When I was in secondary school in the 80s, they used to show a film in the assembly hall on the day before the summer holidays. One year (82 or 83) they showed this movie. It was the only time that all the kids and teachers applauded at the end. I still remember it as being the best day I ever had in school. Decades later, I still think it's one of the greatest films ever made.
28:02 this was explained in a deleted scene. When Indy and Sallah have the headpiece translated, the translator told him not to look at the Ark when it was being opened
That was a good choice! If you were told earlier that it shouldn't be looked at, then you knew something bad would happen for the rest of the movie. It was such a perfect twist as we all wanted to know what was in it.
I m glad they dropped it too. I'd rather think that Indy understood that they needed to distance themselves from the hubris of the Germans and hoped that they would be spared from the divine wrath
I was so spoiled by this era of filmmaking. I’m 45, but remember watching the OG Star Wars trilogy, Back to the Future, Raiders, E.T., Ghostbusters, Alien and Aliens, Robocop, Predator, Terminator, on and on. Didn’t fully appreciate any of it as a child. Not Oscar material all around….Just knew they were kick-ass movies. Know I realize how special they truly were. Love the Deep Dives. One of my favorite things on RUclips.
We grew up in ABSOLUTELY the BEST time to be a kid. As proof, I offer the fact that the music and clothes that were popular when WE were in highschool are now popular with kids who are in highschool (and college)😂.
You didn't mention Spielberg's biggest scale shot of all at the end of the movie showing one crate being pushed by the warehouse guy, pulling back to reveal thousands of crates in the final shot.
Yeah and with that ominous mysterious music in the background the viewer is left wondering just how many of these improbable secrets are being kept from them in government archives...
i mean, that's one of the most famous shots of all time? Dont really need to analyze it :p Like you dont need to break down gonna need a bigger boat. Honestly though for all his over the top scenes Spielberg is still so good at subtlety, like the conscripted Czech soldiers in private Ryan that just get shot, no subtitles but an insanely good historical detail
I was 12 when my dad took me to see this in the theater in 1981. I have watched this movie over and over again, ad nauseum, and is my all time favorite. You captured so many things i have never seen or noticed on any rewatch. Absolutely brilliant breakdown, and the eyes on the idol. NEVER noticed it until just today! What great work. Thank you.
It’s actually not a light boobytrap, it’s a pressure plate, Indy is clever and manipulates Satipo into believing it’s the light when in reality he steps on a plate at the same time. This would protect Indy from a possible betrayal. Which in the end, he is correct.
@@TristenSarelvun when Indy is running out of the temple and crosses next to Satipos body you can see a stone plate on the ground under satipos body. It’s right next to the idol.
And it's not that he's more interested in the items themselves than what's inside them, but that he wants to put the things he acquires in museums where they can be appreciated by many, not seeking monetary gain.
This was one of the films we watched in a theater all alone during COVID. Neither of us had seen it in theater before, and it was worth every moment to see on a big screen. Excellent film making.
I'm glad my kids were young enough to enjoy..and old enough to remember the magic of going to the movies. It's not something I really know how to explain, but it's a shame if this new streaming generation might not experience it😕. It's it's own special kind of magic. I can tell you what theater and with who I saw all my favorites.
I can still remember seeing Indiana Jones in the cinema in 1984 when it came out. I can clearly remember how amazed we all were by the opening sequence and everyone in the cinema laughing loudly at the "show a little backbone, will you" joke. It was such a perfect opening and then the humour was the cherry on top.
I am not ashamed to say I'm going to turn 38 years old the day Dial of Destiny is released and I never saw Raiders of the Lost Ark... until last night. I didn't even realize this break down was coming. I am ready!
so you are at the age now that Harrison Ford was when this movie released.... which means he was 37 when Empire was released... turning 38 myself this year, this makes me smile!
I grew up with these movies with my mom introducing them to me and this series is what made me fall in love with history, folklore, legends, and story worldbuilding
I was 3 when my Mom took me to the theatre to watch this. It creeped me out so much we left within the first 10 minutes. Now this is one of my favorite movies, and I think it helped to kindle my love of studying history, travel, and meeting people from different cultures. I really appreciated the detailed analysis of symbolism that I never noticed before. Thank you.
I saw this in the theathers when it came out in 81 and I distictly remember something from the idol temple opening that's been unexplicably cut from VHS/DVD versions. There's a scene in in the temple where Indy pauses Alfred Molina's character from proceeding over a section of floor which turns out to be another trap, a pit disguised by by dust and cobwebs. This is why they need to use the whip to swing over the pit. This sets up the subsequent, throw me the idol and I'll throw you the whip scene.
I know the scene you speak of, but I believe it's a deleted scene that was maybe included on the extras of the first laser disc. I saw it recently on you tube and was very unfinished looking, lacking the theatrical filtering/coloring/scaling. Looked sepia. But maybe you saw a different version, what country did you see it in out of curiousity?
The gold statuette from the start of 'Raiders' is based on one at the Smithsonian, however it is now widely regarded as a fake. And at 07;26 Indy during his lecture says 'Barrow' not 'barrel' (A Barrow being a Neolithic burial mound - and yes, I'm an archaeologist!). Interestingly, the barrow mentioned 'Turkdean barrow' is actually two, Hazelton north & Hazelton south. The thing is Indy can't be telling the class about the excavation, as digging started in 1979 and finished in 1982 (the year after the movies release!) Indy though, does mispronounce 'Cist' as 'sist' and not 'Kist'.
We saw this one in the movie theater several times. One of the greatest movies of all time. One thing that stuck out though was the movie supposedly occurred in 1936. The rocket propelled grenade launcher Indy had didn't exist until years later.
Raiders is my all time favourite film and I was surprised by the number of easter eggs you picked up. Thanks very much. I can now enjoy the film even more the next time I watch it!
I was raised on the Indiana Jones movies, so I've seen them dozens of times throughout my life. Yet, there was still so much I learned from this video. The eyes of the statue were always uncanny, and I never realized why until now. Also, the gag of the man witnessing Indy & Marion escaping the tomb is hilarious. Too bad it wasn't kept in.
