Indiana Jones is like nostalgia squared. First appearing on the movie screen in 1981, this hero was immediately able to evoke a light, calm sadness for the good old days of the first half of the turbulent twentieth century. And we are not talking about the redistribution of the world, wars, revolutions, repressions, and wars again. We are talking about those times when cars were rare and had only a few unfortunate horsepower each, newborn jazz standards were played everywhere, men wore elegant suits, women wore hats and elegant dresses. And the professors of archeology were not sitting in their book-dusty offices, but were running around in the wilderness, looking for artifacts of ancient civilizations and... what are we talking about? Let's be honest: such professors are almost non-existent. Usually, scientific activity takes place within four walls. Or in some pit in the middle of nowhere, where they spend months carefully digging out a piece of a three-thousand-year-old jug.
Indiana Jones, like James Bond, is a mythical character, an Odyssey of 20th century mass culture. He is the dream of a scientist, or rather an educated person, about adventures, excavations, and mysterious treasures embodied on the screen. In this article, we'll tell you how the myth of the whip-wielding archaeologist was born, and recall the best legacy Indiana left behind. It's always nice to remember him, and even more so on the eve of the release of the new video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, an action-adventure game about the most famous archeological adventurer.
The birth of a hero
The late seventies. Hollywood is feverishly enjoying the success of Star Wars. But their "father," George Lucas, wants something new. Or rather, on the contrary, he dreams of heroes of the past. Not superheroes, but those without superpowers, almost ordinary people, those who are drawn into incredible adventures by natural adventurism and the desire to explore the unknown.
There was once an Alan Quartermaine. This hero appeared in the 19th century in the novel King Solomon's Mines by Henry Ryder Haggard. A tough hunter, he traveled across Africa in search of adventure and ancient treasures. The novel was published in 1885 and was a huge success. And all because in 1873 the real-life archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann found the ruins of Troy, and the world went crazy with the idea of lost worlds and hidden treasures.
In addition to Quartermaine, there were dozens of other characters similar to him. For example, the hot-tempered Professor Challenger from The Lost World by Conan Doyle, who discovered the plateau with dinosaurs. Or Doc Savage, a brilliant scientist and adventurer who first appeared in the 1933 pulp novel Man of Bronze. Or... Disney's Uncle Scrooge. A bit unexpected for us, isn't it? But remember, even in Duck Tales (1987), this billionaire miser was always wandering around the remote wilds of the planet in search of treasure. And comics with his participation appeared much earlier. Scrooge McDuck first appeared in the comic strip Christmas on Bear Mountain in December 1947. Created by Carl Barks, this character quickly gained popularity, which led to the launch of a separate series of Uncle Scrooge comics in 1952. By the way, those comics already featured a huge rolling stone and traps with spikes in the walls.
And then there was Nevada Smith. It is unlikely that many Ukrainian readers are familiar with this name. This is a western hero portrayed on the screen by Steve McQueen, an actor of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Did you notice the peculiarity of the character's name? The name of a state plus a common surname. This pattern stuck in George Lucas' head, and when his thoughts revolved around a desperate scientist looking for ancient artifacts, he came up with Indiana Jones. The name "Indiana" was not a coincidence: it was the name of the director's favorite dog.
So, in 1977, George Lucas, who was taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood in Hawaii, met Steven Spielberg. These two filmmakers were already quite successful, but at that time they were struggling. Spielberg had recently made Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), a movie that not only made a profit but also saved Columbia Pictures from bankruptcy. However, Steven dreamed of making not only popular blockbusters, but also something more serious and deeper. Or at least a new Bond series, but the producers refused to let him.
Lucas was facing family problems and a creative crisis. He was tired of filming the first Star Wars (1977) and was dreading its release. Critics predicted the movie would be a failure and considered it a failed youthful exercise. As Lucas himself admitted, writing was extremely difficult for him, and he suffered from it. But at some point, George began to hear rumors about the box office, and this encouraged him to work.
