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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1980
Running Times: 115 mins
Format: Metrocolor 35mm 70mm (blow-up) Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: 70mm 6-Track Dolby 35mm

DIRECTION

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures presents a Lucasfilm Ltd. production  A Steven Spielberg film
Executive Producers: George Lucas, Howard Kazanjian
Produced by: Frank Marshall
Associate Producer: Robert Watts
Production Supervisor: Douglas Twiddy
Production Manager (France): Dorothy Marchini
Production Manager (Tunisia): Hassine Soufi
Assistant Production Manager: Patricia Carr
Production Supervisor (Tunisia): Mohamed Ali Cherif
Production Co-Ordinator: Patricia Blau
Production Co-Ordinator (Tunisia): Tarak Ben Ammar
Unit Production Coordinator (Peru / Hawaii): Dan Nichols

SCRIPT
Screenplay by: Lawrence Kasdan
Story by: George Lucas and Philip Kaufman

DIRECTION
2nd Unit Directors: Michael Moore, Frank Marshall (uncredited)
First Assistant Director: David Tomblin
Second Assistant Directors: Roy Button, Patrick Cadell
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Director: Carlos Gill
2nd Unit 2nd Assistant Director: Michael Hook
1st Assistant Director (France): Vincent Joliet
1st Assistant Director (Tunisia): Naceur Ktari
Peru/Hawaii Unit 2nd Assistant Director: Louis G. Friedman
Continuity: Pamela Mann
2nd Unit Continuity: Maggie Jones

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Douglas Slocombe
Additional Photographer: Paul Beeson
Operating Cameraman: Chic Waterson
2nd Unit Operating Cameramen: Wally Byatt, Gerry Dunkley, David Worley
Assistant Cameraman: Robin Vidgeon
2nd Assistant Cameraman: Danny Shelmerdine
2nd Unit Assistant Cameraman: Chris Tanner
2nd Unit 2nd Assistant Cameraman: Eamonn O'Keeffe
Clapper Loader: Paul Kenward (uncredited)
Gaffer: Martin Evans
Unit Gaffer (Peru / Hawaii): Alan Brady
Head Rigger: Red Lawrence
Electrician: Wick Finch (uncredited)
Best Boy: Ray Meehan (uncredited)
Dolly Grip: Colin Manning
2nd Unit Dolly Grip: Jim Kane
Still Photographer: Albert Clark
Colour Timer: Robert McMillian
Ultra High Speed Camera: Bruce Hill Productions
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Lee Lighting Ltd
Laboratory: Metrocolor, USA

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editors: Michael Kahn, George Lucas (uncredited)
Assistant Film Editors: Phil Sanderson, Bruce Green, Colin Wilson
Apprentice Film Editor: Julie Kahn Zunder
Negative Cutter: Brian Ralph

MUSIC
Music: John Williams
Music Performed By: The London Symphony Orchestra
Orchestrations: Herbert W. Spencer
Music Supervisor: Lionel Newman (uncredited)
Music Recording: Eric Tomlinson
Supervising Music Editor: Kenneth Wannberg

SOUND
Production Sound: Roy Charman
Sound Boom Operator: John Salter
Production Maintenance: George Rice
Sound Design: Ben Burtt
Re-Recording: Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker
Recording Technician: Howie Hammerman
Supervising Dialogue Editor: Curt Schulkey
Dialogue Editor: Andy Patterson
Assistant Dialogue Editor: Eric Whitfield
Apprentice Sound Editor: Peter Grives
Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Richard L. Anderson
Sound Effects Editors: Steve H. Flick, Mark Mangini
Sound Effects Recording: Gary Summers
Foley Editor: John Dunn

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costume Design: Deborah Nadoolman
Wardrobe Supervisor: Rita Wakely
Wardrobe Assistants: Sue Wain, Ian Hickinbotham
Chief Make-Up Artist: Tom Smith
Make-Up Artist: Dickie Mills
Chief Hairdresser: Patricia McDermott
Hairdresser: Mike Lockey

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Christopher Walas

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Mechanical Effects Supervisor: Kit West
Senior Effects Technician: Peter Dawson
Effects Technicians: Terry Schubert, Rodney Fuller, Trevor Neighbour
Effects Engineering: Terry Glass
Special Effects Equipment Supervisor: Bill Warrington
Special Effects Electrician: Chris Condon
Special Effects Carpenter: Roy Coombes
Special Effects Welder: Yves De Bono
Effects Assistants: Ken Gittens, Ray Hanson