I saw this in the theater when I was 6. So many questions, but up until this video, I never knew the 365 holes in the ramp of map room. Thank you, I feel I'm one step closer to finding the ark. 👍👍
I love the fact that Indy and Marion hear all kinds of horrible screams, godly screeches with heat and wind. They have no idea what just happened, they don’t know where everyone went.
There is another deleted scene where an old man, the same one that tells them the height of the staff, explains to Indy the rules of the ark. 1)You touch, you die. 2)You look, you die. I kinda wish we had all these scenes to actually look at in the movie somehow.
Has anyone noticed at 9:36 the stained glass windows in the lecture hall? Can you see the chivalric/family crests? Remember the painting in Indie's living room above the fireplace at 11:06.
The ray of light motion sensor was never a motion sensor it was a pressure plate that he lied to Satipo about, anticipating his betrayal. It’s the trap that kills Satipo because it was the only trap he didn’t know the actual trigger for.
That makes sense. StackExchange had a long question/discussion over how you could make a light-sensitive trap with the technology of the temple builders, and no one could come up with a sensible plan.
5:55 The idol's eyes are now just gold. Also the reason Indy knew not to look at the ark was cut from the film. The Imam told him in the scene where he reads the headpiece.
I watched this movie for the first time yesterday! Perfect timing Eric!! I can’t believe I waited this long to watch Indiana Jones, I’ve been missing so much. Can’t wait to start the next one!
I like to think that “love you” on the student’s closed eyes in the beginning foreshadows how Indy and Marion, and their love, survive the Ark at the end.
That coed Marcus checks out was setting up a later deleted scene where she is waiting for Indy because they'd planned to talk. Indy asks Marcus to give them a few minutes but gets dragged into the meeting in the lecture hall. Showed his dedication to his students, but ultimately likely cut for pacing reasons.
In the book/deleted scene, the girl Susan wanted a conference with Indy in his office ;) and is then at his house later on when Marcus shows up about the mission which is why there was open bottle of champagne and two glasses
WOW! I paused and screenshot and compared both scenes at 4:52 and 5:13 and you can clearly tell from the eyelids that the idol was looking down at him as he was jumping, and up at him as he releases sand.
My mum's uncle watched this with one of my mum's cousins and when it aired, he was having a blast watching this!!! All of my Family are fans of Indiana Jones!!!
Great video with lots of details Ive never noticed after 500 watches. One thing I thought about recently is that Indy essentially "loses" in every movie. He only ends up winning because of the greed or ignorance of the bad guys. Raiders he is captured and lives because he respected the power of the Ark. Temple he is captured and turned bad but is only saved by the efforts of Short Round, and again by his ability to let go of the stones. Crusade by his penetance and respect for the grail, and again his ability to let it go. And finally in Kingdom his realization to respect the knowledge they have and not ask for more, unlike Spalko whose greed gets her fried. He may think he wants fortune and glory, but with these artifacts there really isn't any. The adventure is the juice.
Great analysis! I remember in the comic book from the movie, the "wise man" who gives the information on how tall to make the staff also provides a warning not to directly look at the power of the ark, which is how Indy knows and why he warns Marion to look away.
Even without the that deleted scene there's hints at it from the illustration in book he opens during the government briefing. None of the people on the side of the ark in the illustration have their eyes uncovered or are looking at it, hinting at what is to come. This scene also works with the theme of the film showing that Indy is initially skeptical and dismissive of the agent's questioning the illustration saying the lines emanating from the ark are "lightning, fire, the power of god... Something." like it isn't important. Yet by the end of the film with all he has seen, witnessed, and done he realizes there are some things you should take on faith.
EXCELLENT Breakdown!! Really love your work on these. One of my my favorite details is the way that Spielberg stages Indy's initial ride on horseback 22:20 Notice how the workers rise only has Indy rides past. It adds extra motion and excitement to the scene. So simple but so effective. Love it.
Great breakdown! You mention that Indy and the staff of Ra were necessary to finding the Ark, but at the site didn't Belloc say something along the lines that the Nazis would just as soon bulldoze the entire site to find it? Indy's presence made finding the Ark quicker for the Nazis (and supposedly saved the site and many relics from destruction) , but they could have found it without him.
Great job! Seen this movie dozens of time in which I have noticed and thought about several of these points over the years. Love your articulation. Do more movies!
21:20 While in the Airforce in the 1960's my dad witnessed what happens when someone walks into a propeller. It was a young, very pretty flight attendant who was returning to the terminal to retrieve some forgotten paperwork. He said the blood splashed onto the tail of the plane was far less that he saw in the real life accident.
This movie is very accurate, Biblically. The Bible describes the Ark in great detail, and also describes the robes of the High Priest that Belloq was wearing. All of that is true to scripture. And Indy knew to close his eyes because the Bible also makes clear what happens when people look upon the glory of God. There's even a line in the novelization where Indy warns his friends to not touch the Ark. "Never touch it." According to the Bible, without the proper ritual performed by Belloq, anyone who touches the Ark drops dead on the spot.
Not necessarily "drops dead", some only got swallowed by the ground. And that looking bit is a bit shaky as lots of people see god directly, with Moses making the most about the experience in god warning him it could only be from behind as anything else would be too overpowering. Didn't seem to bother Adam and Eve though or Israel when wrestling YHWH. (And no, the text says not it was the angel of the Lord, it says it was the big guy himself, anything else is a later retcon to fill a perceived gap in the logic, creating a far bigger gap)
Spielberg is respectful of culture, faith, historical context, ode to include “borrowing” scenes from his favorite movie directors, attention to detail in his art directing… also the use of irony and subtle humor makes him one of the greatest storytellers… Excellent breakdown!!!
Do you ever think you will do a deep dive about one the first shows to go viral on the internet with analysis and conspiracy theories, "LOST" ? When it was on the air, you couldn't escape hearing about everyone's head canon explanations, and I think it would be a very fun series to explore. Not just because of all of the clues and red herrings left throughout the series, but about how it was so successful at getting people to talk about its intrigue in communities, and how it added to the show's popularity and hype.