So Lucas assured his friend Spielberg that he had a hero even cooler than James Bond and told him about the archaeologist in the hat. Their thoughts on the image were mostly the same. Yes, they both understood that they wanted to create something in the spirit of those old TV series of the 1930s - with chases, shootouts and charismatic heroes, and most importantly, with a dream of distant lands and amazing adventures. But their hero had to be deeper. Not omnipotent, and even vulnerable. He could make mistakes, get into uncomfortable situations, feel pain, and keep moving forward. He also had to have self-irony. The only thing is that initially Lucas' Indiana was a bit more mercenary and wanted to get artifacts for his own enrichment, while Spielberg's Indiana was more romantic and altruistic and worked for the sake of science and adventure itself. You can probably guess which concept won.
And so, out of a mixture of children's comics about a miserly duck, Victorian novels about a hunter in Africa, and old TV shows about Nazi spies, the most famous archaeologist in the history of cinema was born. He was also afraid of snakes. Because every superhero has to have a weakness. Even if he is not a superhero at all, but an adventurous professor with a whip.
Choosing an actor for the main role, script and studio
Lawrence Kazdan was hired to write the script. His task was not an easy one: he had to tie together a giant boulder rolling behind the hero, a truck being stolen from the Third Reich, a submarine, and a rival with a grenade launcher. And to make it all look like a single story. Some of Lucas and Spielberg's ideas, such as the trolley chase or the use of a gong as a bullet shield, had to be postponed until the next films.
Lucas's friend, filmmaker Philip Kaufman, helped him find the artifact. He heard the story of the lost Ark of the Covenant... from his dentist. The Ark was supposed to be the cause of a conflict with the Nazis: Adolf Hitler was known to be fond of occult theories.
At first, they wanted to cast Tom Selleck as Indiana. He is a charismatic mustachioed private detective Magnum from the TV series of the same name, who later played Monica's lover in the TV series Friends (1994-2004). But fate decreed otherwise: Selleck already had a deal with the crew of the same Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
At first, George Lucas was not enthusiastic about Harrison Ford's candidacy: he did not want to cast the same actor in every movie, as Martin Scorsese does with Robert De Niro, for example. But Spielberg insisted on meeting Ford and immediately realized that this was definitely him, their Dr. Jones.
All that was left was to find a studio that would agree to finance the project. And it was not easy, even with such box office heavyweights as Lucas and Spielberg. The fact is that George demanded full control over the copyright. Only Paramount agreed to the production, and even then Lucas had to make some concessions. But he bargained for a very good percentage of the profits.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Year of release: 1981
Director: Steven Spielberg
IMDb: 8,4/10
The plot of the first movie is simple and ruthlessly effective, like a straight punch in the jaw: 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones has to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis get to it. Why? Hitler, as it turns out, has a hobby of the occult, and the Ark contains tablets with the Ten Commandments, which, according to legend, give the owner invincible power. What can go wrong in such a mission? Spoiler alert: absolutely everything.
Indiana's bright companions appear in the movie.
First of all, Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen), the only woman who was able to tame the adventurous archaeologist. However, taming Indiana is not an easy task. He ran away from her twice for twenty years, apparently to gain the courage to marry her. She knows how to drink whiskey better than any cowboy, fights in a way that puts even seasoned thugs to shame, and flies an airplane in a "we'll make it or we'll try" style.
And Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir (played by John Rhys-Davies). An Egyptian digger, polyglot and jack of all trades. If you need to dig up an ancient city, he will dig it up. If he needs to sing Gilbert and Sullivan in the desert, he will. If you need to save Indy, no questions asked. He's the best friend an adventurer could ever ask for.
They shot the movie in different places, including the real jungle. Once there was an unfortunate incident: half of the film crew and Harrison Ford himself ate something too exotic and contracted dysentery. Oddly enough, the movie benefited from this. For example, the famous scene of the fight with the swordsman was supposed to include spectacular fencing. But Ford, who didn't even have the strength to hold a sword, simply pulled out a pistol and "executed the plan to the minimum." The scene turned out to be so vivid that it went down in the annals of film history.
