directed by Steven Spielberg
, produced by George Lucas
, and starring Harrison Ford
. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise. It pits Indiana Jones
(Ford) against a group of Nazis
who search for the Ark of the Covenant
because Adolf Hitler
believes it will make their army invincible. The film co-stars Karen Allen
as Indiana's former lover, Marion Ravenwood
; Paul Freeman as Indiana's nemesis, French
archaeologist René Belloq; John Rhys-Davies
as Indiana's sidekick, Sallah
; and Denholm Elliott
as Indiana's colleague, Marcus Brody.
The film originated with Lucas' desire to create a modern version of the serials of the 1930s and 1940s.
[When discovering Jock has a pet-snake] I hate snakes, Jock! I HATE 'EM!
[handing a torch to Marion] Here. Wave it at anything that slithers.
[to Indy] You and I are very much alike. Archeology is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith. Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am a shadowy reflection of you. And it would take only a nudge to make you like me, to push you out of the line.
Look at this. [holds up a silver pocket watch] It's worthless. Ten dollars from a vendor in the street. But I take it, I bury it in the sand for a thousand years, it becomes priceless! Like the Ark. Men will kill for it; men like you and me.
[after trapping Indy in the Well of Souls] You're about to become a permanent addition to this archaeological find. Who knows, in a thousand years, even you may be worth something!
The return of the great adventure.
The creators of JAWS and STAR WARS now bring you the ultimate hero in the ultimate adventure.
A film from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Indiana Jones: the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS.