Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is celebrating Valentine’s Day with the acquisition of the box of chocolates used by Tom Hanks in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.
The prop – signed by Hanks – was purchased at auction for $25,000. Instead of being filled with chocolates, it actually contains more than four pounds of sand to stop it falling off the actor’s lap during filming.
In the words the character’s mother would say to him as a child, “Life [is] like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”
“Conversation hearts and boxes of chocolates are synonymous with Valentine’s Day, but no ordinary candy for Ripley’s sweethearts will do,” said Ripley’s.
As well as the iconic box of chocolates, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has acquired memorabilia including Darth Maul’s double-sided Lightsaber used in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
The company is also the owner of The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein’s personal address book, and Prince’s signature purple coat worn during performances of ‘Purple Rain’.
“Life [is] like a box of chocolates”
Elsewhere, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a new display featuring some of the show’s wedding dresses.
Available through April, the display unveils a selection of the gowns worn in the series’ weddings, which all ended terribly. These include dresses worn by Sansa Stark, Lyanna Stark, Roslin Frey and Lysa Arryn.
Ripley Entertainment, a world leader in family entertainment, recently announced GoPhoto as its new global photography partner.
Images: Ripley Entertainment