Cats were also supposed to appear in the movie, so about a hundred furry actors were invited to the set. But it suddenly turned out that Ford was afraid of cats. Of course, not as much as Indy is afraid of snakes, but the cats had to be reduced. Herpetophobes were not spared: for the scene in The Well of Souls, more than 7,000 (!) real reptiles were brought to the set. The cobra that "glares" at Ford in the famous scene was actually separated from the actor by glass. And that's a good thing, because the snake spat venom right at him. You'll agree that such nuances add to the thrill even behind the scenes.
There are plenty of interesting details and surprises in the movie. For example, on the walls of the Well of Souls, an attentive viewer can find images of R2-D2 and C-3PO, as if the Star Wars characters decided to drop by to say hello. The boulder that rolled behind Indy, although made of fiberglass, still weighed a lot - about a center. Fifteen-year-old Michael Bay also worked on the storyboard, and at first he thought the movie would be a "terrible failure." Later on, this young man became a director of cult explosive blockbusters himself. Even the monkey who was supposed to play the Nazi categorically refused to work. It took 50 takes and a grape on a string to get him to give the Nazi salute.
The film grossed almost $400 million (against a budget of $20 million), won four Oscars, and, most importantly, gave the world a new hero. Indiana Jones was vulnerable and humane, he is not omnipotent - he can make mistakes, be afraid, but he always moves forward. He knows ancient languages and quotes classics, but he is not afraid to use a gun because sometimes it is more effective.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Year of release: 1984
Director: Steven Spielberg
IMDb: 7,5/10
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom takes viewers back to 1935, a year before the events of Raiders. Spielberg decides that archaeology needs more gloom and shoots a prequel that begins in a club with the telling name Obi-Wan (yes, Lucas couldn't help but mention Star Wars again). Indiana tries to sell the emperor's ashes to the Chinese triad, but everything goes wrong: instead of money, he receives poison, and a frantic escape begins. Together with the singer Willie Scott and 11-year-old homeless boy Shorty, our hero falls out of an airplane, survives thanks to an inflatable raft, and ends up in an Indian village.
The situation in the village is very complicated: sectarians who worship the goddess Kali have settled nearby. They have kidnapped local children and the sacred Shankar stone. Indiana, as always, cannot stand aside and sets out to help. On the way, the heroes encounter catacombs filled with insects, zombified cultists, gruesome sacrifices, and an unforgettable dinner with monkey brains.
Many people associate the somewhat gloomy tone of this part of the franchise with the directors' personal lives: Spielberg and Lucas were going through a breakup with their lovers, which left an imprint on the plot. Kate Capshaw, who played Willy, even had to take a sedative before the scenes with insects. If you're annoyed by Willy's screaming in this movie, know this: Spielberg does not agree with this. The actress impressed the director so much that he later married her. The couple has seven children, three of whom are joint. Well, love, like archeology, is an incomprehensible thing.
Due to censorship requirements, it was not possible to shoot in India, so the team moved to Sri Lanka. The bridge for the final scene was built in three different countries. And during the filming of the scene when Indiana is whipped, a funny incident happened on the set: Barbra Streisand appeared in a leather suit and continued to "torture" Ford, recalling his less successful roles, then Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) appeared to "save" him, and the director of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Irwin Kershner played the role of a "grumpy director" who accused Spielberg of unprofessionalism. In the end, such jokes only add to the warm memories of the filming process.
