The true story behind a classic ‘Indiana Jones’ scene
As the iconic adventurer famously put it himself, it isn’t about the years. It’s the mileage. However, after starring in five blockbusters across the space of 42 years, it would also be very fair to say that Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones has plenty of both on the clock.
Hardly the most prolific of franchises after constant struggles behind the scenes restricted the archaeology professor to just two big screen outings between 1989 and 2023, Indy’s status as a titan of cinema was arguably secured by the time the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark had even ended.
One of the most unforgettable introductions to any character, within the space of a single sequence, Steven Spielberg and his leading man had established the roguish charm of the title hero, his penchant for acquiring dangerous artefacts, his handiness in a fight, and the movie’s reliance on fast-paced action beats and practical effects. That being said, one of the film’s most memorable moments turned out to be a sight gag.
Stunt performer Terry Richards had been training diligently for months to become a master swordsman in preparation for what was supposed to be a showstopping fight between his sword-wielding assassin and Dr Jones, who was left with little more than his signature whip and two fists to try and survive. In the end, the entire thing ended up having to be scrapped, although it’s not untrue to say the last-minute rewrite turned out to be nothing short of inspired.
Arguably a matter of necessity, the sweltering heat and intense shooting schedule had caused widespread exhaustion among the cast and crew, many of whom were also suffering from dysentery. There were only three days of production left on location in Tunisia, leaving producer Frank Marshall concerned that storyboarding and filming an intense, highly choreographed fight scene wouldn’t be the best use of the limited time they had left.
As he explained to The Hollywood Reporter, it was a combination of fate and circumstance: “We had been shooting in Tunisia in 130 degrees for six weeks, and we had three days left. We were supposed to shoot this huge fight between the whip and the sword,” he said. “It took the whole morning to shoot just three storyboards.”
On a whim, it was suggested that Indy simply pulls out a gun and shoots his would-be opponent, which Marshall agreed was a lifesaver: “After lunch, we did three shots, and we were two days ahead of schedule, and it’s the biggest moment in the movie.” He claims the gun was his idea, but others maintain it was Ford’s, even if it can’t be argued that it was the right decision in the end.
The cast and crew were spared from their ever-worsening fate, Raiders of the Lost Ark secured a magical comedic moment, and the franchise at large was rewarded with one of its best-ever scenes.
