Wizard of Oz movie memorabilia breaks records

The ruby red slippers were worn by Judy Garland

A pair of shoes have broken a record for the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.

The ruby red slippers were worn by actress and singer Judy Garland in a famous film called The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939.

On Saturday the shoes sold for for $28m (£22m) at a US-based auction.

They are one of just four surviving pairs used in the film.

Judy Garland, on-set of the Film, "The Wizard of Oz", 1939

Online bidding for the famous shoes started a month ago.

They were predicted to sell for $3m (£2.35m), but the final price paid at auction was more than 8 times that amount!

They finally sold for $25m (£20m), with auctioneers calling the slippers the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia".

Why are the slippers so special?

Dorothy wears the red slippers in the movie

The Wizard of Oz is a musical adaptation of L Frank Baum's 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

It was made into a musical film in 1939, with main character Dorothy played by 16-year-old Judy Garland.

In the book Dorothy has a pair of silver magical slippers, however in the film these were red.

The shoes have an important role in the story too.

In the film, Dorothy is asked to click her heels together three times while wearing them and say the phrase: "There's no place like home" in order to leave the magical land of Oz and return to Kansas and her Auntie Em.

Did you know the movie Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz?

The sale of the item comes at the same time as an movie adaptation of the musical Wicked hits cinemas.

Wicked is a prequel of The Wizard Of Oz which reimagines the character of the Wicked Witch of the West as a hero instead of a villain.

Speaking about the slippers Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena said: "The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors."