Steven Spielberg’s Funniest Second in Indiana Jones Wasn’t Even Deliberate


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  • Steven Spielberg’s movies have many humorous scenes, with iconic moments that make audiences snigger.
  • The introduction of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Misplaced Ark completely units the tone for the movie as a enjoyable, thrilling journey.
  • The well-known sword versus gun scene was initially unplanned, ensuing from Harrison Ford’s sickness, making it even funnier looking back.


Steven Spielberg has been working in Hollywood for 50+ years and remains to be going robust. Spielberg’s movies have made a whopping $10.7 billion worldwide. From Jaws to Jurassic Park to Schindler’s Record, and the newer The Fablemans, Spielberg succeeds by making his audiences really feel deeply. He can scare us with sharks and dinosaurs and alien invasions. He could make us cry with a narrative a couple of misplaced little alien or a heroic man through the Holocaust. And irrespective of how critical the film, he at all times finds a strategy to make us snigger. Steven Spielberg’s funniest film second, nonetheless, wasn’t even deliberate. In Raiders of the Misplaced Ark, a nasty day for Harrison Ford resulted within the traditional sword versus gun scene. In case you thought it was humorous by itself, wait till you uncover its backstory.

Steven Spielberg’s Movies Have Many Humorous Scenes

E.T. gets drunk in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
Picture through Common Photos

Ask somebody what their favourite humorous second from a Steven Spielberg film is and you are going to get quite a lot of solutions. There are simply too many traditional movies to select from. One common alternative could be the scene the place E.T. in E.T. the Further-Terrestrial places on a flannel shirt and will get wasted on beer whereas Elliott (Henry Thomas) is at college, just for Elliott to really feel that drunkenness from miles away. A brief legged alien stumbling round like a pathetic human is absurdly hilarious. Jurassic Park retains us on the sting of our seats, however Jeff Goldblum‘s Dr. Ian Malcolm is at all times there with a one-liner for a second of levity that does not diminish the worry, however fairly offers us an opportunity to breathe and launch the strain.

A newer humorous second for Spielberg got here throughout 2018’s Prepared Participant One. Amongst a chaotic struggle scene, the place our minds are being overwhelmed by the immense nostalgia of characters from our youth showing on-screen, in comes Chucky from the Kid’s Play movies. As he flies by means of the air, knife in hand, a sufferer can solely yell, “It is fucking Chucky.” For essentially the most constant laughs although, it is the Indiana Jones movies, particularly the unique trilogy, the place the chuckles fly quick, as Indy’s smart-ass, cocky charisma is the proper counter for any horrible state of affairs he finds himself in. One humorous second, in Indiana Jones and the Final Campaign, has the tables turned, as he is unable to impress his father (Sean Connery), however Spielberg’s finest and most iconic humorous second comes initially of the franchise, in 1981’s Raiders of the Misplaced Ark.

This ‘Raiders of the Misplaced Ark’ Scene Completely Launched Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones faces off with a villain holding a sword in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
Picture through Paramount Photos

In 1981, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford had been two of the kings of Hollywood. Spielberg had dominated the 70s, because of the unique summer time blockbuster, Jaws, and Shut Encounters of the Third Variety. In the meantime, Harrison Ford had spent the previous couple of years taking part in some man named Han Solo in a few Stars Wars movies. To place these two collectively, with a narrative written by George Lucas, was an ideal grouping on the good time.

In 1981, nonetheless, nobody knew who Indiana Jones was. That first movie does not even have his title within the title. Whereas it regarded like an old-school, enjoyable serial movie, that did not imply it was. It might have been darkish and critical so far as any unsuspecting viewers knew (Temple of Doom would go a bit darkish, bringing within the PG-13 period). It took one scene to inform us a lot in only some seconds. In it, we discovered who Indiana Jones was, and what the tone of this unique movie was going to be.

Raiders of the Misplaced Ark is about in 1936, with Indiana Jones as an American archeologist in Egypt making an attempt to beat the Nazis to find the Ark of the Covenant. One early scene has Indy and Marion (Karen Allen) on the run from dozens of unhealthy guys within the metropolis. It is a thrilling scene, with Indiana Jones throwing punches and breaking out his trusted whip as he helps Marion escape to security. He manages to carry off a number of males till he will get to a crowded avenue, the place abruptly the individuals half. Standing in Indy’s path is a tall, menacing man dressed all in black. In his hand, he holds a large sword. The person laughs and tosses the sword from hand handy. He is prepared for battle and so are we. Indy stands along with his whip at his facet, but it surely’s he who seems to be whipped. His face is sweaty, exhibiting his exhaustion. He grimaces, after which… he pulls out his gun and shoots the swordsman useless. After that, he merely turns away. It is the funniest second as a result of it is so surprising. Spielberg has set us up, giving us an expectation of an epic struggle, then turning it on its head. The second tells us a lot. Indiana Jones is a courageous man, however he is additionally no fool. He’ll take the simplest and smartest method out when he can. It additionally tells us that whereas Raiders of the Misplaced Ark goes to be thrilling, we should not take it too significantly. It is meant to be a enjoyable time over anything.

RELATED: ‘Raiders of the Misplaced Ark’: Why the “Indy Does not Matter” Criticism Must Be Put within the Floor

Why Was the ‘Raiders of the Misplaced Ark’ Scene Modified?

Harrison Ford in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
Picture through Paramount Photos

Earlier than you bathe Steven Spielberg or George Lucas with reward for developing with such a telling and humorous scene, you need to comprehend it was by no means meant to occur. The sword versus gun scene wasn’t within the script, and it isn’t one thing Spielberg determined later. It occurred as a result of Harrison Ford was sick. That look on Indy’s face, the place he seems to be so drained and sweaty, isn’t just an adventurer exhausted by the battle, it is an actor making an attempt to not shit his pants.

The extreme struggle scene would possibly solely final a couple of minutes, however with a lot happening, it was going to take a number of days to movie. On the very first day, Harrison Ford bought significantly in poor health. He pushed by means of it, however his vitality, and his capability to actually maintain every little thing in, was sporting down. Raiders of the Misplaced Ark was filmed in Tunisia. Throughout this time, many members of the solid and crew got here down with dysentery. Even the massive film star lead wasn’t immune. In a 2000 interview with Leisure Tonight, Ford talked about how Spielberg had searched the world for the very best swordsman in what was meant to be this large struggle of whip in opposition to blade. “Loads of planning had gone into this struggle,” he added. However Ford was struggling, so in a second of compromise, the actor approached the director. “So I went as much as Steven as quickly as I arrived and I stated, ‘Steven, why do not we simply shoot this son of a bitch?’, and Steven stated, ‘My God, I used to be pondering that too.'”

Therefore, one of many funniest moments in film historical past was born. That Raiders of the Misplaced Ark scene is already humorous by itself, however to then add in the truth that it was created as a result of the star was sick from crapping himself a lot, and it takes it to an entire new degree of hilarity. It is proof that the very best comedy shouldn’t be deliberate, however created from spontaneous moments, even essentially the most disgusting ones.



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