Scots vintage specialist Scaramanga is helping real-life Dumbos get a new home to celebrate Disney movie Dumbo, released today, becoming the 10th film it’s seen its products used in.
Two years ago the Cupar firm received two orders from props buyers for the live-action remake of the Disney classic about a flying baby circus elephant – one for six late-Victorian travel trunks, the second for 15 large brass and iron antique padlocks and a set of school ropes.
Now they’re set to appear in the new Tim Burton live action remake of the family favourite starring Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Eva Green. It tells how baby circus elephant Dumbo goes from laughing stock to sought-after star when it’s found he can use his huge ears to fly. One of the trunks is shown behind Puck the Organ Grinder in a scene with the main characters.
Elephant Haven
To mark their own high-flying success in being chosen to supply 10 movies in just seven years, Scaramanga is helping create a new home for real-life circus elephants by donating 25% of the profits from the sale of items like those supplied during the movie’s release to new European circus elephant rescue charity Elephant Haven.
It was set up in 2016 by former zookeepers Tony Verhulst and Sofie Goetghebeur to offer a home for life to elephants made homeless by the use of wild animals in circuses being gradually banned across Europe. They also hope to develop informative programmes about elephants and their behaviour in captivity and in the wild.
‘Honoured’
So far they’ve almost finished the first barn and fence for up to three elephants on their site in the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord Nord in Haute Vienne, France, and plan to construct a second barn and education centre by 2022.
On hearing of Scaramanga’s support for their work, Sofie and Tony said: “We are very honoured to have the support of Scaramanga. This will help us create a place where elephants can enjoy space and tranquillity for the rest of their lives.”
Speaking about the firm’s latest silver screen success, Scaramanga founder and Managing Director Carl Morenikeji said: “We’re delighted to see our products chosen for a 10th major film in just seven years thanks to our reputation as vintage specialists. It seems appropriate that the director is Tim Burton as it was his movie Dark Shadows which was our first in 2012.
Pleased
“We’re also pleased to be able to help real-life elephants like Dumbo find a new home for life once their days touring Europe are over. We hope our customers will buy plenty of trunks and padlocks like those in the movie so we can help create a new home for Europe’s circus elephants.”
Previous movie supply roles for the Fife firm have included January’s Stan & Ollie, last summer’s Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, Paddington 2, Maleficent, Victoria & Abdul, Pan, The Legend of Tarzan and Dark Shadows.
The company, which also sells its bags, vintage furniture and homewares online and in its Cupar store, has also been used as a supplier of vintage and antique props for TV shows including Strictly Come Dancing, Peaky Blinders, The Crystal Maze, Celebrity Big Brother, Jericho, Hollyoaks and 60 Minute Makeover.
Vintage fans can find the full range of Scaramanga trunks, chests, homewares and bags on their website at www.scaramangashop.co.uk.
To find out more about Elephant Haven, and make a donation to its work, go to www.elephanthaven.com.
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