Indiana Jones

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Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
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Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones

Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr., also called Indy, is a fictional professor, archaeologist, and adventurer who is the main protagonist of the 1981 adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Portrayed by Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones is noted for his trademark bullwhip, his fedora hat, and his extreme fear of snakes.

Younger versions of the character were also played by River Phoenix (in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), and by Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flanery (in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles). An older version of Jones (at age 93), played by George Hall, also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Indiana Jones is also the general name given to the series as a whole, which comprises three films, a TV series, various novels, comics, video games, and other media. A fourth film has also been announced for a likely 2008 release.

Contents

[edit] Origins

Indiana Jones with his famous bullwhip
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Indiana Jones with his famous bullwhip

Indiana Jones, "Obtainer of Rare Antiquities", is modeled after the strong-jawed heroes of the matinee serials and pulp magazines that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg enjoyed in their childhoods (such as the Republic Pictures serials, and the Doc Savage series). The two friends first discussed the project while in Hawaii during the time of release of the first Star Wars film. Spielberg told Lucas how he wanted to direct a James Bond film. Lucas responded that he had something better than that.

Spielberg wanted Indiana to be a James Bond-like figure that got into difficult situations and worked his way out. George Lucas obtained the services of comic book artist Jim Steranko to design the actual character of Indiana Jones - Steranko presented a number of paintings, which were very faithfully followed by the costume and set designers.

Upon requests by Spielberg and Lucas the costume designer was given the task to make the character have a distinctive recognizable silhouette through the style of the hat (much like Dick Tracy). After examining many hats, the designers chose a tall crown hat with a very wide brim, which according to the costumer Deborah Nadoolman was their Australian model. The original fedora for the movie trilogy was constructed by Mr. Swales of Herbert Johnson Hatters in London, England. Although multiple hats were used throughout the movies, the distinctive profile of the fedoras remained the same. Today, the collection of props and clothing from the films, especially the fedora, has become a subculture/hobby for aficionados of the Indiana Jones franchise. Other elements of the outfit include the jacket; the bag, which was a modified World War II gas mask bag; and the whip.

Indy's revolver is usually a World War I era revolver, which changes between the movies. The most famous Indy gun is the Webley Mk VI, which he used in the latest movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the first movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana carried a .45 ACP Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector 2nd model revolver and a M1917 revolver. He also had a 9mm Browning Hi-Power tucked under his belt in Raiders.[1]

Tom Selleck was the first choice for the role, but he could not get out of his television series commitment (to Magnum, P.I.) and Spielberg suggested Harrison Ford. Lucas resisted the idea initially since he had already cast the actor in three of his movies (American Graffiti, and the first two installments of the Star Wars series). He did not want Ford to be known as his "Bobby DeNiro", in reference to the fact that Martin Scorsese kept casting that actor in his films. Upon auditioning many other actors, Lucas finally had to admit he needed someone like Ford, a rough, chiseled, flawed hero with a subtle sense of humor, and being that Selleck was not available, he finally broke down and agreed on Ford.

The character was originally named Indiana Smith, but Spielberg disliked the name and Lucas casually suggested "Indiana Jones". The name was thus changed early in the production of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The origin of the name "Indiana" is the same in the real world as in the fiction: It was the name of an Alaskan malamute Lucas had in the 1970s (the same dog was also the inspiration for Chewbacca). His name is also said to be derived from the character "Nevada Smith," played by Steve McQueen in the 1966 film of the same name.

Spielberg has also cited the adventures of the Belgian comic character Tintin by Hergé as important inspiration for the style and atmosphere of the adventures of Indiana Jones.

[edit] Models

Many people have been called the real-life inspiration of the Indiana Jones character. In alphabetical order by last name:

[edit] Appearances

Main article: List of Indiana Jones appearances

Since his introduction in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, the character of Indiana Jones has become a cultural icon for adventure. His popularity has allowed him to make appearances in two more feature films, a three-season TV series, dozens of novels, comic books, and video games, and even his own amusement park ride.

The popular trilogy of theatrical films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, were made from 1981–1989, created by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg. The series starred Harrison Ford as Jones.

The television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, aired from 1992 to 1996, with the 17-year-old Indy played by Sean Patrick Flanery, 93-year-old Indy by George Hall, and 10-year-old Indy by Corey Carrier. This inspired a number of made-for-TV and made-for-video movies featuring Flanery as young Indy. One of the last Young Indiana Jones TV movies featured a cameo appearance by Harrison Ford, reprising the role of Indy as a man in his 50s. The show ran for 44 episodes, with each pairing of episodes forming a feature-length TV film. The stories spanned from Indy’s childhood travels with his father (who was on, what seemed, one continuous Medieval studies lecture tour) to the solo journeys of his youth and even into World War I. Every episode began with a 93-year-old Indy, a grey-haired professor, talking about one of his old childhood adventures.

