"'Indiana Jones'. I always knew someday you’d come walking back through my door..."
Relive the magic on the silver screen with the original great adventure, 'Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark' with John Williams’ epic score performed live to picture by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
The year is 1936, and professor of archaeology and 'obtainer of rare antiquities' Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by U.S. Army Intelligence to recover the legendary Ark of the Covenant before it falls into the hands of the Nazis. Indy’s quest takes him to Nepal and Egypt, reuniting him with an old friend (John Rhys-Davies), an old foe (Paul Freeman), and an ex-flame (Karen Allen) who falls somewhere in between. Armed with his hat, whip and wits, the intrepid hero must face formidable enemies – and impossible odds – to save the day and the world.
Violinist of QSO, Stephen Phillips highlights the five best moments from the classic film:“Indiana Jones – the name, the first movie 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' – never really appealed to me at first. And I was one of those who had been to Sunday School as a kid. I didn't think I wanted to see 'Han Solo' fooling around with some other, new, trumped-up character. So I avoided the initial screenings, in Brisbane, where I lived at the time of its original release. It was only under the pressure only peer groups can exert that I found myself in a Rockhampton cinema in the winter of '81, falling in love – in spite of myself – with this rich new world of gorgeous music, exotic locations, danger, and exhilarating seat-of-pants improvisation by Harrison Ford in a very convincing new role."
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Five all-time favourite moments? A tough one. But let's try.
I think the line which 'does it for me' – as alluded to above – is Indy's self-effacing “I don't know – I'm makin' this up as I go along!” which feels a teeny weeny bit like my own life story (at times).
But there are plenty of other classic lines and situations. The scene on the old ship, reunited with Marion Ravenwood, where she tries to tend his many, many wounds and injuries – the scene with the swinging mirror and the kiss, “where doesn't it hurt?” – is one of the great moments, to my mind, of light romance in film, and perfectly encapsulates the hero and heroine's particular qualities. Very satisfying.
Since the film – like its successors – is preoccupied with a religious undercurrent (hence the “didn't any of you guys ever go to Sunday School?” deprecation), there is a lot in the film to stimulate an armchair philosopher and sometime-conspiracy theorist like myself. Of course, there is the “X never, ever marks the spot” of the third film, but so much besides, right through to: “the Ark is a radio for speaking to God!” Where do they get these million dollar lines?On a less elevated altitude, there is the totally classic exchange in 'Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade' between Indy and his father, Dr. Henry Jones Sr. (played of course, by veteran and screen legend Sean Connery) in the German castle, after it becomes apparent that both father and son have 'had dealings' with the very beautiful, but equally treacherous Nazi operative, Elsa Schneider. Indy is outraged: “It's disgraceful. You're old enough to be her... her grandfather!” the father explains. “I'm as human as the next man,” his son responds. “Dad, I was the next man!” - This is pure gold.
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The one, over-arching impression I have of these films, and so well demonstrated in 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', is the seamless strength of the narrative function – the screenplay and the superb cinematography are the story – not forgetting that gorgeous, arresting music by John Williams of course. The idea that I will soon be playing that iconic score, live with the film, is too wild to comprehend. Especially the map room scene in Tanis, complete with Gothic choir.
So here we are, just weeks from a very significant cultural/ cinematic/ musical confluence, the performance, live, of the exceptional John Williams score of 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', while the movie plays.
I can almost hear Marion Ravenwood, again:
“Indiana Jones. I always knew some day you'd come walking back through my door.”
What took you so long, good friend?– Stephen Phillips
'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' performs Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 6 February.