In addition to Marion being the key to finding the Ark and Indy leading the Nazis to her, there is another reason that is not seen on screen. After the Nazis open the Ark on the island, they all would have died. After they died, more Nazis would have showed up to find out what's going on. They would have found the Ark and they would have continued to take it back to Hitler. But with Indy there, he is able to get word out to the US Government who were able to get to the island before the other Nazis knew something was wrong.
You did an AMAZING job!! I was 8 years old in '81 and my 10 year old brother and I saw this 23 times!! THIS made me fall in love with movies and made me wanna become an actor.
One of my all time favorite movies, in the top 6 along with The Great Escape, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It is not only the cast, sets, writing, direction, acting, and story, but because of all the subtle touches in this film that it is so great.
I have to admit to begrudgingly watching this. Indy is my favorite movie character and Raiders is a very close second to Star Wars, so… I watched. Thank you! You shared a lot of detail I either missed or simply paid no attention to in the 100 or so times I’ve watched the movie. Two days ago I honestly thought I had seen Raiders enough. You’ve changed my mind! I’m back to it as soon as I hit the send arrow followed by exiting the RUclips.
There are a few reasons why Indy may have known not to look at the Ark. One, it was explained to him and Sallah by the old man in Cairo who translated the headpiece to the Staff of Ra. Two, your explanation. And three, according to the novelization of Raiders, in which Indy remembers the biblical event of Sodom and Gomorrah, where anyone who looked back at the city would die and be turned to salt.
Loved this. The "Indy I Love you" shirt made me think how I would love to see you do a Deep Dive on the 1980s Flash Gordon film. ( "Flash, I love you, but we only have 14 hours to save the world!)
Maybe it’s been said but Indy knew not to look at the ark due to old man that translated The headpeace. In a delete scene he tells them it says on the headpeace not to look at it
Really fascinating video! Small clarification though: Marion was born in 1909, and she and Indy met each other in 1925-1926. So she’d be closer to 16-17 years old. So technically able to give consent by a lot of 1920s standards. Keep in mind that I’m not defending Indy here. He is still 10 years older than her as he was born in 1899. Making the 10-11 year age gap incredibly creepy. George Lucas originally wanted Marion to be even younger like 14-15 like you said, but Spielberg thankfully shot that idea down. I don’t know why Lucas even thought that making the hero of his story a pedo was a good idea…
The Novelization for Raiders explicitly lists Marion as being 15 when Indy got with her. Also, Lucas wanted Marion to be 11 actually, to which Spielberg responded "She'd better be older"
The irony in every Indiana Jones movies is each Treasure is reburied (Ark and Grail) or returned (Sankara Stone and Crystal Skull) and never ends up in a museum.
4:54 Also, Indy is still not believing in magic. No amount of sand would have been right. I mean, the trigger goes down. For it to work by weight, the trigger would rise. But Indy is still trying to think his way through. It's cursed, he should have known he'd fail. Through the series he is using his knowledge to overcome magic. Even in the end with the Ark, and the trials in the Crusade, he's using that encycloedia brain to win. I haven't seen the new one, but there's that line in the trailer about not believing magic too.
Why would the trigger rise? If it's too heavy it should sink. If it's too light, then it it would rise. And some amount of sand would've been right. And yeah Indy is thinking in science terms.
@@raked2112 Ok, so we need a trap where if you remove the idol it goes off. Easy, you have the weight of the idol be the thing that keeps the trigger for the trap in place. That way if you take the idol the trap springs. That means the idol is pushing down on that pedestal, and the pedestal/trap mechanism would be pushing up on the idol. So removing the idol should make the pedestal rise. Like taking your foot of a landmine. But this is a magic temple with traps that work by light. Which makes no sense. Like, the sun moves. Just come at night then.
@@DrewTrox And he guessed wrong and it was too heavy. But that's the great thing about art. Everybody gets their own interpretation and who knows what the artist intended?
The reason that Indy knew to shut his eyes was written into the novelization of the movie. The man who read the markings of the head piece to the Staff of Ra also told Indy that he shouldn’t look at the opened ark or die. In the movie he only mentions a warning which Indy shrugs off. Spielberg cut the scene for time sake and because he feared it would give away too much of the ending.
William Hootkins *ALSO* played Munsen in the 1980 Movie "FLASH GORDON" *my guilty pleasure B-movie* - How could you not love it? - QUEEN did the sound track ;)
I'm 4 minutes into a deep dive of one my favorite childhood character IPs, Actors and Directors. I grew up on all three original trilogy on VHS with my dad early 90's, and a few Young Indiana Jones episodes with late great River Phoenix playing the lead. Loving all this film analysis and easter eggs. Can't wait to rewatch them again. Hope I enjoy Dial of Destiny as much as I remember enjoying Crystal Skull despite jumping the shark misgivings. Perhaps the Star Wars prequels helped soften the blow of my expectations for blockbuster franchises overstaying their relevance.
I've often thought of this movie as Steven Spielberg's giving a big middle finger to the Nazis (and maybe others like them), but it never occurred to me before watching this video that there is a part that specifically says, "You forget to give respect to God, you fail; you remember to give respect to Him, you find what you seek." Amen to that.
Raiders has always been my favorite movie since I was around 5 and I never really knew what made it so special, but now I do! I can’t believe some of these details in cinematography went over my head. Though I’m curious how much of the foreshadowing that you analyzed was intentional. Like with all of the references to light. I never really picked up on Indy’s arc of shifting his respect for spiritual powers, but now that you’ve pointed it out it makes complete sense. I know people say this constantly, but they really don’t make movies this great anymore. I don’t know if they ever will
26:52 Soft reboot idea: a Disney+ series of someone finding that footage and trying to track down the Ark. We get a backseat view of the films up to the open of Crystal Skull. I can hear the internet scream cry already.
I'm so glad you made a valid rebuttal to the big bang theory, ever since I saw that episode I thought they were right 😂 thanks for fixing it for me again
Sadly you missed one of the greatest details in this movie. The canyon that Indy and the Nazi’s were in when he threatened to blow up the Ark was the same canyon they shot Ben Kenobi’s arrival in during A New Hope
Pat Roach wasn't the Mongolian shot in the face that was shown in the dive. He was the Sherpa wrestling Indy for the gun in Marion's bar. The gun the henchman has in that scene was an MP40 and not a Thompson.
Indy told Marion to shut her eyes because the Egyptian guru guy warned him about the danger of the Ark when they spoke about the markings on the headpiece of the staff. This wasn't in the movie, but was told in the book (a paperback that came out at the time the movie was released). The book also explained how he lashed himself to the periscope of the German sub with his whip and hoped they wouldn't dive. He was lucky (again) that they didn't because they were close to their secret base and stayed surfaced for air until they docked.
Great cover! This is the best film of the trilogy. I remember watching it first as a child, and felling in love with Indy and his adventures in an instant. Also, the desert truck chase is far the best action scene in the history of cinema in my opinion. One small thing with the statue at the beginning: not only the eyes move, but if you look at it close at the close-up shot, one of it's eyes is fixed on Indy, and the other one is fixed on us, the audience. :) It's the same creepy thing Bill Skarsgard does in 'It' with his eyes. :)
One contradiction regarding the height of the staff is the reading of the headpiece, where the gypsy reads, _"Yes, it is here. This is the old way, it means six kadams high."_ Sala then says, _"About 72 inches."_ 72 inches is six feet, which is roughly Indiana Jones's height. The gypsy turns the headpiece over and continues, _"And take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew God whose Ark this is."_ This would make the staff 5 feet high, yet in the map room, the staff is easily 1.5 feet taller than Indy. Which begs the question, "Was Belloq's staff too long, or was Indy's?"
"He's making this up as he goes, he's not James Bond..." I'd argue that's exactly what James Bond does. And I read somewhere that Indy is in fact inspired by Bond (much more obvious in the opening of Temple of Doom), and at least part of why Spielberg did this movie is because he was turned down from directing a Bond film.
This is great, I love how you go into such details. It's absolutely brilliant and I'm amazed at depth of your work. Love this film, so great to see your take on it. Well done !!!
What about the scene in the beginning where the dart is in the tree. Then Indy pulls it out, rubs it and drops it. The other two actors rush up. With one of them tasting the dart and replies "The poison is fresh, three days "then looks back and says they're following us. How did the darts get ahead of them?
When I was in secondary school in the 80s, they used to show a film in the assembly hall on the day before the summer holidays. One year (82 or 83) they showed this movie. It was the only time that all the kids and teachers applauded at the end. I still remember it as being the best day I ever had in school. Decades later, I still think it's one of the greatest films ever made.
I used to love those film in the assembly hall days - the TV wheeled in, the plastic chairs set up in front…
“I dunno, I’m making this up as I go” is the best line from this entire movie. It captures everything about Indy perfectly
I love that line, but at 37 years old, I think "It's not the years honey, it's the mileage" hits a little harder 😂
28:02 this was explained in a deleted scene. When Indy and Sallah have the headpiece translated, the translator told him not to look at the Ark when it was being opened
I saw that deleted scene too you’re right!
Yep
Glad they dropped it and instead relied on Indy's knowledge as highlighted in the college scene.
That was a good choice! If you were told earlier that it shouldn't be looked at, then you knew something bad would happen for the rest of the movie. It was such a perfect twist as we all wanted to know what was in it.
I m glad they dropped it too. I'd rather think that Indy understood that they needed to distance themselves from the hubris of the Germans and hoped that they would be spared from the divine wrath
I was so spoiled by this era of filmmaking. I’m 45, but remember watching the OG Star Wars trilogy, Back to the Future, Raiders, E.T., Ghostbusters, Alien and Aliens, Robocop, Predator, Terminator, on and on. Didn’t fully appreciate any of it as a child. Not Oscar material all around….Just knew they were kick-ass movies. Know I realize how special they truly were. Love the Deep Dives. One of my favorite things on RUclips.
We grew up in ABSOLUTELY the BEST time to be a kid. As proof, I offer the fact that the music and clothes that were popular when WE were in highschool are now popular with kids who are in highschool (and college)😂.
You didn't mention Spielberg's biggest scale shot of all at the end of the movie showing one crate being pushed by the warehouse guy, pulling back to reveal thousands of crates in the final shot.
Well, yes… using the magic of matte painting
This was the greatest shot in film.
Yeah and with that ominous mysterious music in the background the viewer is left wondering just how many of these improbable secrets are being kept from them in government archives...
Pretty clear that's a matte painting, still a great shot, but not that epic from a film making standpoint.
i mean, that's one of the most famous shots of all time? Dont really need to analyze it :p
Like you dont need to break down gonna need a bigger boat. Honestly though for all his over the top scenes Spielberg is still so good at subtlety, like the conscripted Czech soldiers in private Ryan that just get shot, no subtitles but an insanely good historical detail
I was 12 when my dad took me to see this in the theater in 1981. I have watched this movie over and over again, ad nauseum, and is my all time favorite. You captured so many things i have never seen or noticed on any rewatch. Absolutely brilliant breakdown, and the eyes on the idol. NEVER noticed it until just today! What great work. Thank you.
I always knew the idol's eyes were creepy, I just didn't realize why until now.
It’s actually not a light boobytrap, it’s a pressure plate, Indy is clever and manipulates Satipo into believing it’s the light when in reality he steps on a plate at the same time. This would protect Indy from a possible betrayal. Which in the end, he is correct.
How do you figure that? I don't see any indication of a floor plate he steps on.
@@TristenSarelvun when Indy is running out of the temple and crosses next to Satipos body you can see a stone plate on the ground under satipos body. It’s right next to the idol.
Wo! That's an insane level of detail. I guess they were counting on people renting and buying this on video.
So I assume that the light was shining on the pressure plate to indicate where it is?