The upcoming fourth Indiana Jones movie, once again to star Harrison Ford, has been in the planning stages for several years; it is in pre-production and is expected to be filmed in summer 2007 and released in May 2008. According to the IMDB, the new movie may be named "Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time" and is rumored to feature characters from previous movies. Jim Ward, Vice President of Lucasfilm, has said in a recent press conference that a new Indiana Jones video game is expected that same year, around the time of the movie. John Williams has also stated in the DVD's of the Indiana Jones Trilogy and at George Lucas's AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, that he is willing to return and compose the music for the fourth film.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Character biography

When not adventuring, Jones is a respectable professor
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When not adventuring, Jones is a respectable professor

Indiana Jones is born Henry Walden Jones Junior to Scottish-born professor of Medieval literature, Dr. Henry Jones Sr. (played by Lloyd Owen in the TV series and by Sean Connery in the films), and his wife Anna on July 1, 1899, in Princeton, New Jersey. "Junior" accompanies his father on his travels throughout Europe, where he learns to speak, read, and write 27 languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Vietnamese, Swahili, Latin and Chinese, as well as some Hindi, apart from English. Although his father calls him "Junior," Henry Jr. adopts the name of his beloved dog "Indiana" for himself, insisting he be referred to as "Indiana Jones" ("Indy" for short). It is not known for sure when he first does this, except that he is referred to as Indiana during childhood by his peers. During his youth and young adulthood, Jones meets many historical figures who each have a unique impact on his life.

In 1912, as seen in the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy is living in Utah and is a member of the Boy Scouts of America with the rank of Life Scout, as seen on his uniform: a fleur-de-lis, or trefoil, superimposed on a heart. It was here, while attempting to secure the Cross of Coronado from thieves, Indy first learns to use the bullwhip and receives his trademark fedora, as well as the scar on his chin. This is also the time when he first develops his aversion to snakes.

His father wants him to go to Princeton University. He makes a trip in the vacations that ends up in Mexico and is then kidnapped by Mexican revolutionaries. He joins this army of revolutionaries, and plays a part in the Mexican Revolution of 1916, under Pancho Villa. It is here that he also meets his friend Remy, a Belgian. With Remy, he leaves Mexico and travels to Ireland just in time for the Easter Rising. He then travels to England, getting involved with the suffrage movement, and then he and Remy join the Belgian Army. He participates in the Western Front, and is taken prisoner by the Germans, escaping, encounters (and loses his virginity to) Mata Hari eventually making his way to Africa.

Indiana Jones with his father Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. (portrayed by Sir Sean Connery)
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Indiana Jones with his father Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. (portrayed by Sir Sean Connery)

When they arrive in Africa, Jones and Remy are commissioned as lieutenants. Jones' inability to read maps properly causes him to lose his intended unit, and he instead fights alongside a team of old men, collectively known as "The Old and the Bold", the historical 25th Royal Fusiliers under the British Army. Their commander is the historical Frederic Selous, portrayed by Raiders veteran Paul Freeman. Among missions (depicted in the television series), the team destroy a giant cannon mounted on a train, and they kidnap the (real-life) German military genius Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck in a balloon, but they are forced to release him. Also while in Africa, Jones becomes ill, and is treated by Albert Schweitzer.

Jones and Remy are then transferred to the French Army, and Jones works as an intelligence officer, vies with Ernest Hemingway for the affections of a young nurse, and works as a translator for the Treaty of Versailles, seeing the war come to its conclusion but laying down the groundwork for a second conflict. Sometime after the war, Jones returns to the United States, where he studies archaeology at the University of Chicago under Professor Abner Ravenwood. At the same time, he becomes romantically involved with the Professor's daughter Marion.

Dr. Jones abruptly leaves the Ravenwoods in 1926 and does not contact them for 10 years. (The sudden end to his relationship with Marion Ravenwood leads to a deep rift between himself and Abner during this time.) He divides his time between teaching and archaeological expeditions, including a journey to Germany, Turkey, the Republic of China and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1935 where he races the Nazis to a mystical gem called "The Heart of the Dragon" from the ancient tomb of a Chinese emperor (Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb video game). Immediately afterward, he faces the gangster Lao Che and the Thuggee, followers of the cult of Kali (Temple of Doom). He is called to a temple in Asia, where the deity Mara resided, but went missing, worrying the government and his friend Sallah. When guests in a troop transport enter the temple, Indy reveals himself alive again to the world by saving them (Indiana Jones Adventure). In 1936, he is contacted by the United States government to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis (Raiders of the Lost Ark). He continues to take on infrequent missions for the government over the ensuing years. In 1938, Indy rescues his father from the Nazis and becomes embroiled in the search for the Holy Grail (Last Crusade). His life during World War II is unknown, but in 1947 he is deceived by the recently born CIA to search the mechanism of the Babylonian Infernal Machine (Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine video game).

When last seen in 1993, Jones is living in New York City with his daughter and her family (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles). Sporting an eyepatch and cane, he is stopping anyone within earshot to regale them with tales of his exploits. He seems remarkably spry for a man in his 90s—whether that is because of his drinking from the Grail is unknown. It is yet to be chronicled as to what adventure leads Indy to wear an eyepatch.

[edit] Portrayers

[edit] DVD release

[edit] TV films

The DVDs for Chapters 1-22 are expected to be released sometime in 2007, according to a statement by series producer, Rick McCallum of Lucasfilm. The company has already put in two years of work on creating these DVDs, so as to have bonus features for each movie.

McCallum expects there to be 22 Young Indiana Jones Chronicles DVDs in all, 3 of which have been completed. The discs will include some 66 historical featurettes, now in production. Work has been ongoing for about 18 months on the Young Indy DVDs, with about another 18 months worth of work yet to be done. If all goes well, the plan is to tie the DVD release to the theatrical debut of Indy IV.

[edit] Theatrical films

The 2003 DVD release of Chapters 23-25
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The 2003 DVD release of Chapters 23-25

Chapters 23-25 of the Indiana Jones series (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade, respectively) were released on DVD as a boxed set of all three films plus a fourth disc of bonus materials in 2003.

Features

  • Available Subtitles (US edition): English, Spanish, French
  • Available Audio Tracks (US edition): English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Contains all three films in their original format (2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio or in Pan and Scan format), restored and digitally remastered

Bonus disc features

  • A new, feature-length documentary of the making of the trilogy
  • From the Lucasfilm Archives:
    • The Stunts of Indiana Jones
    • The Sound of Indiana Jones
    • The Music of Indiana Jones
    • The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones
  • Original trailers
  • Weblink to exclusive content including dozens of behind-the-scenes photos, an animatic sequence from Raiders and a PC game preview

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.indygear.com/gear/guns.shtml
  2. ^ Preston, Douglas J. (1993). Dinosaurs in the Attic: An Excursion Into the American Museum of Natural History. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-10456-1., pp. 97-8, "Andrews is allegedly the real person that the movie character of Indiana Jones was patterned after... crack shot, fighter of Mongolian brigands, the man who created the metaphor of 'Outer Mongolia' as denoting any exceedingly remote place."
  3. ^ http://www.filmsite.org/raid.html Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
  4. ^ The trail less trampled on in USA Today by Gene Sloan, September 23, 2005: "The iconic mountaintop citadel, discovered less than a century ago by American explorer Hiram Bingham, the inspiration for Indiana Jones, is a thrilling reward after days of exertion."
  5. ^ Lost City of the Incas biographical profile from the United States Senate website
  6. ^ Molly Schranz (January 21, 2003). Obituary: Robert and Linda Braidwood. Chicago Maroon. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.: "Some say he was the real life inspiration for Indiana Jones."
  7. ^ James Walker (2005). Film Claims Disputed; Dig Shut Down: Vendyl Jones' Claims Challenged. The Watchman Expositor. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.: citing Texas Monthly, "Lucas and Spielberg say they've never heard of Vendyl Jones" and the original 1973 script by Lucas predates Vendyl Jones archaeological claims that are the supposed inspiration.
  • Fleurier, Nicolas, James Bond & Indiana Jones. Action figures, Histoire & Collections, 2006.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
The Indiana Jones series
Films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | The Temple of Doom (1984) |The Last Crusade (1989) | Indiana Jones 4 (2008)
Television The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1996)
Theme Park Attractions Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea) | Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril (Disneyland Paris)
Characters Indiana Jones | Willie Scott | Marion Ravenwood | Elsa Schneider
Marcus Brody | Sallah | Short Round | Henry Jones, Sr.
Cast Harrison Ford | Sean Connery | Corey Carrier | Sean Patrick Flanery | George Hall
River Phoenix | John Rhys-Davies | Denholm Elliott
Crew George Lucas | Steven Spielberg | Frank Marshall | John Williams
Indiana Jones games
Action Raiders of the Lost Ark | Temple of Doom
Last Crusade | Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
Adventure Last Crusade | Fate of Atlantis | Iron Phoenix (Cancelled)
Action-adventure Desktop Adventures | Fate of Atlantis
3D action Infernal Machine | Emperor's Tomb
Pinball The Pinball Adventure
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