Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay)
George Lucas (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

Indiana Jones - the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS.

Plot:

Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Ark Of The Covenant | Indiana Jones | Escape | Archeologist

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Indiana Jones
Karen Allen	...	Marion
Paul Freeman	...	Belloq
Ronald Lacey	...	Toht
John Rhys-Davies	...	Sallah
Denholm Elliott	...	Brody
Alfred Molina	...	Satipo
Wolf Kahler	...	Dietrich
Anthony Higgins	...	Gobler
Vic Tablian	...	Barranca / Monkey Man
Don Fellows	...	Col. Musgrove
William Hootkins	...	Major Eaton
Bill Reimbold	...	Bureaucrat
Fred Sorenson	...	Jock
Patrick Durkin	...	Australian Climber
Matthew Scurfield	...	2nd. Nazi
Malcolm Weaver	...	Ratty Nepalese (as Malcom Weaver)
Sonny Caldinez	...	Mean Mongolian
Anthony Chinn	...	Mohan
Pat Roach	...	Giant Sherpa / 1st Mechanic
Christopher Frederick	...	Otto
Tutte Lemkow	...	Imam
Ishaq Bux	...	Omar
Kiran Shah	...	Abu
Souad Messaoudi	...	Fayah
Terry Richards	...	Arab Swordsman
Steve Hanson	...	German Agent
Frank Marshall	...	Pilot
Martin Kreidt	...	Young Soldier
George Harris	...	Katanga
Eddie Tagoe	...	Messenger Pirate
John Rees	...	Sergeant
Tony Vogel	...	Tall Captain
Ted Grossman	...	Peruvian Porter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Darin Chambers	...	Nazi Supporter (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	...	German Soldier (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	German (uncredited)
Nick Gillard	...	German Soldier (uncredited)
Romo Gorrara	...	German Soldier (uncredited)
Barrie Holland	...	Archivist (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	...	Driver of German Truck (uncredited)
Dennis Muren	...	Nazi Spy on the Airplane (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr.	...	Flying Wing Mechanic (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	...	German Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits
Lawrence Kasdan		(screenplay)
George Lucas		(story) and
Philip Kaufman		(story)

Produced by
Howard G. Kazanjian	....	executive producer (as Howard Kazanjian)
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	producer
Robert Watts	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Williams		(music)

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Kahn
George Lucas		(uncredited)

