Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Director: Steven Spielberg
Country: USA
Released: June 1981
Runtime: 115 minutes
Genre: Action
Studio: Lucasfilm / Paramount
Influenced: Robert Zemeckis, Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Vaughn
Cinema as entertainment really did reach a high point with Raiders of the Lost Ark. The secret formula for this film is something alone the lines of immersive story x tight editing (so that every scene drives the action forward) x charismatic lead x memorable stunts x iconic score = blockbuster! The desert truck chase, powered by John William's flawless score, is up there among the greatest action scenes of all time. Behind this success was the incredible cinematic brains trust of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan, and you can read about the tense but productive brainstorming session for the film here. The film was conceived as a tribute to the adventure serials of the 1930s and 1940s, which Spielberg and Lucas grew up watching.
Lucas was keen to create a modern-day, American version of the classic hero archetype embodied by characters like James Bond, and the essence of Indiana Jones is one man against all odds barely making it out alive. Indy (Harrison Ford) is an archaeology professor and adventurer on a quest to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its power. The story is set in 1936, where Jones is approached by US Army Intelligence agents who inform him that the Nazis are searching for the Ark, which is believed to possess supernatural powers that could aid Hitler's war efforts. Somehow it's all far-fetched and entirely plausible all at the same time.
Indy, accompanied by his former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), travels to Nepal, Egypt and ultimately to a hidden temple in Tanis, Egypt, where the Ark is believed to be located. Along the way, Jones faces numerous challenges, including deadly traps, rival archaeologists and a treacherous Nazi officer named René Belloq (Paul Freeman). Despite the obstacles, Jones manages to retrieve the Ark, but he is captured by the Nazis. In a climactic sequence, the Nazis attempt to open the Ark on a remote island, hoping to harness its power. However, their arrogance and disregard for the Ark's true nature prove disastrous and, as the Ark is opened, supernatural forces are unleashed.
Raiders of the Lost Ark revitalised the action genre, combining elements of suspense, humour and romance into a perfectly-paced narrative. Spielberg's direction and innovative camera work, along with Williams' memorable score, heightened the intensity of the film, which became a massive critical and commercial success. Raiders of the Lost Ark grossed over $390 million worldwide and received numerous accolades, including several Oscars, and also the film spawned a highly successful franchise. So far there have been four sequels: Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (1989), Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny (2023). My favourite of the sequels is definitely Last Crusade, not least for the appearance of Sean Connery as Indy's father.
P.S. Check out Steven Soderbergh's B&W cut of the film with a Trent Reznor soundtrack here.
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