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Supervisor: Richard Edlund

Special Visual Effects Produced at: Industrial Light and Magic, Marin County, CA.
Production Supervisor: Thomas Smith
Art Director-Visual Effects: Joe Johnston ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Production Coordinator: Laurie Vermont
Production Associate: Miki Herman
Camera Operators: Don Dow, Bill Neil
Assistant Camera: Clint Palmer
Effects Cameraman: Jim Veilleux
Laboratory Technicians: Tim Geideman, Ed Jones, Duncan Meyers
Still Lab Technicians: Roberto McGrath, Kerry Nordquist
Stills: Terry Chostner
Visual Effects Editorial Supervisor: Conrad Buff IV
Assistant Editor: Duwayne Dunham
Assistant Effects Editors: Peter Amundson, Howard Stein
Animation Supervisors: Samuel Comstock, Deitrich Friesen
Animators: Scott Caple, Loring Doyle, Judy Elkins, Sylvia Keulen, Kim Knowlton, Scott Marshall, Gary Waller, John Van Vliet
Cloud Effects: Gary Platek
Electronic Systems Designer: Jerry Jeffress
Computer Engineering: Kris Brown
Equipment Engineering Supervisor: Gene Whiteman
Electronics Engineers: Marty Brenneis, Gary Leo, Mike MacKenzie
Electronics Technicians: Melissa Cargill, Cristi McCarthy, Bessie Wiley
Matte Painting Supervisor: Alan Maley
Matte Artist: Michael Pangrazio
Matte Photography: Neil Krepela
Matte Camera Assistant: Craig Barron
Optical Printer Operators: John Ellis, David Berry, Kenneth Smith
Optical Line-Up: Warren Franklin, Mark Vargo, Tom Rosseter
Additional Opticals: MGM Optical; Modern Film Effects
Model Makers: Charles Bailey, Steve Gawley, Paul Huston, Ease Owyeung, Bruce Richardson, Wesley Seeds, Marc Thorpe, Mike Fulmer, Sam Zolltheis
Model Shop Foreman: Lorne Peterson
Pyrotechnician: Thaine Morris
Assistant Art Director: Nilo Rodis-Jamero
Design Engineer: Mike Bolles
Illustrator: Ralph McQuarrie
Supervising Stage Technician: T.E. Moehnke
Stage Technicians: William Beck, Dick Dova, Edward Hirsh, John McCleod, Peter Stolz, Bobby Finley III, Patrick Fitzsimmons
Production Accountants: David Kakita, Laura Kaysen, Shirley Lee
Administration Assistant: Chrissie England
Machinist: Udo Pampel
Special Projects: Wade Childress

TITLES AND OPTICALS
Optical Photography Supervisor: Bruce Nicholson
Titles: MGM Titles

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Norman Reynolds
Art Director: Leslie Dilley
Assistant Art Directors: Fred Hole, Michael Lamont, John Fenner, Ken Court
Assistant Art Director (Tunisia): Hassen Soufi
Set Decorator: Michael Ford
Property Supervisor: Charles Torbett
Property Master: Frank Bruton
Property Master (Tunisia): Peter Hancock
Chief Buyer: David Lusby
Construction Manager: Bill Welch
Assistant Construction Manager: George Gunning
Construction Storeman: Dave Middleton
Scenic Artist: Andrew Garnet-Lawson
Master Painter: Eric Shirtcliffe
Supervising Plasterer: Kenneth Clark
Head Plasterer: Bert Rodwell
Production Illustrator: Ed Verreaux
Production Artists: Michael Lloyd, Ron Cobb
Sketch Artist: Roy Carnon, David Negron
Decor & Lettering Artist: Bob Walker
Draftsman: George Djurkovic
Storyboard Artist: David Negron Jr, Dave Stevens (uncredited)
Art Department Assistant: Sharon Cartwright
Modeller: Keith Short

