Many argue thatSteven Spielberg’sRaiders of the Lost Arkis a flawless film. They say it’s perfectly paced, the characters are written with enough depth to connect with them, and it strongly embodies the world it so wants to represent. The thrilling adventures of the archaeologist with grit and skills were depicted in a solid action thriller that featured an American hero fighting Nazis as they intended to experiment a little bit too much with religious artifacts.
Indiana Jones was handsome and romantic and was played by Harrison Ford, one of the ’80s most prominent film stars. Spielberg’s action adventure was based on a concept created byGeorge Lucas, which he thought of after being inspired by the serial films he enjoyed as a child, likeBuck Rogers, a hero in perilous situations from which he always escaped. Barely, but he did.
During their trip to Hawaii, afterStar Warswas released in 1977 and Lucas wanted to avoid any public scrutiny, he pitched the idea to Spielberg. Considering they couldn’t get the rights to do their own version of Flash Gordon,The Adventures of Indiana Smith(the concept’s initial name) was confirmed to be their first project together.
Raiders of the Lost Arkhas been iconic enough for many decades to be featured as themodel adventure film in popular culture. From the hat and whip to that giant boulder chasing after Indy, the motifs are recognizable in every corner of the planet and by just about every resident of it. A whole franchise was built out of it, and Spielberg’s masterclass in building an action hero is still inspiring to filmmakers today. He was able to experiment enough with his visual identity and the aid of modern special effects, resulting in a film that, as exciting as it still is, is also beautifully shot.
There are many interesting facts behind the making of the movie itself. From how Richard Edlund did the melting faces sequence to thememorable stunts, where Indy moves below a moving truck in one scene, and in another faces thousands of snakes in an underground chamber. But one of the film’s iconic scenes involves Indiana Jones and his romantic partner Marion trying to escape German officers in Cairo.
In the middle of the chase, Indy faces another threat, one in the hands of a local who uses a very sharp sword to intimidate the professor. Jones' reaction is extremely funny and a storytelling device that feels like the most clever option taken by the screenwriter, the director, and Ford himself. But there’s actually a very peculiar story about the “gun vs. sword scene,” and here’s what we know about it.
The following article contains minor spoilers for Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
What is Raiders of the Lost Ark about?
It’s the mid-30s, and Indiana Jones has barely escaped from hislatest adventure in Peru. His rival Belloq has taken the Golden Idol that he was able to retrieve from the fallen temple, and Indy’s latest mission has failed. However, government agencies recruit him after finding out German forces are looking for the Ark of the Covenant. Indy accepts, and his next step is going to Nepal to ask Marion Ravenwood, his mentor’s daughter and former lover, for a medallion that’s essential for finding the Ark’s location.
They head off to Egypt, where they’re ambushed, and where the famous “gun vs. sword” scene takes place. Apparently, Marion is killed during the attack, and Indy discovers the Nazis are looking in the wrong place. He finds out where the Ark rests, and, with his friend Sallah, they extract it from the Well of Souls. Unfortunately, Belloq again botches Indy’s mission and takes the Ark.
But the good thing is that Marion is alive. She’s been taken captive by Belloq. Indy and her friends reunite and manage to escape, Ark included. But the Nazis are mighty powerful and again recover the pair and the Ark. This is when Belloq reveals his plan: he will open the casket (which is said to contain the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments) and see what the fuss is all about before delivering it to Adolf Hitler.
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Indiana and Marion are restrained at the site where the ceremony will take place. That night, Belloq, Gestapo agent Arnold Toht, and hundreds of Nazi officers will bear witness to the power of the Ark and will likely repent of their ambition to mess with artifacts that humans should not mess with.
What Does Indiana Jones Do in the “Gun vs. Sword” Scene?
In one of thegreat sequences of the film, Marion and Indy arrive in Cairo and are met by Sallah for what seems like a nice visit to the city, until it’s revealed that someone is spying on them: a local who uses a monkey to infiltrate the group. Right after, Marion and Indy start getting chased by a group of thugs, but also by Nazi spies throughout the commerce hub of Cairo. Indy wields the whip, while Marion uses her wit to hide. But it doesn’t stop there because Indiana can’t find Marion in the middle of the mess.
Indy looks everywhere, and the crowd starts to clear up. Right then and there, in front of a very frustrated Indiana, stands a thug with a huge sword. His black garments stand out from the crowd, representing the major threat to Indy’s mission. The man shows his undeniable talent whipping a sword around menacingly, and the audience gets ready for what will surely be an awesome fight sequence. Viewers gasp in expectation.
But then Indy does the unexpected. A gesture that may be wrongly accused of a lack of courage or bravery. Indy pulls out a gun and simply shoots the man, who falls down defeated, leaving a shocked audience laughing at the surprise.
The True Story Behind the Indiana Jones “Gun vs. Sword” Scene
One of thefranchise’s most iconic scenes, the “gun vs. sword” moment inRaiders of the Lost Ark, has been present in pop culture in the form of gifs and even internet memes. It was a great way to introduce the character’s non-traditional effort and practical style of fighting. This was Indiana Jones in a film whose title didn’t feature his name. Yes, he could use the whip, but he wouldn’t risk himself in inexplicable fights.
In fact, in thefilm’s controversial prequel, which came out four years later, Indy would try to do the same and would find out his gun wasn’t in the holster. Running would be his only option.
But the gun wasn’t originally planned for this fight. It was intended to be a more drawn-out choreographed battle. Considering Spielberg was keen to storyboard everything, the participation of Indy in a swordfight would have been a huge sequence. One that would represent much more effort than what was in the final cut. It would put Indy, using his whip, against the skilled sword-fighter. Of course, it would have been epic.
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The day of the shoot had arrived. The swordsman (British stunt actor Terry Richards) had been training for months. The problem was that the shoot was way past its schedule, and producer Frank Marshall felt the need to intervene somehow. Also, the entire crew was suffering from dysentery, as Tunisia wasn’t exactly friendly in regards to sanitary conditions. Harrison Ford was among those who couldn’t stay away from the toilet for more than a few minutes, and he was feeling especially bad that day.
So when it came time to film the highly choreographed and prepared scene, a spur-of-the-moment decision was made to have Indy just shoot the guy instead. It wasn’t intended to happen that way, and yet it went on to become one of the most iconic Indiana Jones scenes.
Besides, it worked for the story anyway. Putting Indy in a swordfight while Marion was still missing would break the pace of the sequence and change priorities for the archaeologist, whose devotion to the woman is visible throughout the whole franchise. Was it a stroke of luck that Spielberg had to follow a producer’s suggestion and Ford’s stomach? Perhaps, as it remains probably the funniest moment in the Indiana Jones universe and a memorable pop culture moment wherea hero decided to be trueto himself.
For more tidbits about the production of Raiders of the Lost Ark, here’s a great video about fun facts of the best film of the Indy-verse:
