A framed clapperboard from the classic war drama: The Dirty Dozen (1967). One of the most iconic and memorable aspects of the movie making industry has to be the clapperboard. For decades this has been a vital piece of equipment that enables not just sound and image to be synchronised, but to also advise the viewer of the raw footage the exact details of the upcoming shot. The simple monochromatic device has become a symbolic image synonymous with films, and is still used to this day.
This classic movie stars the late great Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson, with this clapperboard coming straight from the set. This small original production used board still clearly reads “The Dirty Dozen” 'MGM92', with the Director 'Robert Aldrich' and the Cameraman 'Ted Scaife' lettering clearly showing in permanent white paint on the slate. The date is blank except for the '66' at the end and a section on the right stating 'day, night, int, ext'. The clapstick is quite loose which is to be expected for its usage and age, yet still remains in good working order.
The back of the wooden board has a 'form no.23 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios Ltd.' printed on a piece of card held in place with faded white gaffer tape. This card has handwritten notes in black Biro mentioning the scene (2121), the take and the distance needed. The clapperboard still faintly shows the numbers '2137' on the left and the number '1' on the right in faint white chalk.
This whole board comes custom hinge- framed (for easy item removal), in an intricately laser-cut mount board display, with the films logo and picture, measuring 42.5cm x 60.5cm x 6cm (16.7” x 23.8 ” x 2.36”). The clapperboard itself measures 23cm x 18cm (9.5” x 7.1” approx).
COA: Prop Store of London / Propside.com