movie memories: ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ turns 30

[orangerful]

There were lots of great taglines for ‘The Last Crusade’ but I think my favorite was “The Man with the hat is back. And this time, he’s bringing his Dad.”

‘Last Crusade’ was the first Indy movie I got to see in the theaters. I was 8 years old and already a hardcore Spielberg and Lucasfilm fan – I had all the Star Wars movies memorized, and knew most of ‘Temple of Doom’ by heart. ‘Raiders’, with it’s ghosts and melting Nazis, I had convinced myself, was too scary for me. (My theory is that the first ghost caught me off guard, sort of like the first ghost in ‘Ghostbusters’, which I didn’t watch from the very beginning for a LONG time because that memory of being scared kept me away).

I know we saw this in the theater. It wasn’t my first movie theater experience (I saw E.T. in the theater but have no memory of it except for things my Mom told me later), but I definitely don’t have the strong memories of seeing a movie with my whole family like I do with this one.

This was a world with no spoilers beyond the trailer, unless you searched for them. And by search, I don’t mean hopping on your computer. No, that Apple IIe did NOT have an internet connection just yet, or, at least, no world wide web to post your fan theories to. I’m sure I could have found some magazines with interviews and what not, but, again, 8. So I went into this movie just knowing that I loved Indiana Jones and had no idea what to expect beyond what Drew Struzan’s poster artwork told me.

So the opening sequence with a young Indy was a new idea. I didn’t really know who River Phoenix was so I didn’t see him as anything else but Young Indy. And then this happened:
Henry Jones Jr. gets his fedora and is magically turned into Indiana Jones.



Henry Jones Jr. gets his fedora and is magically turned into Indiana Jones.

and the movie really got started.

I don’t remember too much else about the viewing experience. Mostly just sitting in silence, probably munching on popcorn because how could you see an Indiana Jones movie without popcorn?

Yet, there is one moment, one scene, that I still remember, deep in my mind, deep in my gut, because of the reaction I had to it. When Donovan pulls the gun on Indy, threatening him to go in and find the Grail. Indy smirks and quips ” Shooting me won’t get you anywhere.” Donovan looks straight at him and says ” You know something, Dr. Jones? You’re absolutely right.” and then…



Donovan pivots ever so slightly and shoot Indy’s Dad.

Right – so I’m 8 years old here. I don’t know movie tropes. I don’t realize that Steven Spielberg doesn’t kill a Dad. I don’t understand that Indiana Jones movies are not going to go that dark. All I know is that Indy’s Dad just got shot. I remember feeling my guts squeeze, the heart stop, and my eyes just filling with tears. I remember my Mom leaning over, sort of giving me a rub on the back and perhaps whispering that it would be okay or not to worry or something along those lines. Something to calm me down so I didn’t lose it completely.

I believe once I saw that Henry was stable and talking, that Marcus was going to hold that little cloth over the wound, I calmed down, hopeful that Indy would save the day.

Of course, there was a happy ending (unless you were a Nazi, but then you don’t deserve one, do you?) and like all good stories, the heroes ride off into the sunset, laughing and smiling, with John Williams’ classic theme playing.



Since then, I have watched the movie many many times. I quote it constantly, especially the classic “No ticket.” line. I could probably act out entire scenes if I needed to. It is perfect from beginning to end. No downtime, no throwaway scenes, all of it important for the story.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s, straddling the Gen-X and Millenial line. I didn’t get to experience Star Wars or the first two Indiana Jones’ films in their initial theater releases, and I’d say this movie marks the end of that Lucas/Spielberg summer domination era in some ways. Speilberg went on to make some fantastic, but heavier, films. Lucas waited another ten years to go back to a galaxy far far away. I’m so glad I saw this in the theater and have this memory, even if it was a bit of a traumatic one. This was the last great summer romp before both creators matured and grew apart.

If you haven’t seen this movie in awhile, sit down and watch it again. Turn out all the lights, pop some corn and settle in. 30 years later, it is still a lot of fun keeping up with the Joneses.

What are your Indiana Jones memories? Please comment or link to your post! I’d love to chat with other Indy fans.

