Scottish vintage specialist Scaramanga has notched up its products appearing in 10 films with the release of Disney’s movie Dumbo today.
Two years ago the firm based in Cupar, Fife, 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 are set to appear in the new Tim Burton live action remake of the family favourite starring Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Eva Green.
One of the trunks is shown behind Puck the Organ Grinder in a scene with the main characters.
To mark their success in supplying 10 films in seven years, Scaramanga is helping create a new home for real-life circus elephants by donating 25 per cent 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.
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. 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 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Paddington 2, Maleficent, Victoria & Abdul, Pan, The Legend of Tarzan and Dark Shadows.
