Astoundingly, the fifth Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Mangold, 2023) is due to release later this month. To mark the occasion, I’m dedicating every Sunday to revisiting the movies that made him a household icon in addition to some bonus Indy content on Wednesdays.

This review has been supported by Chiara Cooper.
If you’d like to support the site, you can do so at my Ko-Fi page.

Released: 12 June 1981
Director: Steven Spielberg
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Budget: $20 million
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, and Denholm Elliott

The Plot:
Renowned archeologist and professor Doctor Henry Jones Jr. (Ford), better known as the adventure-seeking “Indiana Jones” (or simply “Indy”), joins forces with his former lover, Marion Ravenwood (Allen), on a globe-trotting quest to recover the long-lost Ark of the Covenant before the forces of Nazi Germany.

The Background:
Indiana Jones was the brainchild of George Lucas, who dreamt up the concept shortly after finishing American Graffiti (Lucas, 1973). Inspired by the heroic pulp serials of his youth, Lucas initially envisioned the adventurous archeologist as “Indiana Smith” and developed the idea alongside Philip Kaufman before being forced to shelve the project to focus on Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (ibid, 1977). While vacationing in Hawaii, Lucas met with director Steven Spielberg, who was eager to direct a James Bond-style movie, and the two agreed to work together to on the project. Lawrence Kasdan worked with them to plot out action set pieces using miniatures and changed Indy’s surname to “Jones”, defining him as a fallible, but honest, thrill-seeker. Many compromises had to be made to get the script to an acceptable length, including omitting a minecart chase and large aspects of the romantic sub-plot, and Lucas struggled to find financing before Paramount Pictures came onboard. Insisting that a relatively unknown actor assume the title role, Tom Selleck was within arm’s reach of being cast before being forced to drop out to work on Magnum, P.I. (1980 to 1988); Lucas was reluctant to indulge Spielberg’s suggestion of Harrison Ford, but Ford happily signed on and offered his own insight into the character. Location shooting proved both costly and restrictive, meaning Spielberg favoured fewer takes during filming, and the production was hampered by sweltering temperatures in Tunisia; Ford’s later bout of dysentery also saw a lengthy sword fighting scene trimmed down to a far simpler and now iconic exchange. Finally, Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic and special effects artist Steve Gawley created complex practical effects involving wax blood bags and various camera speeds to portray gruesome melting faces. Raiders of the Lost Ark’s nearly $390 million worldwide gross made it a big hit; it was also met with widespread critical acclaim, with reviews praising the cast, special effects, and pulp escapism on offer. The film kicked off another successful franchise for Lucas and became one of Ford’s defining roles; it spawned not only additional sequels, but also videogames, comic books, and even a prequel series, with the Indiana Jones franchise largely regarded as one of the most influential in all of cinema.

The Review:
Raiders of the Lost Ark does a masterful job of establishing the fortitude of its main character within its first fifteen minutes; framed from behind, in silhouette, and as a confident adventurer who isn’t disturbed by superstition or ages-old boobytraps, Indy leads a small expedition deep into a Peruvian temple. Wily, with his wits ever about him, he’s as capable of defending himself and the map to the golden idol with his crack skill with a bullwhip as he is of braving the temple, regardless of the creepy-crawlies and the dangers within. Unlike the unfortunate Doctor Forrestal, Indy is far more attentive to his surroundings; his whip also doubles as a lasso, allowing him to swing across bottomless pits, unlike his inept guide, Satipo (Alfred Molina, if you can believe that!) Satipo examples the impetuousness of greed and arrogance, a handicap not shared by Indy, thus allowing him to spot the deadly traps that prove Satipo’s downfall. Indy also has the foresight to fill a bag with sand so he can safely retrieve the golden idol from its pedestal and, when this results in the temple collapsing round him, is more than capable of escaping even after Satipo betrays him. Indy is also a professor of archelogy; his ventures are not for personal glory but to bring these long-lost relics into the public eye for the benefit of the museum (though he does profit from his finds). Still, Indy’s reputation proceeds him and sees him directly recruited by the United States military to intervene when it’s discovered that the Nazis are searching for the fabled Ark of the Covenant.

