Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

June 20, 2023 · Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) · Action · Adventure · 1:47:36

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 39:10young River Phoenix opening sequence with the Cross of Coronado

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 41:16Apex mountain for crucifixes
Chris Ryan▶ 41:30Apex mountain for the cross of Coronado
Sean Fennessey▶ 41:37The Exorcist — The power of Christ compels you in The Exorcist as competition for crucifixes

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 54:24Likes the Holy Grail concept and compares it to the NBA championship trophy giving players legacy powers
Chris Ryan▶ 53:36Disagrees with Sean's criticism of the Holy Grail, calls it blasphemy and says the grail myth is a bedrock of Western storytelling
Sean Fennessey▶ 53:16The Holy Grail mythology doesn't make sense - knights died questing for something that doesn't exist and doesn't grant powers

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 58:35The final shot when the indie music kicks in and we get the sunset

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:24The grail - water from the grail/Cup of Christ
Chris Ryan▶ 59:15Noted that no food is actually consumed in the film

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:25the Blimp restaurant
Chris Ryan▶ 59:42Blimp Restaurant
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:34When Indy and his dad are seated together after they've escaped Austria, having an argument before they go to Berlin

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:29Allison Doody - too young at 21 for the roles opposite Connery and Ford
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:33Discusses various weak elements including the flight sequence to Venice with multiple layovers and dated map sequences, but doesn't clearly pick one definitive weak link
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:06:28Allison Doody - not memorable, though acknowledges she's not bad as an actress

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:55Suggested 'Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail' and 'Indiana Jones' Dad' as better alternatives, expressing dissatisfaction with the current title
Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:57Discussed why 'Holy Grail' wasn't used (crusades context) and jokingly suggested 'The one with Sean Connery' like a Friends episode
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:12:03Explained why they didn't use 'Holy Grail' - wouldn't want it too defined by Christian ethos for overseas markets

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:44You lost today, kid. But that doesn't mean you have to like it.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:12:55May my armies be the birds and the trees and the rocks.

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:05Would trade Temple of Doom for an entire Indiana Jones prequel film with River Phoenix
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:15:40Not a big fan of Temple of Doom personally

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:06Gregory Peck — Notes that Gregory Peck and John Pertwee were backup choices for Connery's role, doesn't know who John Pertwee is, and mentions Amanda Redman turned down Elsa role due to fear of rats

Overacting Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:57The Nazi lady in the castle who screams during her brief appearance
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:52Michael Byrne — Michael Byrne as Ernst Vogel (SS officer) and John Rhys-Davies for always delivering lines at the top of his register

Half-Assed Internet Research

Chris Ryan▶ 1:21:45Tom Stoppard, the famous playwright, did some work on the script, particularly dialogue between Connery and Ford
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:21:57Spielberg credited Stoppard with almost all of the dialogue, and it feels elevated like the hand of a great writer

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:05Zeppelin Rising
Chris Ryan▶ 1:26:54Cup of Christ
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:27:13X Marks the Spot

Is This Movie Better With

Chris Ryan▶ 1:30:28Wayne Jenkins as the Grail Knight

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:31:06Sean Connery — Sean Connery for Best Supporting Actor
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:14Sean Connery — Agrees with Sean Connery pick despite noting he just won for Untouchables
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:31:07Sean Connery — Sean Connery for Best Supporting Actor

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:01Harrison Ford has punched more guys in movies than any other actor (specifically normal American guy punches, not martial arts)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:02Agrees that Harrison Ford has punched the most people in movies
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:33:48Initially suggests Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee might have punched more, but doesn't commit to a definitive counter-position after Bill clarifies he means non-martial arts punching

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:35:36Raiders of the Lost Ark — Raiders of the Lost Ark - 'I just think you pair it with Raiders, and you're good to go, right? Don't overthink it.'

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:38:53Harrison Ford
Chris Ryan▶ 1:40:30Harrison Ford
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:38:46Harrison Ford — Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg

Movies Referenced (87)

Rain Man (1988)

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 8:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Regarding Henry (1991)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 21:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 30:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Police Academy (1984)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 36:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Presumed Innocent (1990)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:25:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 22:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Back to the Future (1985)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 11:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hook (1991)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 11:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Fugitive (1993)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Empire of the Sun (1987)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 6:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

King Arthur (2004)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 53:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (13)

Steven Spielberg

38 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 3:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Sheridan

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for In America, In the Name of the Father, My Left Foot▶ 31:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Columbus

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Help▶ 18:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Allen

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Annie Hall, Deconstructing Harry▶ 1:32:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barry Levinson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Rain Man, Wag the Dog▶ 10:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 33:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Dante

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Gremlins▶ 12:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kosta Jokic

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 54:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Stone

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 1:32:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Bellany

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Stardust▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Jackson

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for King Kong▶ 1:40:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Weir

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Way Back, Witness▶ 1:32:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (74)

Harrison Ford

51 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 2:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Connery

34 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Dr. No, The Untouchables, The Rock▶ 2:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Omar Doom

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Inglourious Basterds, Death Proof, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood▶ 3:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

River Phoenix

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast▶ 39:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alison Doody

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, A View to a Kill▶ 43:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Rhys-Davies

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Led Zeppelin

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Buster Keaton

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 46:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Blaine

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 26:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Empire of the Sun

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Sex Tape, Hall Pass▶ 6:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jamie Foxx

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Collateral, Django Unchained▶ 27:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Reggie Jackson

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!▶ 7:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

George Lucas

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, THX 1138, American Graffiti▶ 3:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Stoppard

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Shakespeare in Love, Brazil▶ 1:21:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Siege

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 36:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sam Levinson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 56:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Michael Grantland

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Other Guys▶ 1:46:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