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The Indiana Jones series is widely regarded as one of the greatest action-adventure franchises ever. Spearheaded by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, the films (along with an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) feature Harrison Ford as the iconic whip-wielding archaeologist embarking on perilous missions to retrieve historic relics. As Ford prepares for his final appearance as Dr. Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, here are 10 fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits about the legendary series.
10. Indiana Jones Shares Several Links with Star Wars
Given George Lucas’s role in both franchises, it’s no shock that Star Wars and Indiana Jones have several connections. While Harrison Ford is the most noticeable link, the ties run much deeper. For example, Lucas’s Alaskan Malamute, Indiana, not only influenced the naming of Dr. Jones but also served as the inspiration for Chewbacca. Lucas revealed that while writing the original Star Wars, Indiana (the dog) would “always sit beside me as I worked. She’d even ride in the front seat during car rides… Her constant presence inspired me to create Han Solo’s loyal, furry companion.”
The Indiana Jones films are also sprinkled with subtle Star Wars references. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), as Indy navigates the Well of Souls, hieroglyphics depicting R2-D2 and C-3PO can be seen on the walls. The nightclub where Willie performs in Temple of Doom (1984) is named Club Obi-Wan. Additionally, in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Indy delivers the classic Star Wars line: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
9. Ford’s Illness Forced a Fight Scene Change in Raiders
During the filming of Raiders of the Lost Ark in Tunisia, which doubled for Egypt, nearly the entire crew, including Harrison Ford, contracted dysentery. In a Reddit AMA, Ford revealed that the iconic moment where Indy shoots the swordsman instead of engaging in a lengthy fight was born out of necessity. He was “struggling with dysentery” and “couldn’t afford to stay away from my trailer for more than 10 minutes at a stretch.”
The scene was initially planned as “an epic showdown between sword and whip.” However, Ford, unwilling to endure two to three days of filming the sequence, suggested to Spielberg, “Why don’t we just shoot him?” Spielberg agreed, replying, “I was thinking the same thing.”
Interestingly, Spielberg avoided falling ill by bringing “a trunk full of canned food” from England to Tunisia. His meals consisted mainly of “Spaghetti-O’s, pork, and beans—whatever was available at Sainsbury’s in England.”
8. Temple of Doom Played a Role in Establishing the PG-13 Rating
Temple of Doom carries a notably darker tone compared to its predecessor, largely influenced by the personal struggles of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Lucas was navigating a divorce, while Spielberg was dealing with a breakup. Reflecting on this period, Lucas shared, “We were in a rough place emotionally, so we leaned into a grittier narrative. It turned out much darker than we anticipated. Once we emerged from our year-long gloom, we realized we had pushed it to the extreme.”
Despite its origins in personal turmoil, the film brought Spielberg a silver lining: meeting his future wife, Kate Capshaw, who portrayed Willie. Spielberg remarked, “From the shadows of Temple of Doom, I stepped into the light with the woman I would marry and build a family with.”
At the time of Temple of Doom’s 1984 release, the PG-13 rating didn’t exist. The Motion Picture Association of America deemed the film unsuitable for an R rating, classifying it as PG instead. This decision sparked outrage among many parents. Similarly, Gremlins, another Spielberg-produced film released shortly after, faced the same classification dilemma.
Spielberg referred to this period as “a perfect storm of films I either directed or produced.” Recognizing that these movies didn’t fit neatly into either PG or R, he reached out to MPAA President Jack Valenti to propose an intermediate rating. “Jack was quick to act, agreeing entirely, and soon after, the PG-13 rating was introduced,” Spielberg recalled.
7. A Celebrated Playwright Contributed Uncredited to The Last Crusade
While George Lucas, Jeffrey Boam, and Menno Meyjes are officially credited as the writers of The Last Crusade (1989), they received significant input from Tom Stoppard, a renowned playwright later knighted for his theatrical contributions. The film delves into Indy’s complex relationship with his estranged father, portrayed by Sean Connery. Spielberg noted, “The story was emotional, but I avoided sentimentality. Their strained bond became a source of humor, and Tom Stoppard, though uncredited, crafted nearly every line of dialogue.”
However, one memorable line wasn’t penned by Stoppard. When Jones Sr. quips that he discovered Elsa Schneider’s Nazi allegiance because “she talks in her sleep,” it was entirely improvised by Connery. Julian Glover, who played the antagonist Walter Donovan, recalled, “The crew had to halt filming. Everyone burst into laughter, and Steven declared, ‘That’s staying in.’”
