#4139 • Raiders of the Lost Ark "Col. Dietrich" FX Head

Part of Archives of Hollywood & Music (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: No sale

Est. $3,000-$5,000 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Wolf Kahler "Col. Dietrich" FX Head W/Provenance - This piece is a vintage original head and shoulders special FX bust of "Colonel Dietrich" from the 1981 Steven Spielberg Paramount Pictures film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The bust was created from a modified life cast of actor Wolf Kahler, who portrayed "Col. Dietrich" in the film. The bust is constructed of cast foam latex rubber and is sculpted with the mouth open in a scream, used for the unforgettable scene when the Ark of the Covenant is opened and the contents destroy Dietrich and his fellow Nazis. The final FX scene would have used a skin made from the same molds as this bust which would have been rigged to implode, as did Dietrich's face in the film. This bust is foam filled for display, and measures approx. 15"H x 19"W (at shoulders). The piece was previously offered at auction in 2018, and will be accompanied by a copy of the auction listing. Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, and was the highest grossing film of 1981. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1982, including Best Picture, and won for Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects, along with a fifth Academy Award: a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing. It is often considered one of the greatest films ever made, and remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Please note: the bust exhibits some signs of aging with surface crazing and some deterioration, particularly on the ears. Please view all provided images for an accurate reflection of condition.