Comments

[rhoda_rants]

Thanks for sharing this great write-up! I was too young to see any of the Indy movies in theaters--very much still in my Disney Renaissance stage at that age--but we got them all from Blockbuster Video years later. My brother was more into the Indy trilogy than me, while I was always more into Star Wars, but we definitely loved them all. So a lot of my memories about these movies are also memories of my brother: dressing up as Indy for Halloween, humming the theme song until I yelled at him to PLEASE STOP, and watching them over and over until we both had them memorized. And of course we saw Crystal Skull in the theater, with about the reaction you'd expect.

For some reason I seem to remember Raiders being his favorite, where Last Crusade was mine. I really like what having Sean Connery there does to the adventure, because he has this whole history of adventuring in his own way that Indy doesn't even know about. Plus, he keeps Indy on his toes, calling him "Junior" all the time. It's just great!

[orangerful]

My Dad's default costume for Halloween was Indy - he had a fedora and a whip that he'd put on really quick to take us out trick or treating. I'm just thinking about how awesome that is since so many parents just walk around, uncostumed. But my Dad was always Indy.

I just read a great article on Polygon about the arc from Raiders to Last Crusade and how in Raiders, Indy can't bring himself to destroy the Ark even though the Nazis have it, but in Crusade, his Dad convinces him to let the grail go and how this is pretty much a great character growth arc for Indy.

I feel like both of them are so good, my favorite would depend on my mood that day LOL

[yourlibrarian]

I have watched the movie many many times. I quote it constantly, especially the classic “No ticket.” line. I could probably act out entire scenes if I needed to. It is perfect from beginning to end. No downtime, no throwaway scenes, all of it important for the story.

It was a good movie alright, perhaps the best of the three. (I refuse to consider Glass Skull part of it).

I didn’t get to experience Star Wars or the first two Indiana Jones’ films in their initial theater releases, and I’d say this movie marks the end of that Lucas/Spielberg summer domination era in some ways. Speilberg went on to make some fantastic, but heavier, films. Lucas waited another ten years to go back to a galaxy far far away. I’m so glad I saw this in the theater and have this memory, even if it was a bit of a traumatic one. This was the last great summer romp before both creators matured and grew apart.

I like this observation. I did get to see all these movies in the theater but I think your take is true about how the era of their blockbusters ended (and I'd throw in Close Encounters as well). I think it was also marked by the end of the John Hughes period just a year or two later.

[orangerful]

Crystal Skull does not exist. Nope. It was bad fanfic written by two old men :P

[geeklover80]

I actually own the trilogy Blu-ray and I watched a lot of the special features on it but I haven't seen any of the movies in their entirety in years.

In fact, I did start to watch Raiders a couple of months ago and didn't finish it because my husband fell asleep and have just not gotten around to finishing it. What was funny was that we were watching the beginning and I told my husband none of it felt familiar to me even though I know I've seen it at least a couple of times because a history teacher of mine in middle school played it for us a couple of times because they were a big fan of the movie. But that was a long time ago so it kind of makes sense I don't remember it well.

The first Indy movie I really remember seeing was Temple of Doom. My brother and I watched it on HBO. It's been a long time since I've seen it as well, though not as long as with Raiders. I remember really loving Short Round and being freaked out at the time by the bugs and violence. Thinking about it now, I'm actually starting to think that is part of why to this day I still have a huge fear of bugs, especially roaches.

I do remember when I got older and was looking online at places like IMDb finding out that a lot of people hated TOD and I had no idea there was so much dislike for it. I do think I watched it after that and thinking that I didn't dislike as much as some of those people but I didn't love it as much as when I was younger. I'd have to watch it again to really form an opinion on it.

I also haven't seen most of the Last Crusade in forever. The only part of the Indiana Jones movies I've watched repeatedly is the beginning of this movie with young Indy. I was a HUGE River Phoenix fan and I get a kick out of that beginning. So much so that, for me, the rest of the movie has suffered in comparison and I always think of it as my least favorite (not counting Crystal Skull.) To be fair, I really haven't seen the whole thing in a while so I'd have to do that before I could really judge it.

I've technically never really seen Crystal Skull. I watched it once but just to see them do a parody of the movie for Rifftrax so I've never seen the movie without that commentary running over it.