@@johntrevy1 no, you can hear Indy take a step exactly when he puts his hand in the light, that’s his foot touching the plate.
Jones isn't talking to his students about "barrels" - he's giving a lesson on "barrows" - ancient burial mounds.
And it's not that he's more interested in the items themselves than what's inside them, but that he wants to put the things he acquires in museums where they can be appreciated by many, not seeking monetary gain.
@TacoJack: thanks for the clarification! I was listening, going "Wha...?" Barrows makes complete sense!
@@annbrookens945my
Although the barrows he's talking about weren't excavated until the early 1980's!
Everyone knows what's inside barrows. It's barrow wights. Now with wheels.
This was one of the films we watched in a theater all alone during COVID. Neither of us had seen it in theater before, and it was worth every moment to see on a big screen. Excellent film making.
Just saw a few weeks ago for its re-release.
It just hits so different in a theater!
10/10
Lucky
I'm glad my kids were young enough to enjoy..and old enough to remember the magic of going to the movies. It's not something I really know how to explain, but it's a shame if this new streaming generation might not experience it😕. It's it's own special kind of magic. I can tell you what theater and with who I saw all my favorites.
I can still remember seeing Indiana Jones in the cinema in 1984 when it came out. I can clearly remember how amazed we all were by the opening sequence and everyone in the cinema laughing loudly at the "show a little backbone, will you" joke. It was such a perfect opening and then the humour was the cherry on top.
I am not ashamed to say I'm going to turn 38 years old the day Dial of Destiny is released and I never saw Raiders of the Lost Ark... until last night. I didn't even realize this break down was coming.
I am ready!
I also watched this for the first time yesterday having no clue this was coming today. That’s so weird that that’s happened to multiple people
so you are at the age now that Harrison Ford was when this movie released....
which means he was 37 when Empire was released...
turning 38 myself this year, this makes me smile!
I'm 38 and didn't see this till my mid 20's. Our age group ended up seeing the 2nd a 3rd one way more.
In my small country town in nsw Australia, our high school was taken to the movies to see Raiders.250 kids and teachers going off their heads in awe.
The 80s were so fun😂
I grew up with these movies with my mom introducing them to me and this series is what made me fall in love with history, folklore, legends, and story worldbuilding
I was 3 when my Mom took me to the theatre to watch this. It creeped me out so much we left within the first 10 minutes. Now this is one of my favorite movies, and I think it helped to kindle my love of studying history, travel, and meeting people from different cultures. I really appreciated the detailed analysis of symbolism that I never noticed before. Thank you.
This was the most enjoyable breakdown I have seen for a long time. This movie is so iconic and was due for all of these insights. Well done!
I saw this in the theathers when it came out in 81 and I distictly remember something from the idol temple opening that's been unexplicably cut from VHS/DVD versions. There's a scene in in the temple where Indy pauses Alfred Molina's character from proceeding over a section of floor which turns out to be another trap, a pit disguised by by dust and cobwebs. This is why they need to use the whip to swing over the pit. This sets up the subsequent, throw me the idol and I'll throw you the whip scene.
I know the scene you speak of, but I believe it's a deleted scene that was maybe included on the extras of the first laser disc. I saw it recently on you tube and was very unfinished looking, lacking the theatrical filtering/coloring/scaling. Looked sepia. But maybe you saw a different version, what country did you see it in out of curiousity?
The gold statuette from the start of 'Raiders' is based on one at the Smithsonian, however it is now widely regarded as a fake. And at 07;26 Indy during his lecture says 'Barrow' not 'barrel' (A Barrow being a Neolithic burial mound - and yes, I'm an archaeologist!). Interestingly, the barrow mentioned 'Turkdean barrow' is actually two, Hazelton north & Hazelton south. The thing is Indy can't be telling the class about the excavation, as digging started in 1979 and finished in 1982 (the year after the movies release!)
Indy though, does mispronounce 'Cist' as 'sist' and not 'Kist'.
@@Aelwyd10 Diolch!
Great information, thank you
Actually, there are two correct pronunciations of the word "cist": /sɪst/ and /kɪst/ (and yes, I'm a linguist!)
After that watch along I legit watch all 4 movies in one day for the first time ever it was so fun!!
What's your rating from best to worst?
You had me until '4' 😉
@@DarthWilburpeople are allowed to like things
There’s only 3
3 not 4 🤣
We saw this one in the movie theater several times. One of the greatest movies of all time. One thing that stuck out though was the movie supposedly occurred in 1936. The rocket propelled grenade launcher Indy had didn't exist until years later.
Raiders is my all time favourite film and I was surprised by the number of easter eggs you picked up. Thanks very much. I can now enjoy the film even more the next time I watch it!
I was raised on the Indiana Jones movies, so I've seen them dozens of times throughout my life. Yet, there was still so much I learned from this video. The eyes of the statue were always uncanny, and I never realized why until now. Also, the gag of the man witnessing Indy & Marion escaping the tomb is hilarious. Too bad it wasn't kept in.
Deleted scene: Girl lowers eyes to reveal LOVE YOU. Indy lowers his own eyes: I KNOW.
I saw this in the theater when I was 6. So many questions, but up until this video, I never knew the 365 holes in the ramp of map room. Thank you, I feel I'm one step closer to finding the ark. 👍👍
I love the fact that Indy and Marion hear all kinds of horrible screams, godly screeches with heat and wind. They have no idea what just happened, they don’t know where everyone went.
Oh they knew where everyone went. That's why they closed their eyes, so they wouldn't lay their eyes on the presence of the angels.
There is another deleted scene where an old man, the same one that tells them the height of the staff, explains to Indy the rules of the ark. 1)You touch, you die. 2)You look, you die. I kinda wish we had all these scenes to actually look at in the movie somehow.
@jameskiely2788 - Right. And, THIS is where Indy learns to close his eyes (and Indy warns Marion) as The Ark is being opened.
the Bible says that about the Ark@@thegreypath1777
Has anyone noticed at 9:36 the stained glass windows in the lecture hall? Can you see the chivalric/family crests? Remember the painting in Indie's living room above the fireplace at 11:06.
