'Secrets of the Prison Cell'... Leather Bikini from The Shawshank Redemption Poster Goes Up for Auction

1960s Hollywood Star Raquel Welch
Passed Away Last Year... Auction of Movie Costumes and More

Hollywood star Raquel Welch, who starred in 1960s films such as 'One Million Years B.C.', is drawing attention as the leather bikini she wore in the movie goes up for auction. On the 2nd (local time), the New York Post reported, "Julien's Auctions is holding an auction of over 500 items to commemorate Hollywood actress and singer Raquel Welch, who passed away last February. The auction includes costumes, watches, posters, high school report cards, and even luxury sports cars that she wore or owned."

The image of Raquel Welch from "One Million Years B.C.," famous for being the poster hung in Andy's cell in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption."
[Image courtesy of Hammer Film Productions]

Raquel Welch, who debuted in 1964, appeared in various films and dramas such as 'The Body Capsule', 'One Million Years B.C.', 'The Red Roses Commando', 'The Woman in the Wall', 'The Three Musketeers', 'The Prince and the Pauper', and 'Legally Blonde'. In particular, she rose to fame as a Hollywood 'sex icon' by playing the role of a prehistoric female lead in 'One Million Years B.C.' and being selected by Playboy as 'the most admired woman by men.' This film was released in 1967 at Daehan Theater and Segi Theater.

Raquel Welch is posing backstage at the Emmy Awards ceremony on September 20, 1987.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Welch appeared in the film wearing a leather bikini, a look that was compared to Marilyn Monroe and later became a subject of homage in various works, generating much buzz. The poster of her posing in the leather bikini is also famous for being hung on the prison wall by the protagonist Andy in the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption.' It is widely regarded that all creative works featuring a prehistoric beauty in a leather bikini in the U.S. have been influenced by this film.

A scene from the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption.' The protagonist Andy became famous for hanging the above poster on the prison wall.

Julien's Auctions set the pre-sale estimate for this bikini at $700 (approximately 940,000 KRW), but the current highest bid has reached $1,500 (approximately 2 million KRW). The auction also includes Welch's 'Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque' from her 1996 dedication ceremony and a 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 convertible. The current highest bid for the plaque is $2,000 (approximately 2.7 million KRW).

Welch passed away on February 15 last year at the age of 82. Her family only stated, "She peacefully passed away after a brief illness." The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.