Stacey

[orangerful]

They are saying the weather will be 90 here tomorrow so I'm thinking of curling up on the couch in the nice cool basement and watching Indy. It has been too long for me as well.

I LOVED Temple of Doom as a kid. It was my FAVORITE. 'Raiders' ghost scene terrified me, but in my little kind mind, I had decided I understood the special effects work for ripping someone's heart out and showing it to them, so that didn't bother me. I didn't know about the hate for it until much later. Sorta like how people hate the Ewoks in RotJ. I was too young for it to register.

Only watch Crystal Skull if you have the Rifftrax as a buffer. Direct consumption of that movie is NOT recommended.

[ericadawn16]

I think I must have seen this one in the theatre but I have no memory of it like I do with other 1989 releases like Turner & Hooch which felt like a horrible bait & switch for a 6 and a half year old...I assume I'm getting a Tom Hanks comedy and then, the fucking dog dies! Between that, Kindergarten Cop and Loaded Weapon 1, it's a wonder that she kept letting my brothers take me to movies. Uncle Buck was much more my speed. I also remember going to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation; that was everyone as a family. We'd been looking forward to it for months and it delivered.

However, as much as I associate Indiana Jones with warm family memories...it's Back to the Future II in 1989 that I look more fondly on especially that cliffhanger ending with a TRAILER for the next film! Then, I can't remember if it was II or III but our only movie theatre had a metal roof and it RAINED during the film; couldn't really hear anything but we got the gist...must have been the second one since I remember being confused by it and asking questions later. It was a whole discussion over whether it was as good as the first one and then, later, I would argue with my brother over 2 and 3 because I preferred 3 and he preferred 2.

OH, my favorite Indiana Jones memory would probably be me, my mom and the brother I argue with going to see Crystal Skull together and my brother becoming one of those...It doesn't exist people while my mom and I really enjoyed it.

[ericadawn16]

PS

Add Howard the Duck to that list of movies my brothers probably shouldn't have taken me to, lol. We actually went to the theatre by the mall for that one...quality.

I'm also remiss if I don't mention the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles which we watched religiously even when it was a rerun. I also see your point about the end of the innocence and such but...Jurassic Park. That was MY movie. My first totally obsessed with film since Oliver & Company/Who Framed Roger Rabbit? from 1988. I feel like Jurassic Park was the true end with his former filmmaking purged with his making is back to back with Schindler's List. His newer children's films, like B.F.G., just have a totally different feel to them.

And of course, Jurassic Park made Lucas realize the time had come to start planning those prequels.

[orangerful]

Jurassic Park was several years later, I saw that thing probably 10 times because the theater finally had the THX speakers and the T-Rex roar blew my mind.

I still have my Roger Rabbit doll, I love that movie. Saw it in the theater and 80% of the jokes flew right by me LOL.

[orangerful]

Oh I forgot BTTF 2 was 1989! That one blew my mind only because I had watch the first movie so many times and I asked my mom why it said "To be Continued..." at the end and she said it was just a joke because the future so I never actually expected a second movie. I think of 2 and 3 to be one long movie, though I'd probably watch 3 again before I watch 2.

[alificent]

Well, I was planning on relaxing with popcorn tonight and now I know what I'm watching. A lot of quoting this series goes on in my house, too, but here it's usually, "DON'T LOOK MARIAN!" I am also fond of saying, when people tell me that I don't look my age, "Yes, but that means I'll be like Matthew Broderick and look the same until fifty, and then suddenly it'll be like someone opened the Ark of the Covenant."

I remember tearing up at Last Crusade when Jones Sr. calls his son by Indiana, finally, to get him to listen and survive.

I didn't watch any of the movies for years though, because when I was pretty small I had the misfortune to walk in on Temple of Doom RIGHT as the heart-removing scene happened, and I was so terrified by it that I assumed all the movies were like, nonstop that and I wanted NONE of it.

[orangerful]

LOL, that is my theory about why I avoided 'Raiders' for so long, that I walked in during the Ark scary ghost face reveal and it freaked me out too much. Temple of Doom didn't bother me, for some reason I decided I understood those special effects and how they worked but ghosts...GHOSTS ARE REAL! lol.

Weather says it will be 90 here tomorrow...sounds like a good day to sit in the basement and watch a movie.