Though fully aware of the mythology surrounding the Ark, Indy isn’t one for tall tales and sees the pursuit of the relic as perhaps his greatest challenge, and of incredible significance to the museum, literally laughing off the concerns of his friend and colleague, Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott). Obviously a figure of sexual appeal thanks to his rugged good looks and physicality, Indy has more than his fair share of admirers; his classes are filled with lovestruck teens who are more interested in favouring him with forlorn stares and leaving him notes and gifts than paying attention to his lecture about the dangers posed by temples and local superstitions. He meets his match when his journey inevitably causes him to cross paths with Marion, the daughter of Indy’s old mentor, a strong, feisty, independent woman who owns a bar in Nepal and is more than capable of drinking men twice her size under the table and handling herself in a fight. Though angered at being left heartbroken by Indy some ten years ago, Marion has the medallion that reveals the location of the Well of Souls and demands to join his crusade after his actions see her bar go up in flames. Clearly still infatuated with her, Indy’s usually bold demeanour falters when it seems like Marion has been killed and it’s only the intervention of his old friend, Sallah (Rhys-Davies), that keeps him from throwing his life away seeking revenge. It’s thanks to Sallah, an Egyptian excavator who has no love for the poor treatment his people have receive from the Nazis, and his contacts that Indy is able to decipher the medallion, infiltrate the Nazi dig site, and discover the location of the Well of Souls. Indy is also overjoyed to discover Marion was alive and well in the hands of the Nazis, though he’s forced to leave her behind so he and Sallah can get to the Ark before the Nazis.

Indy is dogged at every turn throughout the film by René Belloq (Freeman), a rival archaeologist who ends up allying with the Nazis to help them find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. We get an immediate sense of the differences between the two right from their first meeting; while Indy braves the dangers of his pursuits head-on, Belloq patiently waits on the side lines and simply takes what he wants by force without the need for physical dramatics. A twisted version of Indy whose respect for their profession has dissolved completely, Belloq openly admits to being Indy’s dark reflection, delights in flaunting his superiority over his rival at every turn, and is obsessed with perverting the Ark’s power for his own means. Accordingly, though allied with the Nazis, Belloq doesn’t believe in their cause and sees them as merely a “necessary evil”; when they threaten to torture Marion for information, he attempts to coerce her into telling what she knows willingly but is ultimately unable to defy his Nazi partners directly. The primary antagonist force in the movie, the Nazis have been scouring the globe in search of religious and superstitious artifacts to satisfy the desires of Adolf Hitler for power beyond the measure of mortal men. Their primary representative is Gestapo agent Major Arnold Toht (Lacey), slimy, sadistic man who relies on intimidation and torture to get what he wants. Toht is so committed to his Fuhrer’s will that he grabs the red-hot medallion and ends up permanently scarred meaning that, while the Nazi’s fail to acquire the artifact, they are able to produce a replica.

The Nitty-Gritty:
Just like Lucas’s popular sci-fi franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark is bolstered by another of John Williams’ unforgettable scores; easily one of the most recognisable themes in movie history, the score from Raiders of the Lost Ark perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of the character and the franchise and brings every scene to life with a fittingly bombastic, pulp glory. The set design and visual presentation on offer here are just as important, and impressive, to the film; set in 1936 and in faraway locations such as the jungles of Peru and the sands of Cairo, the film definitely lives up to its pulp roots in its visual aesthetic. The opening sequence alone is a testament to this, featuring a boobytrapped Peruvian temple filed with tarantulas, cobwebs, impaled corpses, great stone walls and, of course, the gigantic rolling boulder that remains one of the most iconic set pieces of not only this film, but the entire franchise. Equally unforgettable are the scenes showcasing Indy’s globe-trotting travels as we see a red line drawn across a map every time he travels from one destination to another when the film could’ve easily relied on less visually interesting techniques like camera cuts, onscreen text, or fancy wipes.

