The original idea behind the “And Another Thing” column was to provide a forum for revisiting movies or scenes from movies that I thought were unjustly maligned. The first (and admittedly only) column discussed the dreamy, otherworldly Pegasus/giant vulture chase scene from the original Clash of the Titians. I’d like to adjust the parameters of this column a little if I may, because calling Raiders of the Lost Ark ‘maligned’ is like saying that Americans don’t love baseball or that Lady Gaga projects muted grace.
I watch Raiders probably 2-4 times a year. The Spielberg/Lucas/Ford serial adventure send-up was a staple in my house growing up, as I’m sure it was in many of yours. And while I suffered years of torment as a Star Wars nerd, nobody hates on Indy fans. I couldn’t quite tell you why, but my little brothers are as passionate about these movies as any frothing-at-the-mouth internet fanboys. My brother Jake saw Crystal Skull in the theaters 5 times not because he liked it, but on principle, if only because he wasn’t sure he would ever have a chance to see the ol’ whip and fedora on the big screen again. Even when family relationships are otherwise stressed, Indiana Jones is a window of constant relatability and comradery.
Because that’s not enough to make me head over heals for these movies, my girlfriend and several close friends are nuts for the Jones adventures. Again, woah, really out there, I know. I can, however, point to several defining moments in my adult friendships that revolve around the Indiana Jones movies. During one of my first trips as a young adult, my cohorts and I escaped the Chicago heat into the the Musicbox Theater, watching Raiders on 35mm on the big screen for the first time. Something about the combination of a new city to explore, our recent trip to the ancient artifacts laden Art Institute of Chicago, good company, and the revelation of seeing the Well of Souls towering over my head the way it was meant to be seen… its one of those perfect memories that has burned itself into the tapestry of my life.
Is there any movie that receives as much genuine, universal goodwill as Raiders of the Lost Ark?
Recently, said brother Jake informed me that his roommate Jayson (who designed and HTML’d this very website) had NEVER SEEN A SINGLE INDIANA JONES MOVIE!!!! This is shameful for any sentient being, but this guy is a film major! Come on, man! We set out to correct this glaring movie knowledge gap immediately, and last Monday we plopped down in their movie room and threw Raiders of the Lost Ark on the projector. I don’t know if it was seeing the movie through Jayson’s fresh eyes. I don’t know if it was watching it with my brothers again. I don’t know if it had anything to do with any fresh perspective I may have gained from 2 years of exponentially expedited movie watching. But Raiders hit me harder and fresher than it has in a long time. The characters are simultaneously campy and sincere. The smarmy villains slither across the screen, while still exuding some class and intelligence. The cinematography takes ones breath away. The music alternates between soulful and playful. And if you can think of another movie that jumps from one classic, iconic scene to another as consistently as this does, I’ll eat my hat. Think about the string of scenes that make up the second act of the movie. The chase scene in Cairo, followed by the “bad dates” scene, followed by “they’re digging in the wrong place,” followed by the well of souls, following by the fight on the flying wing airplane, followed by Indy’s horseback chase of the Nazi vehicles carrying the Ark. All in a row. Name me a scene in Raiders that isn’t a classic.
The reason I’m writing this column, however, is not to gush about this movie like I’ve been doing for the last 5 paragraphs. I know it’s good. You know it’s good. Why bother, right? I want to discuss the ending, and I don’t know that I’ve read anybody who’s picked up on what a bizarre twist of convention the third act of Raiders is.
What is the climax of the movie? The famous Ark Ceremony where the Nazi's get their heads exploded and melted? I don't think so; that’s actually more part of the dénouement. Indiana Jones and Marion have already made their beds by this point. Remember that the movie's two protagonists are in fact tied up and immobile for the entire scene. Sure, it may still be the movie's 'climax of spectacle' and of course it tidily disposes of all of the bad guys, but this sequence has very little to do with the main thrust of the plot and themes. The climax is actually the scene before that, where Indy threatens to blow the Ark up with a bazooka. This brief scene is often forgotten, sandwiched as it is between Indiana Jones riding on top of a submarine across the Mediterranean and a bunch of Nazis getting their faces melted off by the Almighty himself. But it's what really matters in the story.