The film grossed over $300 million (budget $28 million) and won an Oscar for special effects. It also changed the history of cinema to some extent, because it was because of Temple of Doom and Joe Dante's Gremlins that a new PG-13 age rating was introduced. It was a happy medium: the films were too dark for children, but not violent enough for an adult rating.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Year of release: 1989
Director: Steven Spielberg
IMDb: 8,2/10
1989. Spielberg decides that after the cultists and Nazis, it's time for Indiana Jones to face a real challenge - his own father. And not just a father, but practically James Bond himself: the screen image of Henry Jones Sr. was embodied by the classic, and in the opinion of many viewers and critics, the best Bond, Sean Connery. By the way, Connery was only 12 years older than Ford, but the screen magic worked: their tandem is an explosive cocktail of humor, charisma, and mutual barbs.
So, Henry Jones Sr. A professor of medieval literature and an expert on parental indifference for 20 years. He spent his life searching for a sacred artifact, but forgot to find a common language with his son. Perhaps that's why Indiana decided to name himself after the family dog (like Lucas), because you can't expect warmth from your father. But when the elder Jones disappears during an expedition, the younger one sets out to rescue him.
The film begins with a flashback to 1912, where young Indiana (brilliantly played by River Phoenix) makes great discoveries: he gets his first artifact, gets his famous scar on his chin, picks up a whip for the first time and... begins to be afraid of snakes. He also gets his legendary hat. It was a busy day.
The main action takes place in 1938. Indiana goes in search of her missing father, who disappeared during an expedition to find the Holy Grail. Eventually, he meets Henry Jones Sr. and together they follow the trail of the legendary artifact. Their path will take them through the catacombs of Europe and the deserts of Jordan, where they will have to face the Nazis, a charming but treacherous archaeologist, a battle scene with a World War I tank, and unresolved family traumas.
The film was shot in Venice, Jordan, Spain, and Britain, although the characters travel from Austria to Germany in the story. The scene with Hitler signing Jones's diary has become a masterpiece of irony. By the way, the role of Hitler was played by Michael Sheehan, the same man who commanded the submarine in The Ark. A promotion, so to speak.
Initially, we planned a script about cannibals in Africa, but after the criticism of The Temple of Destiny for its racist overtones, we abandoned this idea. Instead, they decided to explore the theme of father-son relationships. The result is a story where the Holy Grail is important, but even more important is the moment when a stern archaeologist who has survived snake flocks and tank attacks suddenly becomes embarrassed to hear his father call him "Junior."
The film became a box office hit, grossing almost half a billion dollars (estimated at $48 million) and receiving critical acclaim. Because it had everything: riddles, rats in the catacombs, Nazi bastards, secret knights, explosions, and, of course, parental love. And what could be more important than realizing that even the coolest archaeologist in the world is sometimes just a boy who wants to hear praise from his dad? Henry Jones Sr. was looking for the Holy Grail all his life, but he found understanding with his son. And this is probably more important. Although the Grail is not bad either.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Year of release: 2008
Director: Steven Spielberg
IMDb: 6,2/10
Henry Jones Jr. disappeared from the big screen for almost 20 years. He returned only in 2008. In the movie, it was already 1957. The Cold War. McCarthyism. Paranoia. And Indiana Jones, who is already in his sixties, can still give a good beating to villains. Only this time, instead of the Nazis, it's Soviet agents with the ambitions of telepaths.
The KGB unit is led by Cate Blanchett's Irina Spalko. Her Russian accent is so wonderfully artificial that one can forgive the script's oddities for its sake. And there are many of them in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
To begin with, Indiana escapes a nuclear explosion in a refrigerator. Yes, in an ordinary household refrigerator lined with lead. Fans were outraged, but to be honest, after he survived the opening of the Ark of the Covenant, it was nothing.
The main surprise is that Jones has a son! Mat (played by Shia LaBeouf) is just as much of a daredevil as his father. By the way, his real name is Henry Jones III, but he, like his father, prefers the nickname. A family tradition in action.
And, of course, Marion Ravenwood returns, who turns out to be Matt's mother. And yes, after all these years, she and Indy finally get married. It's almost like a Disney happy ending.
The plot revolves around the crystal skull of aliens. Yes, George Lucas finally pushed his idea with aliens, although Spielberg resisted to the last. Fans were furious - what kind of UFO is in Indiana Jones? Although, if you think about it, are aliens worse than the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail?
Harrison Ford, by the way, was in great shape. He had been going to the gym for years, waiting to shoot his fourth movie. He still did most of the stunts himself.
The film received mixed reviews and grossed almost $800 million (budget $185 million). It also won the Golden Raspberry anti-award. And he divided fans into two camps: those who hate him for his refrigerator and aliens, and those who think that watching an elderly Indy who can still kick ass is priceless.
There is also a scene where giant ants eat a Soviet soldier. Because if you're going to make a crazy movie, you have to go all out.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Year of release: 2023
Director: James Mangold
IMDb: 6,5/10
2023. Harrison Ford, who is already 80, tries on his legendary hat for the last time. This time, Spielberg is in the audience seat, entrusting James Mangold with the direction.
The story begins in 1944, when a young (and digitally rejuvenated) Indy, together with his friend Basil Shaw, tries to prevent the Nazis from taking out ancient artifacts. Among them is half of an ancient mechanism that, according to legend, can change time. As always, Indy doesn't let the Nazis get their treasures to their destination in peace.
1969. Moon races, hippies, a revolutionary atmosphere of change... and seventy-year-old Indiana retires, looking sadly at the empty walls of his apartment. His marriage to Marion is broken, his only son was killed in Vietnam. The world is changing, but he is not. But then along comes Helena Shaw, Basil's daughter and Indy's goddaughter, who wants to sell the same time mechanism on the black market. Family loyalty is, of course, in question.
However, the artifacts attract not only archaeologists and black market dealers, but also the Nazis. This time they are led by Jürgen Völler, who dreams of going back in time and changing the course of World War II. But, as it happens in time travel, instead of 1939, everyone finds themselves in 212 BC, in the middle of the siege of Syracuse, where the great Archimedes is making history with his own hands.
Disillusioned with his life, Indy wants to stay in the past and help Archimedes fight the Romans. But Helena, not losing her common sense, decides otherwise.
The movie failed at the box office. The budget was blown out of proportion (estimated at $295-387 million, grossed $384 million), and the audience was not ready for another return of the legend. Disney, disappointed with the results, announced that the franchise was being "mothballed." However, fans are still hoping for a possible spin-off starring Helena Shaw.
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
Years of release: 1992–1996
Directors: Joe Johnston, Karl Schenkel, Simon Wiener and others
IMDb: 7,2/10
And now let's go back in time. Both chronologically and in relation to the filming of the last two episodes of the franchise. After the success of the film trilogy, George Lucas decided that the world needed to know how Indy got started on his path. Thus, in 1992, The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones was created. It was not only an adventure show, but, like the first season of the famous Doctor Who in 1963, an educational project aimed at introducing children to some aspects of history and culture. However, unlike the ancient season about the doctor's adventures in time, this show was a very high-budget one.
The series tells the story of Indiana's adventures between the ages of 9 and 21. Little Indy was played by Corey Currie, and the young man was played by Sean Patrick Flannery. Initially, Lucas wanted to invite River Phoenix, who was just a wonderful young Indy in The Last Crusade, but he refused: the series in the early nineties was not as popular as it is now. However, this did not prevent stars such as Max von Sydow, Vanessa Redgrave, and Christopher Lee from appearing in The Chronicles. Young Daniel Craig and Catherine Zeta-Jones also appeared in the series. And Harrison Ford himself made an appearance in one of the episodes.
Indiana in The Chronicles is a guide to the world of culture and history. He, like Doctor Who, Forrest Gump or Detective Murdoch, meets many prominent personalities of his time: he watches the dispute between Picasso and Degas, discusses psychoanalysis with Freud, listens to jazz with Sydney Bechet. For young viewers, this is a great way to get to know historical figures without boring textbooks.