The ray of light motion sensor was never a motion sensor it was a pressure plate that he lied to Satipo about, anticipating his betrayal. It’s the trap that kills Satipo because it was the only trap he didn’t know the actual trigger for.
Nice,
I always thought the same thing, that there was a floor trigger where the light was, since that's where most people would walk
That makes sense. StackExchange had a long question/discussion over how you could make a light-sensitive trap with the technology of the temple builders, and no one could come up with a sensible plan.
Not to mention the fact that natural light moves. It would be stupid to base a trap on that.
@@randomiscellaneousness1483 Exactly. Otherwise, you may as well just enter at nighttime so the light trap won't be active
5:55 The idol's eyes are now just gold. Also the reason Indy knew not to look at the ark was cut from the film. The Imam told him in the scene where he reads the headpiece.
the Bible also tells not to look at the Ark
18:42 that's an awesome detail of Sallah walking between them... never would have spotted that one, thank you!
I watched this movie for the first time yesterday! Perfect timing Eric!! I can’t believe I waited this long to watch Indiana Jones, I’ve been missing so much. Can’t wait to start the next one!
@eliahteixeira5680 - Skip Indy 5 - please join The Boycott.
I like to think that “love you” on the student’s closed eyes in the beginning foreshadows how Indy and Marion, and their love, survive the Ark at the end.
The captain of the ship was portrayed by actor George Wallace, who also portrayed Kingsley Shacklebolt in the Harry Potter films.
And the other guy who first spotted Indy on the sub was Chocolate Mousse from Top Secret!.
It's such a small role, but the captain was magnificent.
That coed Marcus checks out was setting up a later deleted scene where she is waiting for Indy because they'd planned to talk. Indy asks Marcus to give them a few minutes but gets dragged into the meeting in the lecture hall. Showed his dedication to his students, but ultimately likely cut for pacing reasons.
In the book/deleted scene, the girl Susan wanted a conference with Indy in his office ;) and is then at his house later on when Marcus shows up about the mission which is why there was open bottle of champagne and two glasses
@@DeepDiveNR Indiana Jones is just a rip-off of the character Harry Steele portrayed by actor Charlton Heston in the 1954 movie 'Secret of the Incas.'
I always get excited when I watch this. I feel like a kid again every single time.
After all these years, I can still remember the theater audience laughter when Indy shot the swordsman.
WOW! I paused and screenshot and compared both scenes at 4:52 and 5:13 and you can clearly tell from the eyelids that the idol was looking down at him as he was jumping, and up at him as he releases sand.
My mum's uncle watched this with one of my mum's cousins and when it aired, he was having a blast watching this!!!
All of my Family are fans of Indiana Jones!!!
Awesome analysis! And your passion for the series really shines through in this video. Thank you for posting!
Wonderful deep dive. Indy movies are some of my favorites. That music is the music of my childhood.
Great video with lots of details Ive never noticed after 500 watches. One thing I thought about recently is that Indy essentially "loses" in every movie. He only ends up winning because of the greed or ignorance of the bad guys. Raiders he is captured and lives because he respected the power of the Ark. Temple he is captured and turned bad but is only saved by the efforts of Short Round, and again by his ability to let go of the stones. Crusade by his penetance and respect for the grail, and again his ability to let it go. And finally in Kingdom his realization to respect the knowledge they have and not ask for more, unlike Spalko whose greed gets her fried. He may think he wants fortune and glory, but with these artifacts there really isn't any. The adventure is the juice.
Great analysis! I remember in the comic book from the movie, the "wise man" who gives the information on how tall to make the staff also provides a warning not to directly look at the power of the ark, which is how Indy knows and why he warns Marion to look away.
Even without the that deleted scene there's hints at it from the illustration in book he opens during the government briefing. None of the people on the side of the ark in the illustration have their eyes uncovered or are looking at it, hinting at what is to come.
This scene also works with the theme of the film showing that Indy is initially skeptical and dismissive of the agent's questioning the illustration saying the lines emanating from the ark are "lightning, fire, the power of god... Something." like it isn't important. Yet by the end of the film with all he has seen, witnessed, and done he realizes there are some things you should take on faith.
I LOVE these "Deep Dives" into my favorite films!!❤
ERIC you’ve done it again! Dude making me relive my childhood!
EXCELLENT Breakdown!! Really love your work on these. One of my my favorite details is the way that Spielberg stages Indy's initial ride on horseback 22:20 Notice how the workers rise only has Indy rides past. It adds extra motion and excitement to the scene. So simple but so effective. Love it.
Great breakdown! You mention that Indy and the staff of Ra were necessary to finding the Ark, but at the site didn't Belloc say something along the lines that the Nazis would just as soon bulldoze the entire site to find it? Indy's presence made finding the Ark quicker for the Nazis (and supposedly saved the site and many relics from destruction) , but they could have found it without him.
Great job! Seen this movie dozens of time in which I have noticed and thought about several of these points over the years. Love your articulation. Do more movies!
21:20 While in the Airforce in the 1960's my dad witnessed what happens when someone walks into a propeller.
It was a young, very pretty flight attendant who was returning to the terminal to retrieve some forgotten paperwork.
He said the blood splashed onto the tail of the plane was far less that he saw in the real life accident.
This movie is very accurate, Biblically. The Bible describes the Ark in great detail, and also describes the robes of the High Priest that Belloq was wearing. All of that is true to scripture. And Indy knew to close his eyes because the Bible also makes clear what happens when people look upon the glory of God. There's even a line in the novelization where Indy warns his friends to not touch the Ark. "Never touch it." According to the Bible, without the proper ritual performed by Belloq, anyone who touches the Ark drops dead on the spot.
Not necessarily "drops dead", some only got swallowed by the ground.
