portman \u201cPadme\u201d costume from Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace Lot #644 Estimated Value: $800 – $1,200<\/p>\n

Natalie Portman \u201cPadme\u201d costume from Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace (TCF, 1999) Peasant costume worn by Natalie Portman as \u201cPadme\u201d including rough spun gray tunic with integral blue belt tie and red fabric emblem, blue top and numerous strips of gray cloth wraps. Tunic and top labeled inside \u201cBBC Costume 0208 576 1735 LI1778\/2GY\/BL X LRG LTUN PADME (STAR WARS) TUNI,\u201d one with \u201cA\u201d in ink.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below is the Profiles in History catalog photo:<\/p>\n

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Click for Full Resolution<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below is an official publicity photo of Natalie Portman as Padm\u00e9 from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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Click for Full Resolution<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below is a photo of one of the original Padm\u00e9 costumes on exhibit, published on Flickr by user U2acro (Flickr Link<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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Click for Full Resolution<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Information about the BBC television series French & Saunders and the special episode, “Christmas 1999 The Phantom Millennium<\/strong><\/a>“, can be found at www.frenchandsuanders.com:<\/p>\n

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The full episode in question can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube (see “French & Saunders: Star Wars Spoof (Complete) [WS\/HQ]<\/a><\/strong>“):<\/p>\n

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The scene featuring an actress wearing a Padm\u00e9 costume can be viewed between 5:58 and 6:54.\u00a0 Below are example screencaptures:<\/p>\n

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Below is a comparison between the publicity photo of Natalie Portman wearing the Padm\u00e9 wardrobe from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the costume sold by Profiles in History and listed for sale this week on eBay, and screencaptures from the French & Saunders episode and their parody of the Star Wars film:<\/p>\n

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Click for Full Resolution<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also of note is that the Profiles in History auction description stated that the costume had a BBC wardrobe tag (including the size “X LRG”, which would be unusual for Natalie Portman at approximately 5’4″ and around 100 pounds), as the French and Saunders series was a BBC production that was originally broadcast from 1987 to 2007.<\/p>\n

Discussion can be found on the Rebelscum forums, which includes additional information, photos, and insights:<\/p>\n