Movie props from American Reunion on display...

After visiting Universal Studios Hollywood's treasure trove of movie memorabilia last week, I thought I'd kick off my new discoveries with film props from a recent 2012 movie, American Reunion.

Original props from American Reunion 

This graduation yearbook, plus the decanter and glasses set were featured in the fourth big screen installment in the American Pie comedy franchise and were photographed on display at the NBC Universal Experience movie museum attraction at the theme park on April 26, 2012.

American Reunion movie billboard

The decanter and tumbler glasses were used by Jennifer Coolidge as Stifler's mother, 'Jeanine', in the movie and what prop is more appropriate to have on display than a yearbook for a movie about a high school reunion, right?

The latest costumes and props from Universal Studios Hollywood's movie and TV archives...

It's been a while since I've ventured to Universal Studios Hollywood's treasure trove of movie memorabilia, so I thought I'd stop by the Universal NBC Experience attraction and see what classic costumes, models and props they had on offer and I wasn't disappointed.

Original film and TV costumes, props and concept artwork 

on display at Universal Studios Hollywood

Far from it, in fact there were so many new additions to the ever-changing movie museum that I was in movie enthusiast heaven. The exhibit was a veritable cornucopia of film treasures from recent and classic Universal films, plus NBC television shows.

Original props from The Blues Brothers on display

They once again had props from 1980's cult classic musical comedy and if you're a fan be sure to check out more costumes and props from The Blues Brothers here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props, including outfits worn by John Candy and James Brown.

Original props featured in One Day

Also on display were actual props from 2011's romantic drama One Day. Be sure to check out costumes worn by Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess in One Day.

Jurassic Park dinosaur maquette and concept art

The exhibit also included this Stegosaurus maquette and concept art which helped create the ground-breaking CGI dinosaurs in 1993's blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Vacuum cleaner and wedding album props from TV's Monk

For television enthusiasts there were props from shows like 2002 to 2009 detective show, Monk, and a Mae West style dress from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In show, which ran from 1967 to 1973.

Original outfits from TV's Alice Through the Looking Glass 

and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

They had some fantastic costumes from the world of television, including a dress from 1966's Alice through the Looking Glass, plus more contemporary sports props from Friday Night Lights.

Signed cast American football and Joe Doyle McCoy's 

Youth League Allstar trophy from Friday Night Lights

The exhibit also had some classic pieces, like this zig-zag dress worn by Julie Andrews in 1967's Throughly Modern Millie and Bud Abbot's suit from 1951's Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.

Classic costumes from Throughly Modern Millie and 

Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man

As you can see, there was so much to take in. Thankfully I had my trusty camera to hand, so stay tuned in the days to come for even more details and photos of fantastic costumes, props and movie memorabilia including:

Outrageous ABBA-esque outfits from Mamma Mia: The Movie worn by Julie Walters and Stellan Skarsgard
Cool props from The Mummy movie franchise
Matt Damon's outfit and props from The Bourne Identity
The Grinch's Santa suit and props from Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas 
Props from super-powered TV show Heroes
Russell Crowe's pajama costume from A Beautiful Mind
Tom Hanks NASA training jumpsuit and module miniature from Apollo 13
Joaquin Phoenix Commodus costume and throne from Gladiator
Sci-fi props from TV's Caprica
Props from the movie comedy sequel American Reunion
Television props from Crossing Jordan
Sheriff's uniform and bridge device prop from Eureka
Original spy movie props from Johnny English Reborn
Columbo's signature clothes worn by Peter Falk in the detective mystery series
Wedding outfits from U.S. version of The Office comedy series
Jimmy Fallon's split cowboy sketch costume

All these costumes and props were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's NBC Universal Experience attraction in the theme park's lower lot on April 26, 2012.

Claymation characters from The Pirates Band of Misfits on display...

If like me you're a fan of claymation animated films, then you'll love this exhibit of characters from Aardman Animation's new comedy, The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

Actual claymation models from The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Personally I've loved Nick Park's unique creations since his 1989 Creature Comforts animated short, so it's fantastic to see the animation studio enjoying more international success in 2012, and it was a pleasure to see these three clay animation characters from The Pirates! up close at ArcLight Pasadena cinema on April 17, 2012.

Cutlass Liz is voiced by Salma Hayek in The Pirates!

Included in the display was female pirate and the 'Butcher of Barbados', appropriately named 'Cutlass Liz'.

Black Bellamy is voiced by Jeremy Piven in The Pirates!

In the movie, 'Black Bellamy' is the longtime arch-nemesis of the Pirate Captain.

Peg Leg Hastings is voiced by Lenny Henry in The Pirates!

When you any kind of animation on the big screen, you always forget how much work has gone into every frame, but these clay models really help you to glimpse a little of what happens behind-the-scenes.

The Pirates! clay animation models on display at ArcLight Pasadena

If you like these animation models, you may also like these cool stop-motion models and sets from Fantastic Mr. Fox and stop-motion puppets from Coraline.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits movie billboard

Original movie costumes from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on display...

Based on the 2004 novel 'These Foolish Things' by Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a British comedy-drama directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden. The movie stars a fantastic veteran ensemble cast, boasting the likes of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Tom Wilkinson and Ronald Pickup, plus Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel adds a youthful element.

Original movie costumes worn by Judi Dench and Dev Patel 

in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The film follows a group of British retirees who have been attracted to the seemingly more exotic and less expensive life of leisure at a retirement hotel in India. They discover the Marigold Hotel is not as luxurious as they'd been promised, but they are all soon transformed by their experiences and their new life.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster

Louise Stjernsward is Costume Designer on the movie and these outfits featured in the film were worn by Dame Judi Dench and Dev Patel.

Outfit worn by Judi Dench as Evelyn Greenslade 

in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Judi Dench plays 'Evelyn', a recently widowed housewife who has had to sell her home to pay her husband's debts.

Costume worn by Dev Patel as Sonny Kapoor 

in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

In the movie Dev's character 'Sonny' owns and runs at the Marigold Hotel and his favourite quote is "Everything will be all right in the end... and if it's not all right then it's not yet the end".

These original costumes were photographed on display at the ArcLight Hollywood cinema on April 13, 2012.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster

White Knight armour from Alice in Wonderland on display...

Hard to believe that its been over two years since Tim Burton's vision of Alice in Wonderland graced the big screen in Disney's live-action adaptation of Lewis Carroll's famous and beloved literary character.

White Knight suit of armor from Alice in Wonderland

Here's the wonderfully intricate suit of armour worn by Mia Wasikowska as the titular 'Alice' for her battle with the Red Queen's forces and the fearsome Jabberwocky. This costume exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives was photographed on display at Disney Studios in Burbank, California on December 30, 2011.

Alice in Wonderland movie poster

Colleen Atwood won a prestigious Oscar for her costume designs in this 2010 movie, so be sure to check out more original costumes from Alice in Wonderland here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and props.

Personally I love the design of this lightweight 'White Knight' armour because on screen you wonder how someone as tiny as the actress could move so effortlessly in such a heavy suit of armor, but when you see it up close you realize it's all smoke and mirrors and this costume isn't really made from traditional metal at all. 

Alice in Wonderland's White Knight armour on display

If you are a fan of battle armour, you should check out these Terry English suits of armor from 1981's medieval fantasy Excalibur.

Alice in Wonderland movie poster