Welcome news readers! Today, we dive into a fascinating story from the world of film and auctions. But before we delve into the details, we’ll first introduce some key vocabulary that will help you better understand the story. These words and phrases will not only boost your language learning journey, but also provide you with practical language use in everyday conversations and professional discussions.
Vocabulary
- Acclaimed: /əˈkleɪmd/ – Praised enthusiastically and publicly.
- Auctioned off: /ˈɔːkʃənd ɒf/ – Sold to the highest bidder in a public auction.
- Mimeographed: /ˈmaɪməʊɡræft/ – A duplicating machine that produces copies from a stencil.
- Iconic: /aɪˈkɒnɪk/ – Widely recognized and well-established.
- Memorabilia: /mɛmərəˈbiːliə/ – Objects kept or collected because of their historical interest, especially those associated with memorable people or events.
- Allure: /əˈljʊər/ – The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.
- Frenzy: /ˈfrɛnzi/ – A state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behaviour.
- Buyer’s premium: /ˈbaɪərz ˈpriːmiəm/ – An additional charge on the hammer price (winning bid at an auction) of a lot that must be paid by the winning bidder.
- Tangible: /ˈtændʒəbəl/ – Perceptible by touch; capable of being touched or felt.
- Enduring legacy: /ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ ˈlɛgəsi/ – Something that lasts for a long time and continues to affect people.
And now, the news…
Casablanca Script Sold for $28,000
A valuable piece of Hollywood history, a script from the acclaimed 1942 movie "Casablanca," was auctioned off on June 5, 2023, for an impressive sum of $28,000. This wasn't any ordinary script; it was a mimeographed copy, containing the iconic line, "Here's looking at you, kid," a phrase that has since been etched into the annals of film history.
The script was part of a larger auction that included an extensive collection of movie memorabilia. The allure of owning a piece of cinematic history, coupled with the script's rarity—it's believed to be one of the last copies in existence—created a frenzy among bidders, leading to a final bid that surpassed initial estimates.
Bidding was intense and competitive, reflecting the script's immense historical and cultural significance. The final price of $28,000 also included additional costs, such as the buyer's premium and taxes. The person who placed the winning bid now owns a tangible piece of Hollywood's golden age.
The "Casablanca" script represents more than just a prop from a movie; it symbolizes a time when cinema was a powerful medium of storytelling, influencing millions of viewers worldwide. Its auction served as a testament to the enduring legacy of classic films and the value that collectors place on preserving this legacy for future generations.
We hope you enjoyed this journey into the world of classic cinema and the excitement of auctions with the recent sale of the ‘Casablanca’ script. This story, while intriguing in its own right, also provided us with a rich selection of vocabulary words and phrases to add to our language toolkit. Remember, understanding and using these words effectively can greatly enhance your English language skills, and make your communication more fluent and engaging. Don’t forget to test your understanding with the multiple-choice quiz. Keep practicing, and stay tuned for more interesting lessons based on real-world happenings. Happy learning!
#1. What is an ‘enduring legacy’?
#2. What is a ‘frenzy’?
#3. What does ‘acclaimed’ mean?
#4. What is the meaning of ‘iconic’?
#5. What does ‘tangible’ mean?
#6. What does ‘auctioned off’ mean?
#7. What is ‘memorabilia’?
#8. What does ‘allure’ mean?
#9. What is the ‘buyer’s premium’?
#10. The script from which movie was auctioned off?
Results
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