Raiders of the Lost Ark (film)
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is a landmark adventure film released in 1981, directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas. The film features the iconic character Indiana Jones, an archaeologist portrayed by Harrison Ford, who embarks on a quest to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant from the Nazis, who seek its power for their own purposes. Known for its thrilling action sequences, memorable characters, and a captivating musical score by John Williams, the movie became a significant cultural phenomenon, grossing $380 million worldwide and influencing numerous films that followed.
The film's production involved a diverse array of locations, including scenes shot in Tunisia and France, which enhanced its adventurous appeal. The casting included notable performances by Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, and Paul Freeman, contributing to the film's strong narrative. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is recognized not just for its entertainment value but also for its underlying themes, such as the juxtaposition of good versus evil and the validation of Judeo-Christian values. Its legacy includes several sequels and prequels, solidifying Indiana Jones as a staple figure in popular culture. This film continues to resonate with audiences, embodying the spirit of adventure and the timeless battle against oppressive forces.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (film)
Identification American adventure film
Director Steven Spielberg
Date Released on June 12, 1981
This blockbuster adventure film became a cultural icon and a template for the genre. The film generated interest in serial-style films while representing the American ideal’s triumph over evil.
Key Figures
Steven Spielberg (1946- ), film director
Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of the most influential films of the 1980’s and the most successful film of 1981. Its tremendous popularity resulted in gross revenues of $380 million worldwide, and the film’s iconic images would become embedded in American popular culture for generations. Its influence led to many imitation films.
Creation and Cast
Raiders of the Lost Ark was the brainchild of George Lucas. With Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980) under his belt, Lucas decided to turn to another genre for his next project. He had visualized bringing back the serial radio style from the 1930’s in movie form. Lucas created a character named Indiana Smith who would combine humor, action, and romance in a world of adventure. In Steven Spielberg, Lucas found a director for his vision. Spielberg was famous at the time for his direction of Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). He suggested that the surname of the title character be changed to Jones. This character was an archaeologist in search of one of the most sought-after relics in history—the Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Members of the Nazi Party who seek the Ark for its occult power would be Jones’s adversaries.
The basis for the characters and sets were storyboarded in a comic book style by Jim Steranko. This became the model for design and the blueprint from which Spielberg worked. Filming for scenes set in Egypt took place primarily in Tunisia. Also, the Nazi submarine base was filmed in La Rochelle, France. The majority of the rest of the filming took place in the United States on set. The variety of exotic locations helped make the film more appealing to audiences. Despite his use of many film locations, Spielberg finished filming early, in less than three months.
Raiders of the Lost Ark featured a strong cast. Originally, Lucas did not want Harrison Ford to play the lead role of Jones, as Ford had already found success playing Han Solo in the successful Star Wars franchise, but Spielberg eventually convinced Lucas to hire him for the role. Ford was accompanied by Karen Allen as Jones’s love interest and main sidekick, Marion Ravenwood. Jones had two other sidekicks, the scholarly Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) and the well-connected Egyptian Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), and was opposed by his archrival archaeologist Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman) and the Nazi colonel Dietrich (Wolf Kahler).
Reaction and Legacy
One of the most powerful elements of Raiders of the Lost Ark was provided by the musical score written by John Williams . His masterful work helped breathe life into the film and its characters, from love themes to one of the most recognizable theme songs of the 1980’s, “The Raiders March.” Arguably, the music may have done more for the movie’s popularity than the script.
The themes of Raiders of the Lost Ark hit home for many audiences. Lucas’s move to set his story in a different era did not hide the political overtones that were haunting the early 1980’s. The substitution of Soviets with Nazis was only subtle at best, as one could easily associate Jones and company’s attitude toward the Nazis as the same attitude that many Americans had toward the Soviet Union at the time. The godless, power-grabbing Nazis echoed everything that Americans feared about the Soviet bloc.
Another theme of the film was the validation of the Judeo-Christian religious tradition, specifically of Moses and the Old Testament. The moviegoer is witness to the godless enemy’s destruction through the might of God as righteous Americans withstand God’s wrath and are spared. This struck a chord with many audience members who were striving to find strength at home and in their beliefs.
Impact
Raiders of the Lost Ark left Americans with many iconic images, including the giant boulder scene from the beginning of the movie, the Ark being shelved and locked away secretly by the American government, and the clever American shooting his way out of a sword duel. The film also introduced misconceptions about archaeology. Its popularity resulted in the prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), the sequels Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993).
Bibliography
Gordon, A. “Raiders of the Lost Ark: Totem and Taboo.” Extrapolation 32 (Fall, 1991): 256-267. A look at the symbolism within Raiders of the Lost Ark. Looks at the cultural impact of the film and its realism.
King, Cynthia M. “Effects of Humorous Heroes and Villains in Violent Action Films.” Journal of Communication 50 (Winter, 2000): 5-24. Examines the comic action film and explains the interest in movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Also looks at how the violence in such movies is received by audiences.
Taylor, Derek. The Making of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” New York: Ballantine Books, 1981. Offers individual stories from the cast and crew, as well as an overview of the making of the film. Contains photographs on location and information on the sets.