The film gives the very real sense that trouble naturally seems to find and follow Indy wherever he goes, which is exacerbated by the Nazi’s desperate search for the medallion and the Well of Souls. Consequently, Indy is forced to defend himself at all times; handy with his fists and as equally skilled with a gun as he is his whip, it’s Indy’s adaptability that often helps him out in a tight clinch. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned at Marion’s bar, he purposely spreads a fire to even the odds; he’s also not above fighting dirty, kicking opponents in the balls or simply gunning them down. Indy meets his physical superior when trying to escape from the Nazi’s dig site; here, relieved of his gun, Indy’s goaded into a fist fight by a large German (Pat Roach) who easily manhandles him and he’s only able to triumph thanks to the brute being skewered (thankfully offscreen) by a propeller blade in a sequence that also sees Marion take to a plane’s turret to provide cover. While he exudes confidence when out on an adventure and is clearly very learned, Indy isn’t some infallible action hero; he’s fully capable, yes, and highly adaptable, but he generally always has the odds against him, takes his fair share of punishment, and even gets grazed by a bullet. In fist fights, he’s usually outnumbered or facing armed foes and must use his wits to find ways to tip the balance in his favour. Indy also has a very specific Achille’s heel in his crippling fear, and hatred, of snakes; while this is initially played for laughs during his dramatic escape from Peru, Indy’s forced to face his fear head-on in the Well of Souls first to find the glorious solid chest and then to affect his and Marion’s escape by crashing through the walls of the buried stone crypt. Additionally, thanks to Belloq always being one step ahead of him, Indy is forced to think on the fly to intercept the Ark and commandeer the Nazi truck carrying it after a length brawl that doubles as a thrilling chase sequence.

Victorious in this endeavour, Sallah arranges for the Ark to be transported back to London by ship; onboard, Marion tends to Indy’s wounds, but their intimate moment is soon interrupted by the persistent Nazis, who recapture both Marion and the Ark. Indy manages to slip aboard their submarine and follow them to an island in the Aegean Sea, where Belloq plans to test and witness the Ark’s power before presenting it to Hitler to ensure they have the genuine article. When Indy threatens to blow them all to kingdom come, including the Ark, in exchange for Marion, Belloq calls his bluff; he knows that Indy is just as curious to see the Ark opened as he and, unable to deny it, Indy surrenders to the Nazis. Donning ceremonial robes, Belloq oversees the opening and is initially aghast to find it contains only sand; however, an electrical surge precipitates a wave of malevolent spirits and supernatural lightning that destroys all who behold it. It’s often said that Indy has little to no bearing on Raiders’ plot, that the Nazi’s would’ve been undone by the destructive power of the Ark without Indy’s presence. I’m not sure this is entirely true, however; after all, it’s only because of Indy that the Nazis are even led to the Ark in the first place, which at least accelerates the plot if not directly impacts it, and he’s the one who ensures that it isn’t just left lying around for others to stumble upon. Whatever the case, when faced with the true power of the mythical Ark, Indy orders Marion to close her eyes, sparing them the gruesome, flesh melting fate that befalls Toht and being consumed by the holy fire like Belloq and the other Nazis. Although they survive, and seemingly rekindle their romance, and Indy and Marcus are generously compensated by the United States government, Indy’s frustrated that he’s denied access to the Ark, which has been stored away in a vast warehouse alongside countless other artifacts.

The Summary:
It’s tough to pick between which is Harrison Ford’s more iconic role, Indiana Jones or Han Solo. I suppose it depends greatly on your genre preference; I know a lot of people who aren’t sci-fi fans, so they probably prefer the more pulpy adventures of the world’s most famous fictional archaeologist. It’s not hard to see why; Ford shines in the role, bringing a rugged appeal to the character, who is both very learned and physically capable while also being vulnerable and relatable. He absolutely carries the film, which is only bolstered by a series of impressive action set pieces and special effects, all of which have aged incredibly well thanks to being realised by tried and true practical means and camera trickery. As much as I enjoyed seeing how Indy would get out of each situation, watching him struggle and fight tooth and nail for every advantage, I also enjoyed the dynamic between him and Marion, who’s more than capable of holding her own and gives as good as she gets and really hammers home that, sometimes, Indy is quite a morally grey character. The parallels between him and Belloq were also interesting, if a little one-note thanks to the larger focus given to the more explicitly evil Nazis and the greater narrative concerning the Ark of the Covenant. Ultimately, Raiders of the Lost Ark is adventure in its purest form; a rollicking, enjoyable action-packed romp from start to finish with an alluring main character, a memorable score, and some iconic sequences that deliver as a fresh take on classic pulp troupes made fresh through the film’s undeniable visual presentation.

My Rating:

Great Stuff

Are you a fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark? Were you impressed by Harrison Ford’s performance and what sort of impact did Indiana Jones have on you at the time? Did you enjoy the throwback to the pulp serials of old? What did you think to the dynamic between him and Marion and the parallels between Indy and Belloq? Which of the film’s action set pieces was your favourite? Do you think Indy is largely inconsequential to the main plot? Which of the Indiana Jones movies is your favourite? Whatever you think about Raiders of the Lost Ark, feel free to share your memories of Indiana Jones in the comments or on my social media.