OTHER CREW
Production Accountant: Arthur Carroll
Assistant Accountant: Michael Larkins
Location Accountant: Stefano Priori
Accountant (France): Stella Quef
Accountant (Tunisia): Ridha Turki
Unit Accountant (Peru / Hawaii): Bonnie Radford
Associate to Mr. Spielberg: Kathleen Kennedy
Assistants to Mr Marshall: Patty Rumph, Barbara Harley
Assistant to Mr Spielberg: Marty Casella
Assistant to Mr Kazanjian: Laura Kenmore
Assistant to Mr Lucas: Jane Bay
Production Assistants: Gill Case, Daniel Parker
Production Assistant (France): Junior Charles
Doctor: Dr Felicity Hodder
2nd Unit Doctor: Dr Hassam Moossun
Unit Transportation Captain (Peru / Hawaii): Harry Ueshiro
Animal Handlers: Michael Culling, Steve Edge, Jed Edge
Armorer: Simon Atherton
Research: Deborah Fine
Unit Publicist: Derek Robbins

LOCATIONS
Locations: Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK; Kauai, Hawaii, USA; La Pellice, France; Sousse, Tunisia
Location Manager: Bryan Coates
Location Managers (Tunisia): Habib Chaari, Abdelkrim Baccar
Location Manager (Peru / Hawaii): Maile Semitokol

STUNTS
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Glenn Randall
Stunt Arranger: Peter Diamond
Stunts: Vic Armstrong, Peter Brace, Gerry Crampton, Peter Diamond, Romo Gorrara, Martin Grace, Richard Graydon (uncredited), Reg Harding, Billy Horrigan, Wendy Leach, Terry Leonard, Sergio Mione, Rocky Taylor, Chuck Waters, Bill Weston, Paul Weston
Stunt Driver: Glenn Randall

CASTING
Casting: Mike Fenton & Jane Feinberg, Mary Selway

CAST

starring
Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones)
Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood)
Paul Freeman (Rene Belloq)
Ronald Lacey (Toht)
John Rhys-Davies (Sallah)
Alfred Molina (Sapito)
Wolf Kahler (Dietrich)
Anthony Higgins (Gobler)

and
Denholm Elliott (Dr Marcus Brody)

Vic Tablian (Barranca / Monkey Man)
Don Fellows (Colonel Musgrove)
William Hootkins (Major Eaton)
Bill Reimbold (bureaucrat)
Fred Sorenson (Jock)
Patrick Durkin (Australian climber)
Matthew Scurfield (2nd Nazi)
Malcolm Weaver (ratty Nepalese)
Sonny Caldinez (mean Mongolian)
Anthony Chinn (Mohan)
Pat Roach (giant sherpa / 1st mechanic)
Christopher Frederick (Otto)
Tutte Lemkow (Imam)
Ishaq Bux (Omar)
Kiran Shah (Abu)
Souad Messaoudi (Fayah)
Terry Richards (Arab swordsman)
Steve Hanson (German agent)
Martin Kreidt (young soldier)
George Harris (Captain Katanga)
Eddie Tagoe (Messenger Pirate)
John Rees (sergeant)
Tony Vogel (tall captain)
Ted Grossman (Peruvian porter)
Frank Marshall (Flying Wing pilot)
Dennis Muren (Nazi spy on airplane - uncredited)
Michael Sheard (U-Boat captain - uncredited)

Stand-In For Harrison Ford: Jack Dearlove

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Archeologist Dr Indiana Jones leads a double life - as a lecturer in a 1930s university and as a fearless adventurer hunting the world for religious and occult artifacts. He's hired by the US Government to track down the legendary Ark of the Covenant, the container which holds the original ten commandments. He teams up with ex-girlfriend Marion to find the Ark before the Nazis, who are also scouring the world for mystical artifacts, get their hands on it.

CAPSULE REVIEW

Spielberg and Lucas' homage to the cliffhanger serials of their childhood rates as one of the best film that either man has been involved with. Harrison Ford is perfect in the role he was born to play, the score is one of John Williams' best and the whole thing is more fun than any single film has the right to be. A classic that remains as exciting and entertaining now as when it it was first released, and there are few films from the 80s that still claim that.