Personally, at a young age, I was very interested in the series about meeting Franz Kafka in Prague. It was very surprising how easily and humorously the authors approached the absurdity and despair of Kafkaism. But the series succeeded. Kafka helps young Indy deal with the bureaucratic machine, and it looks both funny and... a little bit Kafkaesque.
Unfortunately, the series turned out to be too expensive - only 28 of the 70 planned episodes were filmed. They were later re-edited into 22 one-and-a-half-hour episodes.
Lucas had planned to show how Indiana's friendship with Belloc and the Ravenwood family began, but he didn't have time. Instead, he managed to introduce the teenagers to art history, politics, and, of course, archeology.
In addition, 93-year-old Indiana with an eye patch appears in the series as a narrator. It turns out that somewhere between 1938 and 1993 he had another adventure. But this is another story.
Games with Indiana Jones
It would seem that the world of Indiana Jones is begging to be a video game. And developers have tried. However, out of 18 games released with the name of an adventurous architect in the title, only a few are really worthy of attention.
First of all, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, released in 1992. This is a good quest from LucasArts set in 1939 and probably the best game (at least as of December 8, 2024) where the main character is named Indiana Jones.
Indy and psychic Sophie search for Atlantis before the Nazis do. Three different paths: "Team (with Sophie), Solo (classic adventures), and Fists (more fights). Each path has unique locations and puzzles. The atmosphere, humor, and puzzles are all top-notch. The game is still considered one of the best point-and-click adventures in history.
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (2003) is a prequel to Temple of Doom with the best combat system in the series. Indy can use anything that comes to hand: chairs, sticks, bottles. The fights look like something out of a movie - dirty, impromptu, with lots of bruises. The story of the search for a magical pearl leads through Ceylon, Prague, Istanbul and Hong Kong. There are dragons, Nazis, and the first meeting with Wu Han. The game is quite exciting, but not without its drawbacks, such as poor controls and monotony of tasks.
The Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure (1989) is another interesting point-and-click game with an "Indie quotient" system - points for style and ingenuity. You can go through the scenes in different ways: fighting, cunning, or talking. For example, you can pick a lock, blow it up, or find a key. Each method affects the Indy authenticity rating. A good and not the easiest game.
We can also mention Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985), the first arcade game to use Harrison Ford's voice and John Williams' music. It was simple but atmospheric. Players still remember it fondly - it was the first to make them feel like Indiana Jones.
We should also mention a rather successful experiment - LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (2008). This game managed to combine the atmosphere of LEGO games with the iconic moments and levels of Indiana Jones almost perfectly. The storyline covers the events of the first three movies and allows players to create vehicles and characters. With over 80 playable characters, this game is a real treat for fans of the franchise. But LEGO is LEGO - and while the game captures the humor and creativity, it is still a bit "childish" for many adult Indiana Jones fans.
Indiana's gaming descendants
We have high hopes for the new Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Perhaps it will embody what a true game about an adventurous archaeologist deserves. What all the games in the series lacked was the spirit of adventure that makes it impossible to tear yourself away from it. I want to believe that it will be so.
Interestingly, the best "Indiana Jones games", according to many gamers, are the games of the Uncharted series by Naughty Dog. Yes, the hero is completely different, the setting is more modern, but it is there that everything that an adventurer-explorer's adventures should be embodied: vivid travels to exotic locations, exciting action, intriguing puzzles, and poignant plot points. And all with excellent gameplay and controls. In short, these games are like real adventures. Just like with the Indiana movies.
Tomb Raider is also worth mentioning. Lara Croft's adventures, although borrowing many features from Indiana Jones, shift the focus from classic adventuring to elements of survival, self-overcoming, and adaptation to harsh conditions. Clashes with nature, one's own fears, and enemies create a unique experience that at the same time preserves the spirit of archaeological adventure.
If Indiana Jones and the Great Circle successfully combines what we love about Uncharted and Tomb Raider and adds its own unique charm, we have a chance to get a game that honors the name of Indiana Jones. After all, who said that legends should live only on the big screen?
P.S. Our review of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is already here.