![]() ![]() The consistently high-stake situations play a huge part in this film as well. He doesn’t waste much time on exposition-heavy scenarios and even the subplot involved Indy’s love-hate relationship with Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood is efficiently integrated without affecting the momentum of the film. From the exciting Peruvian temple-set opening scene (more on this later), he keeps the pace brisk and economical. Raiders of the Lost Ark is also blessed with Spielberg’s engaging direction from start till finish. So, he ended up coming with the “shoot the swordsman” idea to Spielberg and decided to go with it. ![]() However, the plan was forced to call off because Ford suffered from a bad stomach condition at the time. Indy was supposed to find himself in an elaborate fight, where he would use his whip against the swordsman. Interestingly enough, that aforementioned scene wasn’t initially planned as such. But what could have been an epic duel turns out to be something else altogether: Indy pulls out his revolver and shoots the swordsman instead. Normally, we would expect the two of them to engage in a fight for a mano-a-mano showdown like this. This can be evidently seen during one of the film’s most memorable moments - a scene where Indy encounters an Arabian swordsman (actor and stuntman Terry Richards). And yes, he’s afraid of snakes too.Īnother distinctive quality that made Indy such an iconic figure? His spontaneity. Indy may be a tough guy and while he’s capable of throwing some punches and good with his trusty whip, there are many times we see him get beaten and bruised (the fight scene where he faces Pat Roach’s Nazi henchman happens to be one of them). But he never gives up easily no matter how many setbacks he has to go through. Throughout the film, we see him try and fail to reach his goal (the opening scene where his rival, Belloq played by Paul Freeman steals the sacred golden idol from Indy’s possession comes to mind). Even with his quick wit, he remains a flawed person just like any other human being. He’s not the kind of an indestructible action hero, where he’s an expert on everything. With Selleck out of the picture, Ford subsequently became next in line and the rest, as they say, is history.Īside from Ford’s charismatic performance, it also helps that his character is both witty and relatable. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as planned when the producers from that TV series refused to let Selleck take on the role due to his contractual obligation. fame was the one who supposed to star in the film. In other words, Ford wasn’t originally the first choice back then. ![]() Thanks to Ford’s signature roguish charm similar to his Han Solo character in the first two Star Wars movies at the time (1977’s Star Wars and 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back), he’s perfect as Indiana Jones.įrankly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else to play the role instead but believe it or not, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg initially had someone else in their mind. One of the successful formulas that made the film such an enduring classic is Harrison Ford himself. Even it has been 40 years already since its debut. ![]() Having revisited Raiders of the Lost Ark a few days ago, the film remains a lively yet entertaining blockbuster. By the end of its original theatrical run, Raiders of the Lost Ark made enough money to become the highest-grossing film of 1981 at US$212.2 million. Although the film didn’t manage to retain its position with Superman II took over the top spot the following weekend, it held well enough for the next 80 weeks. Released on June 12, 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark opened in the No 1 spot and beat its other competitors including the Harry Hamlin-starred Clash of the Titans and Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I during the same weekend. But it wasn’t until the arrival of Raiders of the Lost Ark that forever changed Hollywood cinema in the action-adventure genre and subsequently influenced countless others until today. The latter, which starred Charlton Heston as Harry Steele served as a major inspiration for the creation of Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones character (including the now-iconic fedora and its leather jacket). Sure, there were already such films seen in the likes of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), King Solomon’s Mines (1950) and Secret of the Incas (1954). Of course, Raiders of the Lost Ark wasn’t the first film of its kind. That movie in question is none other than Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark or simply known as Raiders of the Lost Ark. (Disclaimer: This feature article contains spoilers)įrom Romancing the Stone (1984) to The Mummy (1999), Tomb Raider (2001) and Jackie Chan-starred Armour of God trilogy, all of these action-adventure films were largely indebted to one particular movie. ![]()
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