If Jeffrey Boam set out to add character development to Indiana Jones then he most certainly did that. The first scene of the Last Crusade is layered with moments that explains all of Indiana’s character traits that exist in the other films.
The first scene shows that Indie wasn't always afraid of snakes, it was something that he developed. When Indie and his friend are watching the treasure hunters his friend is scared by a snake. To get rid of it young Indie grabs the snake and says something along the lines of it is just a snake. This establishes that Indie does not yet have his fear of snakes as he does in Raiders. While running from the treasure hunters on the train Indie falls into a crate of snakes. The camera proximity becomes much tighter so we can see Indie’s horrified expression. We can only assume that at this point Indie’s fear is developed and why later on in life Indie no longer says “it is just a snake” but “I hate snakes.”
In the opening scene Boam also establishes how Indie developed his whip toting style. While running away from the treasure hunters on the train, Indie finds himself trapped in a lion cage. His only defense is a lion tamer’s whip on the wall. This iconic moment of Indie using a whip for the first times establishes why it becomes one of his weapons of choice on his future adventures.
In Raiders when Indie is about to ride after the Nazis and try to get the arc back Sallah inquires as to how Indie plans to get the Arc back to which Indie replies, “I don't know, I'm making this up as I go.” This quote embodies Indie’s impulsive die-hard mannerism that recur multiple times through out the three films. We first see this style of problem solving start to develop in Indie when as young Indie he is asked how he plans to get away with the Cross of Coronado to which he replies, “I don't know, I'm making this up as I go.”
Even Indiana’s wardrobe is based on this opening scene from the Last Crusade. Through out all three films Indie’s classic look is a fedora/cowboy hat accompanied with a leather jacket. In the very last seconds of the opening scene, the veteran treasure hunter gives young Indie his iconic hat and instill within his never give up mentality: “You lost today, kid. But that doesn't mean you have to like it.”
The hat wasn't the only article of clothing Indie absorbed into his own wardrobe collection when compared side by side to Indie it obvious how much of Indie’s style was affected by this man. Hat, light button down, leather jacket, brown pants, they could switch outfits and we would be none the wiser.
Smith - Last Crusade Comment
ReplyDeleteFirst off, your use of pictures to describe and depict each scene of that was important added a nice touch. I liked your short but sweet descriptions of each and scene and especially the last side-by-side analysis. You are missing a supporting quotation from Pfeiffer, which I think would have helped support and expand on your analysis. I felt as though you did more summary than analysis. For every picture you only gave a brief description of why it was important, and I would have liked to know more detail like we discussed in class about the significance of the Knight’s journey and what these scenes meant in relation.
I have watched Indiana Jones many times and until now never realized that the cut the whip gave him in the lion’s den was what caused the scar on his chin. I realized in class when it was discussed but that specific detail really altered my viewing because there were still details that I could pick up. In relation to the treasure hunter that Indiana found in the cave, he does have almost identical clothing. “Hat, light button down, leather jacket, brown pants, they could switch outfits and we would be none the wiser.” This statement made me laugh because it was so true. The point about the impulsive die-hard mannerism that occurs in all of the movies and that is represented on the train scene was well thought out and gave us one of the most iconic quotes in the trilogy, “You lost today, kid, But that doesn’t mean you have to like it.”
I agree with your analysis of the first scene and how it displays, in an almost obviously calculated way, how Indiana Jones became the man he is. I think this scene is so significant and necessary because the audience needs to see that Indiana Jones is not just a character who happens to be the way he is for the purpose of the stories he’s involved in. He needs to be a real person who was shaped a certain way by specific events and happens to be involved in the stories we see him in. He needs to exist outside of the story.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about how he will change as an independent person as a result of the stories we’ve seen him in and what kind of effect the experiences we’ve witnessed have had on the man we’ve seen. If you ask me, such is the wonder of a writer’s decisions, such possibilities are boundless – an independent character can form in any way a writer so chooses as long as some type of pattern is devised. This is what I think we’re seeing in this first seen you’ve described. I wonder what other instances like this scene can be pointed out in the film.
I agree with your blog that Indiana character development was explained and explored through the first couple of scenes of "last crusade". This movie and scene really put into perspective why Indiana acts in certain ways throughout the three movies allowing the audience to be come more connected with his actions and reasonings for doing such.
ReplyDeleteThe movie is set out to explain Indiana's outlook on the world which is set in place by the resentment shown towards him by his father in return he began to search for something to cope with these feelings. In this blog you showed how the pieces of his wardrobe became significant throughout the first three movies. Indiana's wardrobe is every important in character development and the movies success and popularity. The outfit has become iconic over the years!