The Dark Lord of the Sith’s weapon tops a big Hollywood memorabilia auction, and ‘Match In A Haystack’ looks at dancing amid devastation in Ukraine. David Daniel reports.

Hollywood

Darth Vader's lightsaber, the original prop used in 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi,' is set to be auctioned by Prop Store in an upcoming Entertainment Memorabilia live auction. The lightsaber is expected to fetch between 1 and 3 million dollars, with other notable items including Harrison Ford's bullwhip and belt from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' Sauron's helmet from 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,' and a Neuralizer from 'Men in Black.'

The auction is scheduled for September, with further information available at propstoreauction.com. In addition, the documentary 'Match in a Haystack,' executive produced by Misty Copeland, follows an all-female Ukrainian dance company staging their first performance since the Russian invasion. The film will premiere in New York and screen in several U.S. cities before its video-on-demand release.

Darth Vader’s light saber from ‘Empire’ hits auction block

Darth Vader's lightsaber is going on the auction block. The actual prop used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi is part of Prop Store's next Entertainment Memorabilia live auction. The presale estimate, 1 to 3 million dollars. Other key items up for bid, Harrison Ford's bullwhip and belt from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sauron's helmet from The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, and a Neuralizer from Men in Black. The auction is in September. More info at propstoreauction.com. We went abroad for the first time, to Kyiv, and it was like going to another world. We found an abandoned stage there. The documentary Match in a Haystack follows an all-female Ukrainian dance company as they mount their first show since the Russian invasion. Iconic ballerina Misty Copeland is an executive producer on the film, which premieres next week in New York, plays in L.A., Chicago, Denver, and D.C. theaters in August, and is due on VOD this fall. In Hollywood, I'm David Daniel.

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