Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop

mikeymike · 12-17-2011, 01:16 AM

I just picked this up tonight: a screen-matched Bob-omb from Super Mario Bros. Its provenance is stellar, as the prop comes straight from a crewmember who worked on the film. He was nice enough to share some more information with me.

This exact Bob-omb can be seen when the fungus offers it to Luigi (John Leguizamo). The mono-filament attached at the top used to be covered in slimy fungus and was used to lower the Bob-omb to Luigi in that particular scene.

"Hey, look at that! What is that?" Luigi asks Mario (Bob Hoskins) as the Bob-omb appears. When Luigi reaches for it, Mario pulls him away and shouts, "Goombas! Let's go!"

This prop is actually a modified TOMY wind-up walking toy hand-painted in matte gray (the Reebok logo on the soles of the Bob-omb would have covered the TOMY copyright). The winding key was added to the prop and is no longer present because it was made of paper and did not withstand after filming. In fact, the paper-made keys did not last long on any of the several Bob-ombs used in the movie.

The Bob-ombs, themselves, were also fragile, so it is unknown how many of these have actually survived.

See the attached photos.

"Trust the fungus!"

T2SF · 12-17-2011, 11:02 AM

I love it! I think I saw the auction page and was very tempted to bid. Nice piece though and thanks for sharing.

Starfighter29 · 12-18-2011, 06:43 PM

Congrats on getting the bob-omb, Mike! That is a great, iconic item from the film and definitely one of the coolest references to the video game.

I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but there is an excellent site dedicated to the SMB movie if you want to check it out. There are a ton of great interviews, photos, etc there that you might find interesting.

Super Mario Bros. The Movie Archive -- Main Page

MrSinistar · 12-19-2011, 05:50 PM

Awesome!!

Thanks a lot for the Tomy wind up info. Just curious, what's the diameter of the ball?

TylerHam · 12-20-2011, 05:34 PM

That is an "adorable" little prop!

drthomasholmes · 12-23-2011, 01:02 AM

That is too cool!

666 · 12-29-2011, 11:47 PM

Can be this the toy based on?

just curiosity

Wes R · 12-30-2011, 12:15 AM

I'm thinking it's based more off the Tomy walking bowling ball that was popular. It came in a container that turned into an alley including knock down pins and when you let him loose he'd waddle down to hit the pins. Mind you he wasn't very good at hitting the target if there was any uneven spots in whatever it was set up on.

Malphas · 12-30-2011, 12:41 AM

That's pretty neat and awesome that you got some back story on it. Looking at google the feet don't look right on the bowling ball, unless TOMY changed the design or the film modded it.

666 · 12-31-2011, 12:56 AM

I can be wrong, but didn't find yet another foot... like the monkey one

666 · 12-31-2011, 01:11 AM

I spend a little more time... this is also same blue , like your bomb, my money on this!

ha ha ha

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12-17-2011, 01:16 AM	#1
mikeymike Join Date: May 2010 Location: Philly Posts: 23	Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop I just picked this up tonight: a screen-matched Bob-omb from Super Mario Bros. Its provenance is stellar, as the prop comes straight from a crewmember who worked on the film. He was nice enough to share some more information with me. This exact Bob-omb can be seen when the fungus offers it to Luigi (John Leguizamo). The mono-filament attached at the top used to be covered in slimy fungus and was used to lower the Bob-omb to Luigi in that particular scene. "Hey, look at that! What is that?" Luigi asks Mario (Bob Hoskins) as the Bob-omb appears. When Luigi reaches for it, Mario pulls him away and shouts, "Goombas! Let's go!" This prop is actually a modified TOMY wind-up walking toy hand-painted in matte gray (the Reebok logo on the soles of the Bob-omb would have covered the TOMY copyright). The winding key was added to the prop and is no longer present because it was made of paper and did not withstand after filming. In fact, the paper-made keys did not last long on any of the several Bob-ombs used in the movie. The Bob-ombs, themselves, were also fragile, so it is unknown how many of these have actually survived. See the attached photos. "Trust the fungus!" Attached Thumbnails

12-17-2011, 11:02 AM	#2
T2SF Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Francisco, SF, bay area, California Posts: 493	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop I love it! I think I saw the auction page and was very tempted to bid. Nice piece though and thanks for sharing.

12-18-2011, 06:43 PM	#3
Starfighter29 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 77	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop Congrats on getting the bob-omb, Mike! That is a great, iconic item from the film and definitely one of the coolest references to the video game. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but there is an excellent site dedicated to the SMB movie if you want to check it out. There are a ton of great interviews, photos, etc there that you might find interesting. Super Mario Bros. The Movie Archive -- Main Page

12-19-2011, 05:50 PM	#4
MrSinistar Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 583	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop Awesome!! Thanks a lot for the Tomy wind up info. Just curious, what's the diameter of the ball? Last edited by MrSinistar; 12-19-2011 at 05:55 PM.

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12-20-2011, 05:34 PM	#5
TylerHam Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 322	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop That is an "adorable" little prop!

12-23-2011, 01:02 AM	#6
drthomasholmes Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 30	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop That is too cool!

12-29-2011, 11:47 PM	#7
666 Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 63	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop Can be this the toy based on? just curiosity

12-30-2011, 12:15 AM	#8
Wes R Formerly cobalt crimson Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA Posts: 5,503	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop I'm thinking it's based more off the Tomy walking bowling ball that was popular. It came in a container that turned into an alley including knock down pins and when you let him loose he'd waddle down to hit the pins. Mind you he wasn't very good at hitting the target if there was any uneven spots in whatever it was set up on.

12-30-2011, 12:41 AM	#9
Malphas Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 9	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop That's pretty neat and awesome that you got some back story on it. Looking at google the feet don't look right on the bowling ball, unless TOMY changed the design or the film modded it.

12-31-2011, 12:56 AM	#10
666 Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 63	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop I can be wrong, but didn't find yet another foot... like the monkey one

12-31-2011, 01:11 AM	#11
666 Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 63	Re: Super Mario Bros. Screen-Matched Bob-omb Movie Prop I spend a little more time... this is also same blue , like your bomb, my money on this! ha ha ha

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