AVAILABILITY

Germany
Laserdisc Distributor: Philips (62017)

Spain
Theatrical Distributor: Cinéma International Corporation

UK
Laserdisc Distributor: Pioneer (PLFES 33821; The Indiana Jones Trilogy)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Paramount (LV 1376-2); Paramount (LV 1376); Paramount (LV 1376-WS)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Argentina
Rating: 13

Australia
Rating: PG

Chile
Rating: 14

Finland
Rating: K-16

France
Rating: U

Norway
Rating: 15

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG

West Germany
Rating: 16

AWARDS

1982
Academy Awards, USA (Oscars)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Leslie Dilley, Michael Ford, Norman Reynolds) - winner
Best Effects, Visual Effects (Richard Edlund, Joe Johnston, Bruce Nicholson, Kit West) - winner
Best Film Editing (Michael Kahn) - winner
Best Sound (Roy Charman, Gregg Landaker, Steve Maslow, Bill Varney) - winner
Special Achievement Award (Richard L. Anderson, Ben Burtt) - winner (for sound effects editing)
Best Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe) - nominated
Best Director (Steven Spielberg) - nominated
Best Music, Original Score (John Williams) - nominated
Best Picture (Frank Marshall) - nominated

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA (Saturn Awards)
Best Actor (Harrison Ford) - winner
Best Actress (Karen Allen) - winner
Best Director (Steven Spielberg) - winner
Best Fantasy Film - winner
Best Music (John Williams) - winner
Best Special Effects (Richard Edlund) - winner
Best Writing (Lawrence Kasdan) - winner

American Cinema Editors, USA (Eddies)
Best Edited Feature Film (Michael Kahn) - winner

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, USA
Best Director (Steven Spielberg) - winner

British Academy Awards, UK
Best Production Design/Art Direction (Norman Reynolds) - winner
Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (John Williams) - nominated
Best Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe) - nominated
Best Editing (Michael Kahn) - nominated
Best Film - nominated
Best Sound (Ben Burtt, Roy Charman, Bill Varney) - nominated
Best Supporting Artist (Denholm Elliott) - nominated

Directors Guild of America, USA
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (Steven Spielberg) - nominated

Golden Globes, USA
Best Director: Motion Picture (Steven Spielberg) - nominated

Grammy Awards, USA
Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special (John Williams) - winner

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - winner

People's Choice Awards, USA
Favorite Motion Picture - winner

Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen (Lawrence Kasdan, Philip Kaufman, George Lucas) - nominated

Young Artist Awards, USA
Best Motion Picture: Family Enjoyment - winner

1999
National Film Preservation Board, USA

Added to the National Film Registry

TIMELINE

1980
April

Day Unknown: USA - production begins

June
23: USA - filming begins

September
Day Unknown: USA - filming ends

1981
June

12: USA - theatrical release

August
7: Sweden - theatrical release

October
16: Norway - theatrical release
29: West Germany - theatrical release

December
18: Finland - theatrical release

1982
July

Day Unknown: USA - theatrical re-release

1991
November

Day Unknown: Germany - laserdisc release (Philips (62017))

1996
November

Day Unknown: UK - laserdisc release (Pioneer (PLFES 33821))

POSTER TAGS

Indiana Jones - the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS. The return of the great adventure.

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - US video title
Dobyvatelé ztracené archy - Czech title
Jagten pa den forsvunde skat - Danish title
Jäger des verlorenen Schatzes - German title
Los cazadores del arca perdida - Argentinian title
En busca del arca perdida - Spanish title
Kadonneen aarteen metsästäjät - Finnish title
Les aventuriers de l'arche perdue - French title
Az elveszett frigyláda fosztogatói - Hungarian title
I predatori dell'arca perduta - Italian title
Poszukiwacze zaginionej arki - Polish title
Os Caçadores da Arca Perdida - Brazilian title
Os Salteadores da Arca Perdida - Portugese title
Jakten pa den försvunna skatten - Swedish title

LINKS

SEQUELS
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992 - 1996)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (1998)
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001)
The American Film Institute's Tribute to Steven Spielberg (1995)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995)
Great Movie Stunts: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Wow! (1990)

REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

Films Illustrated vol.10 no.118 (July 1981) p.378 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.48 no.571 (August 1981) pp.159-160 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Motion Picture Product Digest vol.9 no.2 (24 June 1981) p.7 (USA)
credits, review

Premiere July 1989 pp.68-69 (USA)
illustrated review

Screen International no.302 (25 July 1981) p.15 (UK)
review

Starburst no.37 (1981) pp.32-35 (UK)
illustrated review

TV Times 23 December 1989 - 5 January 1990 p.48 (UK)
credits

Variety 10 June 1981 p.18 (USA)
credits, review

KEYWORDS

ark of the covenant; religion; nazis; monkeys; snakes; jungles; cairo; the supernatural; archaeologists; universities; students; biplanes; deserts; egypt; exploding heads; nepal; whips


Last Updated: 9 February, 2009

 


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