And that looking bit is a bit shaky as lots of people see god directly, with Moses making the most about the experience in god warning him it could only be from behind as anything else would be too overpowering. Didn't seem to bother Adam and Eve though or Israel when wrestling YHWH. (And no, the text says not it was the angel of the Lord, it says it was the big guy himself, anything else is a later retcon to fill a perceived gap in the logic, creating a far bigger gap)
Spielberg is respectful of culture, faith, historical context, ode to include “borrowing” scenes from his favorite movie directors, attention to detail in his art directing… also the use of irony and subtle humor makes him one of the greatest storytellers…
Excellent breakdown!!!
That Millennium Falcon sound effect used for the plane starter actually is a plane starter. It's the inertial starter from an Antonov An-2
I just spent this whole week binging Indiana jones!!!! THIS CHANNELL IS THE GREATEST FOR REALS, I’m so hyped for other breakdowns of this franchise
@@DeepDiveNR HOLY SHIT THEY REPLIED
@@DeepDiveNR LEGENDS
Do you ever think you will do a deep dive about one the first shows to go viral on the internet with analysis and conspiracy theories, "LOST" ? When it was on the air, you couldn't escape hearing about everyone's head canon explanations, and I think it would be a very fun series to explore.
Not just because of all of the clues and red herrings left throughout the series, but about how it was so successful at getting people to talk about its intrigue in communities, and how it added to the show's popularity and hype.
Don't watch the last episode!
This film is truly a masterpiece, one of my favourites, up there with Inception and Logan
How Hilarious. I randomly watched movie one and 2 last week. 🍿 perfect timing for a deep dive.
This was great, thank you. One of my favorite movies of all time.
One of my favorite films. It's a classic
In addition to Marion being the key to finding the Ark and Indy leading the Nazis to her, there is another reason that is not seen on screen. After the Nazis open the Ark on the island, they all would have died. After they died, more Nazis would have showed up to find out what's going on. They would have found the Ark and they would have continued to take it back to Hitler. But with Indy there, he is able to get word out to the US Government who were able to get to the island before the other Nazis knew something was wrong.
Just discovered this channel. Freakin' great content!! I'm pumped over this Spielberg series!!!
You did an AMAZING job!! I was 8 years old in '81 and my 10 year old brother and I saw this 23 times!! THIS made me fall in love with movies and made me wanna become an actor.
One of my all time favorite movies, in the top 6 along with The Great Escape, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It is not only the cast, sets, writing, direction, acting, and story, but because of all the subtle touches in this film that it is so great.
at 7:21 ... isn't the last word supposed to be "barrow" (as in a burial tomb) not "barrel" as shown in the text subtitle?
I have to admit to begrudgingly watching this. Indy is my favorite movie character and Raiders is a very close second to Star Wars, so… I watched. Thank you! You shared a lot of detail I either missed or simply paid no attention to in the 100 or so times I’ve watched the movie. Two days ago I honestly thought I had seen Raiders enough. You’ve changed my mind! I’m back to it as soon as I hit the send arrow followed by exiting the RUclips.
Indiana Jones is just a rip-off of the character Harry Steele portrayed be actor Charlton Heston is the 1954 movie 'Secret of the Incas.'
23:05 I've always thought that the driver of the truck looks like paul hogan crocodile dundee.
There are a few reasons why Indy may have known not to look at the Ark. One, it was explained to him and Sallah by the old man in Cairo who translated the headpiece to the Staff of Ra. Two, your explanation. And three, according to the novelization of Raiders, in which Indy remembers the biblical event of Sodom and Gomorrah, where anyone who looked back at the city would die and be turned to salt.
the Bible also tells what happens to those who look upon the open ark
Loved this. The "Indy I Love you" shirt made me think how I would love to see you do a Deep Dive on the 1980s Flash Gordon film. ( "Flash, I love you, but we only have 14 hours to save the world!)
This was such a good video! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Best Deep Dive to date! Can't wait for your breakdown of the other Raiders films.
Maybe it’s been said but Indy knew not to look at the ark due to old man that translated The headpeace. In a delete scene he tells them it says on the headpeace not to look at it
Thanks for all your hard work. Love from Belgium 🇧🇪 ❤
Really enjoyed this deep dive into Raiders. Thank you! 😊
Really fascinating video!
Small clarification though: Marion was born in 1909, and she and Indy met each other in 1925-1926. So she’d be closer to 16-17 years old. So technically able to give consent by a lot of 1920s standards.
Keep in mind that I’m not defending Indy here. He is still 10 years older than her as he was born in 1899. Making the 10-11 year age gap incredibly creepy.
George Lucas originally wanted Marion to be even younger like 14-15 like you said, but Spielberg thankfully shot that idea down. I don’t know why Lucas even thought that making the hero of his story a pedo was a good idea…
The Novelization for Raiders explicitly lists Marion as being 15 when Indy got with her. Also, Lucas wanted Marion to be 11 actually, to which Spielberg responded "She'd better be older"
Great episode.. just one tiny correction - the subtitles during the scene with Indy in the classroom should say 'barrow' not 'barrel'
Oh, and shout out to the amazing stunt show at Disneyworld. That was my introduction to Indiana Jones.
@@DeepDiveNR That's awesome. My dad got to do the Psycho show at Universal.
The irony in every Indiana Jones movies is each Treasure is reburied (Ark and Grail) or returned (Sankara Stone and Crystal Skull) and never ends up in a museum.
This is why Raiders is the best of all...no questions asked, this is the movie of my life...!
4:35 That's because the Idol is an interdimensional alien. They were setting up Crystal Skull from the beginning.
Damn, I like that
Excellent. You put a lot of work into this, evident by your passion. Appreciate it.
4:54 Also, Indy is still not believing in magic. No amount of sand would have been right. I mean, the trigger goes down. For it to work by weight, the trigger would rise. But Indy is still trying to think his way through. It's cursed, he should have known he'd fail. Through the series he is using his knowledge to overcome magic. Even in the end with the Ark, and the trials in the Crusade, he's using that encycloedia brain to win. I haven't seen the new one, but there's that line in the trailer about not believing magic too.
Why would the trigger rise? If it's too heavy it should sink. If it's too light, then it it would rise. And some amount of sand would've been right. And yeah Indy is thinking in science terms.