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Norman Reynolds

Art Direction by
Leslie Dilley

Set Decoration by
Michael Ford

Costume Design by
Deborah Nadoolman

Makeup Department
Mike Lockey	....	hairdresser
Patricia McDermott	....	chief hairdresser
Dickie Mills	....	make-up artist
Tom Smith	....	key make-up artist
Chris Walas	....	special makeup effects: ILM (as Christopher Walas)
Jim Gillespie	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Patricia Carr	....	assistant production manager
Mohamed Ali Cherif	....	production supervisor: Tunisia
Dorothy Marchini	....	production manager: France
Hassine Soufi	....	production manager: Tunisia
Douglas Twiddy	....	production supervisor
Robert Watts	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Button	....	second assistant director
Patrick Cadell	....	second assistant director
Louis G. Friedman	....	second assistant director: Peru/Hawaii
Carlos Gil	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Carlos Gill)
Michael Hook	....	second assistant director: second unit
Vincent Joliet	....	first assistant director: France
Naceur Ktari	....	first assistant director: Tunisia
Michael D. Moore	....	second unit director (as Michael Moore)
David Tomblin	....	first assistant director
Frank Marshall	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Julian Wall	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Frank Bruton	....	property master
Roy Carnon	....	sketch artist
Sharon Cartwright	....	art department assistant
Kenneth Clarke	....	supervising plasterer (as Kenneth Clark)
Ron Cobb	....	production artist
Ken Court	....	assistant art director
George Djurkovic	....	draftsman
John Fenner	....	assistant art director
Andrew Garnet-Lawson	....	scenic artist
George Gunning	....	assistant construction manager
Peter Hancock	....	property master: Tunisia
Fred Hole	....	assistant art director
Michael Lamont	....	assistant art director
Michael Lloyd	....	production artist
David Lusby	....	chief buyer
Dave Middleton	....	construction storeman
David J. Negron	....	sketch artist (as David Negron)
Bert Rodwell	....	head plasterer
Eric Shirtcliffe	....	master painter
Keith Short	....	modeller
Hassen Soufi	....	assistant art director: Tunisia
Charles Torbett	....	property supervisor
Ed Verreaux	....	production illustrator
Bob Walker	....	decor and lettering artist
Bill Welch	....	construction manager
Andy Aitken	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Taieb Jallouli	....	property buyer: Tunisia (uncredited)
Paul James	....	plasterer stand-by (uncredited)
Dave Midson	....	dressing prop (uncredited)
Kent State	....	art department (uncredited)
Dave Stevens	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
William Stout	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound effects editor
Ben Burtt	....	sound designer
Roy Charman	....	production sound
John Dunn	....	foley editor
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound effects editor (as Steve H. Flick)
Peter Grives	....	apprentice sound editor
Howie Hammerman	....	recording technician
Gregg Landaker	....	re-recording
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound effects editor (as Mark Mangini)
Steve Maslow	....	re-recording
Andrew Patterson	....	dialogue editor (as Andy Patterson)
George Rice	....	production maintenance
John Salter	....	sound boom operator
Curt Schulkey	....	supervising dialogue editor
Gary Summers	....	sound effects recordist
Bill Varney	....	re-recording
Eric Whitfield	....	assistant dialogue editor
Alan Howarth	....	special sound effects (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Condon	....	special effects electrician
Roy Coombes	....	special effects carpenter
Peter Dawson	....	senior effects technician
Yves De Bono	....	special effects welder
Rodney Fuller	....	effects technician
Ken Gittens	....	effects assistant
Terry Glass	....	effects engineering
Ray Hanson	....	effects assistant
Trevor Neighbour	....	effects technician
Terry Schubert	....	effects technician
Bill Warrington	....	special effects equipment supervisor
Kit West	....	mechanical effects supervisor
Michael Dawson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Amundson	....	assistant effects editor: ILM
Charles Bailey	....	model maker: ILM (as Charlie Bailey)
Craig Barron	....	matte photography assistant: ILM
William Beck	....	stage technician: ILM
David Berry	....	optical printer operator: ILM
Patricia Blau	....	production coordinator: ILM
Mike Bolles	....	design engineer: ILM
Marty Brenneis	....	electronics engineer: ILM
Kris Brown	....	computer engineering: ILM
Conrad Buff IV	....	visual effects editorial supervisor: ILM (as Conrad Buff)
Laura Buff	....	production accountant: ILM (as Laura Kaysen)
Scott Caple	....	animator: ILM
Melissa Cargill	....	electronics technician: ILM
Wade Childress	....	special projects: ILM
Terry Chostner	....	still photographer: ILM
Samuel Comstock	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Dick Dova	....	stage technician: ILM
Don Dow	....	camera operator: ILM
Loring Doyle	....	animator: ILM
Duwayne Dunham	....	assistant film editor: ILM
Richard Edlund	....	visual effects supervisor
Judy Elkins	....	animator: ILM
John Ellis	....	optical printer operator
Chrissie England	....	administration assistant: ILM
Bob Finley III	....	stage technician: ILM (as Bobby Finley III)
Pat Fitzsimmons	....	stage technician: ILM (as Patrick Fitzsimmons)
Warren Franklin	....	optical line-up: ILM
Deitrich Friesen	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Michael Fulmer	....	model maker: ILM (as Mike Fulmer)
Steve Gawley	....	model maker: ILM
Tim Geideman	....	laboratory technician: ILM
Miki Herman	....	production associate: ILM
Edward Hirsh	....	stage technician: ILM
Paul Huston	....	model maker: ILM
Jerry Jeffress	....	electronic systems designer: ILM
Joe Johnston	....	art director: visual effects, ILM
Ed Jones	....	laboratory technician: ILM
David Kakita	....	production accountant: ILM
Sylvia Keulen	....	animator: ILM
Kim Knowlton	....	animator: ILM
Neil Krepela	....	matte photography: ILM
Shirley Lee	....	production accountant: ILM
Gary Leo	....	electronics engineer: ILM
Mike MacKenzie	....	electronics engineer: ILM (as Mike Mackenzie)
Alan Maley	....	matte painting supervisor: ILM
Scott Marshall	....	animator: ILM
Cristi McCarthy	....	electronics technician: ILM
Roberto McGrath	....	still lab technician: ILM
John McLeod	....	stage technician: ILM
Ralph McQuarrie	....	illustrator: ILM
Ted Moehnke	....	supervising stage technician: ILM (as T.E. Moehnke)
Thaine Morris	....	pyrotechnician: ILM
Duncan Myers	....	laboratory technician: ILM
Bill Neil	....	camera operator: ILM
Bruce Nicholson	....	optical photography supervisor: ILM
Kerry Nordquist	....	still lab technician: ILM
Ease Owyeung	....	model maker: ILM
Clint Palmer	....	assistant cameraman: ILM
Udo Pampel	....	machinist: ILM
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist: ILM
Lorne Peterson	....	modelshop foreman: ILM
Gary Platek	....	cloud effects: ILM
Bruce Richardson	....	model maker: ILM
Nilo Rodis-Jamero	....	assistant art director: ILM
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Wesley Seeds	....	model maker: ILM
Kenneth Smith	....	optical printer operator: ILM
Thomas G. Smith	....	production supervisor: ILM (as Thomas Smith)
Howard Stein	....	assistant effects editor: ILM
Peter Stolz	....	stage technician: ILM
Marc Thorpe	....	model maker: ILM
John T. Van Vliet	....	animator: ILM (as John van Vliet)
Mark Vargo	....	optical line-up: ILM
Jim Veilleux	....	effects cameraman: ILM
Laurie Vermont	....	production coordinator: ILM
Gary Waller	....	animator: ILM (as Garry Waller)
Gene Whiteman	....	equipment engineering supervisor: ILM
Bess Wiley	....	electronics technician: ILM (as Bessie Wiley)
Samuel Zolltheis	....	model maker: ILM (as Sam Zolltheis)
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor (restored version) (uncredited)
Beth D'Amato	....	digital paint and roto lead (restored version) (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts
Peter Brace	....	stunts
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts
Peter Diamond	....	stunt arranger
Romo Gorrara	....	stunts (as Romo Garrara)
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Wendy Leech	....	stunts (as Wendy Leach)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts
Sergio Mioni	....	stunts (as Sergio Mione)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (as Glenn Randall)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Chuck Waters	....	stunts
Bill Weston	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt double: Mr. Ford/Indiana Jones double #1 (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Martin Grace	....	stunt double: Indiana Jones #3 (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wendy Leech	....	stunt double: Karen Allen (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunt double: Indiana Jones #2 (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Beeson	....	additional photography
Alan Brady	....	gaffer: Peru/Hawaii
Wally Byatt	....	operating cameraman: second unit
Albert Clark	....	still photographer
Jerry Dunkley	....	operating cameraman: second unit (as Gerry Dunkley)
Martin Evans	....	gaffer
Jim Kane	....	dolly grip: second unit
Red Lawrence	....	head rigger
Colin Manning	....	dolly grip
Eamonn O'Keeffe	....	second assistant cameraman: second unit
Danny Shelmerdine	....	second assistant cameraman
Chris Tanner	....	assistant cameraman: second unit
Robin Vidgeon	....	assistant cameraman
Chic Waterson	....	operating cameraman
David Worley	....	operating cameraman: second unit
Wick Finch	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ronnie Herschman	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bruce Hill	....	ultra high speed photography (uncredited)
Paul Kenward	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Ray Meehan	....	best boy (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ian Hickinbotham	....	wardrobe assistant
Sue Wain	....	wardrobe assistant
Rita Wakely	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Bruce Green	....	assistant film editor
Bob McMillian	....	color timer (as Robert McMillian)
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
Phil Sanderson	....	assistant film editor
Colin Wilson	....	assistant film editor
Julie Kahn Zunder	....	apprentice film editor

