GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” — Themes

This week we are analyzing the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark, the 1981 action-adventure movie [screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas & Philip Kaufman].

You may download a copy of the script [August 1979] here.

Today we discuss the script’s themes. There are several of them. Which ones do you see at work in the story?

Here is Part 2 of screenwriter John Gary’s analysis of character and theme in Raiders:

Now we’re in Nepal, at Marion’s, he’s looking for the medallion, both talking about it like it’s just a trinket. But it has greater significance to Marion, so much significance that she wears it around her neck. She understands its power. (Has there ever been a better button to a scene than “I’m your goddamn partner!”?)

Cairo next (and the Nazi monkey!) and Sallah. Listen to this line: “The Ark. If it is there, at Tanis, then it is something that man was not meant to disturb. Death has always surrounded it. It is not of this earth.” How would Sallah answer the Central Dramatic Question?

A moment of pause: it’s easy to look at these characters as giving Indy warnings of the journey he’s going on, adding questions and doubt to the quest. That’s how they function narratively, but thematically, the characters all answer the central dramatic argument differently.

After Marion is captured and Indy thinks she dies, he is brought to Belloq, and we reaffirm theme and character. Belloq says, “You and I are very much alike. Archeology is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith.” Could he say it any more clearer? They don’t believe in religion, they believe in hunting for treasures. “Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am a shadowy reflection of you. It would take only a nudge to make you like me. To push you out of the light.” Even the watch Belloq holds up, he says it is worthless unless it’s been lost for 10,000 years, “like the Ark.” To him (and, right now, Indy), the Ark only has value because it has been lost, because it is a relic. Belloq has an especially interesting line here — he says the Ark is “a transmitter, a radio for speaking to God.” He believes in God, but he just doesn’t kneel before him. We don’t know if Indy is a believer, but the question isn’t “Does God exist?” but rather “Should you show deference to God?” Belloq thinks he should get to talk to God, that’s how conceited he is.

The scene in the map room is important here because it’s the first moment where Indy gets some idea that there’s a greater power at work here — his face is filled with awe as the sun shines through the crystal, the same look as Indy digs for the Well of the Souls and the storm threatens them, clouds and lightning at night, cracking overhead, and then again when Indy and Sallah reveal the Ark.

There isn’t a clear moment when Indy acknowledges that the Ark might be more powerful than he thought. There doesn’t need to be; we see it, and we can tell that this artifact is much more than just an artifact. There’s no doubt about the Ark’s power when it burns through that swastika on the crate while on the merchant ship. Indy doesn’t see that, though — the next time he spots the Ark is on the island, when he points the grenade launcher at the Ark. He’s just come for Marion.

Belloq calls Indy’s bluff. “Blow it up. Blow it back to God. Inside the Ark are treasures beyond your wildest admirations. We are simply passing through history. This … this is history.” Indy doesn’t have much choice here — the Nazis surround him and he must surrender.

As the Ark is opened, Indy is suspicious. The Nazis stick their hands in — and find only dirt, sand. When Indy sees the generator blow, he can tell something very wrong is about to happen.

What does Belloq do? He looks inside, watches, they all watch, he wants to know more, he wants to see the treasures he believes are there, he wants to speak to God.

And what does Indy do? He says, “Shut your eyes, Marion.” He knows whatever is about to happen is going to be bad. His whole existence is predicated on revealing ancient relics, and here is the most fabled of all relics and he does not want to witness the reveal. He shows supplication in the face of the power of God, and for that? For that he lives.

Belloq, however, keeps his eyes wide open, just like the Nazis. When the spirits emerge from the Ark, Belloq’s face displays sheer exultation. “It’s beautiful!”

And then God takes his wrath.

Marion yells “Indy?” And he repeats, “Don’t look, keep your eyes shut.” Is it chance that the beams of light shoot through not only the chests of the Nazis, but also the eyes? And the camera lenses? “You don’t get to see this,” God seems to be telling them, and he’ll kill anyone who does not show respect towards God. Seconds later, the Ark is closed, the Nazis are all dead and gone, and Marion and Indy are free, alive, safe. They weren’t taken, because they didn’t look.

In the meeting with the OSS guys, Indy and Marcus want to know where the Ark is. “The Ark is safe,” the agents say. “From whom?” Indy knows the power of the Ark now — he tells Marion, “They don’t know what they’ve got there.” And he’s worried, he’s wary, he’s not sure it’s safe, he’s not sure it can be contained. He’s seen the power of God now, and he knows what it can do, and he knows it isn’t folklore. He knows it is true.

For Part 1 of John’s analysis, go here.

John was kind enough to join us in last night’s live Tweet-Cast of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I will be posting a transcript this weekend.

For Day 1 of our analysis focusing on general comments, go here.

For Day 2 of our analysis focusing on structure, go here.

For Day 3 for our analysis focusing on characters, go here.

If you know of any great behind-the-scenes videos or interviews about Raiders, please post them in comments.

For all of the other screenplays and commentary in the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series, go here.

NOTE: THE USE OF THESE SCREENPLAYS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

See you in comments to discuss themes in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Comment Archive