@@raked2112 Ok, so we need a trap where if you remove the idol it goes off. Easy, you have the weight of the idol be the thing that keeps the trigger for the trap in place. That way if you take the idol the trap springs. That means the idol is pushing down on that pedestal, and the pedestal/trap mechanism would be pushing up on the idol. So removing the idol should make the pedestal rise. Like taking your foot of a landmine. But this is a magic temple with traps that work by light. Which makes no sense. Like, the sun moves. Just come at night then.
Indy is concerned with too much weight also. So maybe there is some crazy water buoyancy trap going on inside.
Maybe some intricate scale system underneath. Either way it's magic.
@@DrewTrox And he guessed wrong and it was too heavy. But that's the great thing about art. Everybody gets their own interpretation and who knows what the artist intended?
The reason that Indy knew to shut his eyes was written into the novelization of the movie. The man who read the markings of the head piece to the Staff of Ra also told Indy that he shouldn’t look at the opened ark or die. In the movie he only mentions a warning which Indy shrugs off. Spielberg cut the scene for time sake and because he feared it would give away too much of the ending.
William Hootkins *ALSO* played Munsen in the 1980 Movie "FLASH GORDON"
*my guilty pleasure B-movie* - How could you not love it? - QUEEN did the sound track ;)
I think he was the helpful friend to Matthew Broderick at the start of War Games, too.
Fantastic breakdown!
I'm 4 minutes into a deep dive of one my favorite childhood character IPs, Actors and Directors. I grew up on all three original trilogy on VHS with my dad early 90's, and a few Young Indiana Jones episodes with late great River Phoenix playing the lead. Loving all this film analysis and easter eggs. Can't wait to rewatch them again.
Hope I enjoy Dial of Destiny as much as I remember enjoying Crystal Skull despite jumping the shark misgivings. Perhaps the Star Wars prequels helped soften the blow of my expectations for blockbuster franchises overstaying their relevance.
I've often thought of this movie as Steven Spielberg's giving a big middle finger to the Nazis (and maybe others like them), but it never occurred to me before watching this video that there is a part that specifically says, "You forget to give respect to God, you fail; you remember to give respect to Him, you find what you seek." Amen to that.
well, one of the best movies ever made...thank you for noticing this motive of light . even more powerful
Just beautiful analysis. Bravo!
Raiders has always been my favorite movie since I was around 5 and I never really knew what made it so special, but now I do! I can’t believe some of these details in cinematography went over my head. Though I’m curious how much of the foreshadowing that you analyzed was intentional. Like with all of the references to light. I never really picked up on Indy’s arc of shifting his respect for spiritual powers, but now that you’ve pointed it out it makes complete sense. I know people say this constantly, but they really don’t make movies this great anymore. I don’t know if they ever will
26:52 Soft reboot idea: a Disney+ series of someone finding that footage and trying to track down the Ark. We get a backseat view of the films up to the open of Crystal Skull. I can hear the internet scream cry already.
I'm so glad you made a valid rebuttal to the big bang theory, ever since I saw that episode I thought they were right 😂 thanks for fixing it for me again
Sadly you missed one of the greatest details in this movie. The canyon that Indy and the Nazi’s were in when he threatened to blow up the Ark was the same canyon they shot Ben Kenobi’s arrival in during A New Hope
Great film and great dive. Love your videos man
Oh man, this was so much fin. One of my all time favorites!
I hate how the students dont leave at the bell. They leave when Indy says that class is over.
Pat Roach wasn't the Mongolian shot in the face that was shown in the dive. He was the Sherpa wrestling Indy for the gun in Marion's bar.
The gun the henchman has in that scene was an MP40 and not a Thompson.
Was just coming here to say that.
@@sithlord612lol..same here
I had some archeoly courses last semester in my art history studies. Sadly, none of the professors were anything like Indiana Jones.
Indy told Marion to shut her eyes because the Egyptian guru guy warned him about the danger of the Ark when they spoke about the markings on the headpiece of the staff. This wasn't in the movie, but was told in the book (a paperback that came out at the time the movie was released). The book also explained how he lashed himself to the periscope of the German sub with his whip and hoped they wouldn't dive. He was lucky (again) that they didn't because they were close to their secret base and stayed surfaced for air until they docked.
Great cover! This is the best film of the trilogy. I remember watching it first as a child, and felling in love with Indy and his adventures in an instant. Also, the desert truck chase is far the best action scene in the history of cinema in my opinion.
One small thing with the statue at the beginning: not only the eyes move, but if you look at it close at the close-up shot, one of it's eyes is fixed on Indy, and the other one is fixed on us, the audience. :) It's the same creepy thing Bill Skarsgard does in 'It' with his eyes. :)
I have never over the thousands times that i have watched this noticed that!
One contradiction regarding the height of the staff is the reading of the headpiece, where the gypsy reads, _"Yes, it is here. This is the old way, it means six kadams high."_ Sala then says, _"About 72 inches."_ 72 inches is six feet, which is roughly Indiana Jones's height. The gypsy turns the headpiece over and continues, _"And take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew God whose Ark this is."_ This would make the staff 5 feet high, yet in the map room, the staff is easily 1.5 feet taller than Indy. Which begs the question, "Was Belloq's staff too long, or was Indy's?"
"He's making this up as he goes, he's not James Bond..." I'd argue that's exactly what James Bond does. And I read somewhere that Indy is in fact inspired by Bond (much more obvious in the opening of Temple of Doom), and at least part of why Spielberg did this movie is because he was turned down from directing a Bond film.
This is great, I love how you go into such details. It's absolutely brilliant and I'm amazed at depth of your work. Love this film, so great to see your take on it. Well done !!!
What about the scene in the beginning where the dart is in the tree. Then Indy pulls it out, rubs it and drops it. The other two actors rush up. With one of them tasting the dart and replies "The poison is fresh, three days "then looks back and says they're following us. How did the darts get ahead of them?
Speaking of James Bond, a breakdown or deep dive of the James Bond franchise would be cool