Music Department
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrations
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recording
Kenneth Wannberg	....	supervising music editor
Tommy Johnson	....	musician: tuba (uncredited)
Lionel Newman	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Frank Welker	....	special vocal effects (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Harry Ueshiro	....	transportation captain: Peru/Hawaii

Other crew
Simon Atherton	....	armorer
Abdelkrim Baccar	....	location manager: Tunisia
Jane Bay	....	assistant: Mr. Lucas
Tarak Ben Ammar	....	production coordinator: Tunisia
Arthur Carroll	....	production accountant
Gilly Case	....	production assistant (as Gill Case)
Martin Casella	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg (as Marty Casella)
Habib Chaari	....	loaction manager: Tunisia
Junior Charles	....	production assistant: France
Bryan Coates	....	location manager
Michael Culling	....	animal handler
Jack Dearlove	....	stand-in: Mr. Ford
Jed Edge	....	animal handler
Steve Edge	....	animal handler
Deborah Fine	....	research
Barbara Harley	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Felicity Hodder	....	doctor (as Dr. Felicity Hodder)
Maggie Jones	....	continuity: second unit
Laura Kenmore	....	assistant: Mr. Kazanjian
Kathleen Kennedy	....	associate to Mr. Spielberg
Michael Larkins	....	assistant accountant
Pamela Mann	....	continuity
Hassam Moossun	....	doctor: second unit (as Dr. Hassam Moossun)
Dan Nichols	....	production coordinator: Peru/Hawaii
Daniel Parker	....	production assistant
Stefano Priori	....	location accountant
Stella Quef	....	accountant: France
Bonne Radford	....	accountant: Peru/Hawaii
Derek Robbins	....	unit publicist
Patty Rumph	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Maile Semitokol	....	location manager: Peru/Hawaii
Ridha Turki	....	accountant: Tunisia (as Ridna Turki)
Jim Steranko	....	original illustrations (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Lucasfilm

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corp. (1981) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1982) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Phillips (1996) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (Spain) (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD) (Trilogy Box Set)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (????) (Russia) (VHS)
• TV Asahi (2008) (Japan) (TV)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects produced at)

Other Companies

• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies (uncredited)
• Bruce Hill Productions  ultra high speed camera
• CBS Records  original soundtrack album on
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Concord Records  soundtrack (2008)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• Lowry Digital Images  digital restoration (2003 re-release)
• MGM Optical  additional optical effects
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording (uncredited)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles
• Modern Film Effects  additional optical effects
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering (uncredited)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  appreciation for their co-operation

Also Known As:

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (South Africa: English title) (DVD box title) (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Hebrew | Spanish | Arabic | Nepali

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:PG (edited for re-rating) (certificate #26345) | USA:R (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Italy:T | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Israel:PG | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2004) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | West Germany:16 | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Three different stunt men were used to double for Harrison Ford: Vic Armstrong when riding the horse; Martin Grace at the falling statue and Terry Leonard when pulled behind the truck.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Belloq begins to raise the gold idol in a long shot, the idol has several cobwebs stuck to it. In the next shot, a close-up, the cobwebs are gone.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Satipo: [picking up poison dart] The Hovitos are near. The poison is still fresh, three days. They're following us.
Barranca: If they knew we were here, they would've killed us already.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Music of 'Indiana Jones' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

A British Tar

Ba-De-Da, Ba-De-Da-De-Daaaa, Ba-De-Da, Ba-De-Da-De-Da

If you've seen this movie and heard the score, then my one line summary won't read like a mating call for sheep, but rather the absolutely exhilarating "Raider's March" which stirs my blood and makes me think of an unforgettable hero, Indiana Jones. If not, see it now.

I love going to movies. I always have. I remember when this film came out. My friends had seen it before I had. They boasted it was great, the best film ever. Some even said it was better than Star Wars (utter blasphemy to a devout 10 year old Jedi-wannabe). I thought no way is this film better than Star Wars, but I was still curious and began the begging of my father to take me.

When I was young, almost all of the films that I had seen, I saw with my Dad. He would take me and my mother would stay at home with my siblings. We saw a number of films that failed to generate a reaction with him as they did with me, but this one was different. This one, my Dad might've enjoyed just as much.

Who can forget the scene where Indy faces bandits in the marketplace, fighting swords with his wits and fists, only to be finally challenged by a dark robed adversary brandishing a heavy, dismembering type of sabre as he swings the impressive blade about his head menacingly?

Indiana looks his opponent up and down briefly and draws his pistol casually and shoots the villain dead as if his patience had been tested a moment longer than he could tolerate.

My father, and the entire audience for that matter, laughed and cheered at this incredible scene. And it was the first time I'd actually been aware of his enjoyment of the film. Usually I'm so transfixed that I wouldn't notice if my legs were on fire. He enjoyed it so much, that he still tends to bring up that scene, even today.

My father and I shared a great moment in movie history, and I will never forget it for as long as I live. I will always be grateful for the time we spent together and the films that I otherwise would have been unable to see without him taking me.

Just a side note about the scene I've described above. It wasn't meant to go that way at all. As Steven Spielberg explained in a television interview, the scene was meant to have an elaborate fight sequence, but Harrison Ford was suffering from diarrhea and couldn't go through with the elaborate set-up required. Someone said, "the only way we can finish this scene today is if he shoots him". Steven said, "Wait a minute, we might have something there."

As for where it ranks with Star Wars, it's hard for me to say, so I won't. Star Wars was the first film I ever saw, and there's a story in that as well. Thanks again, Dad.