6. Ford and Connery Went Pantless in a Key Last Crusade Scene
The zeppelin sequence in The Last Crusade, where Indy and his father share a tense yet humorous exchange, was far from enjoyable to film. The set became unbearably hot, prompting Connery to remove his trousers for the scene where the two characters argue at a table.
Connery admitted, “I did the scene without my pants. Harrison initially protested, but I explained that I sweat profusely and needed to stay comfortable.” Eventually, the sweltering conditions convinced Ford to follow suit, and both actors performed the scene sans trousers.
5. Ke Huy Quan Landed the Role of Short Round in Temple of Doom by Chance
Ke Huy Quan never planned to audition for the role of Indy’s young companion in Temple of Doom. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Quan shared that he accompanied his younger brother to an open casting call. “I was coaching him behind the camera when the casting director noticed me and asked if I wanted to give it a try,” he explained.
The following day, Quan was invited to meet Spielberg, Lucas, and Ford. “My mom thought it was a high-profile meeting, so she dressed me in a three-piece suit with a gold chain,” he recalled. Spielberg noticed Quan’s discomfort and asked him to return the next day in casual attire. That second audition secured him the role. At the time, Quan was unaware of the significance of Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark, so he didn’t realize how iconic the filmmakers were.
4. The Flying Wing Battle in Raiders Was Mostly Improvised
The intense fight scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indy battles Nazis to hijack their plane, was largely improvised by Spielberg. “I discarded the storyboards and choreographed the fight on the spot,” he said. “What was supposed to be a brief scuffle turned into a sequence with around 60 to 70 shots.”
An unexpected twist in the scene was producer Frank Marshall stepping in as the pilot. Originally, a stuntman was supposed to play the role, as the character is knocked out by Marion. However, all the stuntmen were unavailable due to illness. Spielberg asked Marshall to fill in, and he later joked, “Maybe the stuntmen faked being sick,” given the cockpit’s sweltering temperature of “around 140 degrees.”
Harrison Ford also sustained an injury during this sequence, adding to the list of injuries he endured throughout the franchise. He tripped, and the plane’s wheels rolled over his knee, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Despite the injury, Ford chose to wrap and ice his knee, continuing to film without delay.
3. The Raft Scene in Temple of Doom Was Captured in a Single Take
The iconic moment where the trio escapes a crashing plane by jumping onto an inflatable raft is often criticized for being unrealistic. However, not only is it theoretically feasible, but it was also filmed in just one take. Producer Frank Marshall told Ain’t It Cool News that they aimed for practical effects, believing “the more real elements we incorporate, the more engaging and authentic the scene will appear.”
Marshall collaborated with a life raft manufacturer to create a raft that inflated instantly with a single pull of a ripcord. The raft, along with three dummies, was loaded into a tri-motor airplane for the shoot at Mammoth Peak in California. Marshall recounted, “The raft deployed perfectly, unfolded upright, and landed with the dummies inside, bouncing and sliding down the slope in a way that looked incredibly realistic.” After one flawless take, they concluded filming.
2. Dan Aykroyd Makes a Brief Cameo in Temple of Doom
Early in Temple of Doom, Dan Aykroyd appears in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo as a character named Weber. He assists Indy, Willie, and Short Round in fleeing Hong Kong by plane, though their escape doesn’t go as planned.
The Ghostbusters star is on screen for roughly 20 seconds, but spotting him isn’t easy. The scene is dimly lit, with no close-ups, making Aykroyd’s face difficult to recognize. Additionally, he adopts an exaggerated English accent, further masking his identity despite having several lines of dialogue.
1. The Mine Cart Sounds in Temple of Doom Came from Disneyland Rollercoasters
While Disney parks worldwide feature Indiana Jones attractions, Disneyland in California left its mark on Temple of Doom. Sound designers Ben Burtt and Gary Summers were given exclusive access to Disneyland to capture rollercoaster sounds for the film’s thrilling mine cart sequence.
Burtt and Summers were granted nighttime access to Disneyland after hours to ride the rollercoasters and record their sounds without background music. “It was an unusual and memorable evening,” Burtt remarked. The clattering, screeching, and rumbling noises captured that night became the foundation for the iconic soundscape of the mine cart chase sequence.