Prior to this scene, the Nazis, along with Jones' arch-rival Belloq, captured Marion and the Ark. They carry the artifact to the site on which they will perform an ancient Jewish ritual to activate the Ark. Indiana Jones, who has been trailing the group, holds them hostage with a bazooka, threatening to blow up the Ark if they don't let Marion go. Belloq calls his bluff, inviting him to blow up the object he's been lusting after for the length of the movie. Jones falters. "No," sighs Belloq, "You want to see the Ark opened as badly as I do." Jones surrenders, leading to the inevitable and infamous face melting.
So what do we learn about Indy during this sequence?
1. Indiana Jones 'loses' to the Nazis. Though he has exhibited his superiority in every test of physical and mental prowess, he fails due to his own lust for the Ark.
2. He cannot bring himself to put his relationship with Marion above his archaeological pursuits. His lust for the Ark is greater than his lust or love for the romantic interest. Not a typical action movie move, huh?
3. Earlier, in Cairo, Belloq accuses Jones of being just like him. Though Jones expresses disgust at Belloq's alliance with the Nazis in order to achieve archaeological success, Belloq posits that if the tables were turned, Jones would gladly sell out if the opportunity presented itself. It wouldn't take much to push him over the edge. In a subtle way, Jones' acquiescence to the Nazis at the climax of the movie goes a long way toward proving Belloq right. Sure, at the ritual Jones doesn't look into the Ark, which I suppose could be interpreted as repentance. However, watch the scene in Washington, D.C. at the very end of the movie again. Indy and Marcus are hungry for a second chance to use the Ark.
A close look at Indy's surrender to the Nazis (and his psychological surrender to Belloq) exposes that by any litmus of measuring Indiana Jones’ success in this movie, he fails. He fails, as he has throughout the movie, to treat Marion as a person rather than as a means to an end. We get a very good idea of why she left him in the first place. He fails to show that he is any different from Belloq. He is so ravenous and obsessive for knowledge of what the Ark holds that he will even go along with this Nazi charade. Indy’s inefficacy and questionable morality here suggest that Belloq judged correctly.
Maybe you don't buy all that stuff. Maybe I'm thinking too hard. It's just a 'fun popcorn movie,' after all. But even in 'popcorn movie' terms, Indy, despite all of his whipping, horse riding, boxing, shooting, and other assorted acts of daring-do, admits defeat at the hands of the Nazis. It literally takes 'God from the machine' to save him in the end. Indiana Jones is a complete and utter failure in Raiders of the Lost Ark, in achievement, in love, and in morality.
What do we make of this? For one thing, placing this downer of an ending after the movie's breathless, action filled second act makes Raiders of the Lost Ark a very unique movie in terms of plot mechanics and act structure. A shockingly long and consistent string of classic action sequences makes up this movie’s second act. This is actually the action 'climax' of the movie, and Indy's most triumphant moments occur here. Anyone who’s taken a creative writing class knows that action must keep rising until the climax at the end of the third act. Instead, Spielberg and co. split the movie's 'climax' into two parts. The kinetic climax occurs in Egypt. This is the stretch of movie that is most remembered and endeared in the hearts of moviegoers. The emotional climax - Indy's surrender - is almost devoid of action, and is really kind of a downer. Indiana Jones can’t do anything right, and the movie ends with him kind of shrugging and throwing up his hands. Furthermore, one wonders if Indiana actually learned any lessons, except that he’s perhaps not as nice of a person as he thinks he is. He’s lost the Ark. He’ll lose Marion, we don’t need Crystal Skull to tell us that; just look at the information as its presented here. The only thing he’s gained is knowledge of how low he’s willing to stoop, how far from the noble pursuits of archeology and knowledge he’s strayed. He’s more grave robber than archaeologist. Belloq knew it. Now he knows it. He’s addicted to the chase, to the bragging rights. Archeology is a pissing contest for Indiana Jones.
Spielberg has his cake and eats it too. Even though this 'double climax' idea is only intuitively, subliminally communicated to most viewers, to me the bleakness of the finale has a lot to do with this movie’s high regard. It 'goes there.' Behind all the snakes and car chases and ‘splosions, Indiana Jones has some serious issues. At first glance, the bad guys and good guys are very clear cut. They're freaking Nazis for goodness sakes. Upon closer inspection, however, they're not very clear cut at all. When you really get down to it, what’s the difference between Belloq and Indy except that Belloq draws the lucky cards?
Raiders suggests a different way to format blockbusters. What if other moviemakers took up the call, and made movies that peak with the big budget action stuff half way through, and ‘finaled’ with scrappier, meaner, darker third acts? It’s food for thought, and could lead to some interesting results.
-Ben
-Ben