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‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

June 8, 2021 · Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) · Action · Adventure · 1:55:22

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 38:18Opening temple scene ('throw me the idol'), Egypt fight scene with Ford shooting the sword guy, and Indy finding the arc with the staff of Ra
Chris Ryan▶ 38:56Strongly supports the opening sequence, highlighting Soderbergh's black and white version and the visual storytelling efficiency
Sean Fennessey▶ 39:45Supports the opening temple scene, emphasizing the iconography and practical filmmaking elements

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 56:41Paul Freeman's fly-in-mouth moment as Belloq, Nazis as villains, and bars in the middle of nowhere like Karen Allen's Nepal bar
Chris Ryan▶ 57:24The small detail of the male student leaving an apple for Indiana Jones in his classroom
Sean Fennessey▶ 57:03The rocket launcher moment when Belloq says 'we all go' and Karen Allen going from Cruising to Raiders of the Lost Ark

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:41Paul Freeman's casting and performance, the monkey character, the sequel Temple of Doom, and the decision to cut the Playboy elements from Indy's character
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:09The monkey character - questions how you could train a monkey to be like an undercover cop
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:08:40Temple of Doom - lost the tone of Indiana Jones, became too slapsticky and like a clown show

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:52Jeff Bridges — Discussed multiple casting alternatives including Jeff Bridges (doesn't think he would have been as good as Ford), Tom Selleck (would have been interesting but Ford was better choice), and provided extensive background on the casting process
Chris Ryan▶ 1:14:11Jeff Bridges — Thinks Jeff Bridges would have been good as Indiana Jones, comparing it to 'the vanishing crossed with Indiana Jones'
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:15:22Jeff Bridges — Jeff Bridges would have been good but lacks the 'hard nosed thing' that Ford has for fighting scenes. Acknowledges Tom Selleck could have been an icon but doesn't have Ford's exact qualities

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:27Paul Freeman — Paul Freeman as Belloc

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:52Pat Roach — Nominated the eyelid student and the bald, bare-knuckle Nazi guy (Pat Roach) who dies twice
Chris Ryan▶ 1:24:16Suggested Mr. Katanga and the Cairo swordsman, but proposed the swordsman for a new 'reverse Dion Waiters' award instead

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:31Shares extensive trivia including Lucas and Spielberg's salaries, filming difficulties in Tunisia with 130-degree heat and dysentery affecting the crew, monkey salute scene taking 50 takes, Frank Marshall as pilot, stock footage usage, R2-D2/C-3PO hieroglyphics easter egg, bullwhip auction price of $43,000, Harrison Ford doing his own stunts and getting injured
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:20Adds research about Vivian Kubrick halting production for multiple days over snake treatment on set, discusses Lucas never making his promised art films, guesses $2 million for bullwhip price, questions PG rating given violence
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:30:10Contributes clarifications about Tunisia being Tatooine, Harrison Ford being 38-39 during filming (same as his current age), and questions about Ford's physical capabilities, but mostly responds to others' research rather than presenting original facts

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:28Harrison Ford — Yes for Harrison Ford - in middle of Star Wars trilogy with Blade Runner coming, can do whatever movie he wants after this
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:29Harrison Ford — Yes for Harrison Ford - an Apex Mountain that lasts two decades
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:35:04Discusses various people's careers but doesn't give clear yes/no positions - mentions JJ Abrams wrote Regarding Henry, questions John Williams timeline

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:28Multiple unanswerable questions including Marion's bar economics, why Belloq's head explosion didn't become the go-to reference over Scanners, would Tom Selleck have made it much worse, does E.T. happen without this movie (odds are no), is Indy's bag a satchel or man purse (goes with satchel), is Indiana Jones an archaeologist or looter, what motivates Indiana Jones, and what memorabilia would you want (suggests the medallion or Indy's satchel)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:09Weighs in on face melting being graphic for tweets, Indiana Jones as looter vs archaeologist (notes tide changing on museums), Marion's costume changes throughout the movie, Sala's nonchalant reaction to Marion's death, Jones being motivated by being part of history, and wants Katanga's white turtleneck as memorabilia
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:44:39Discusses various questions including Marion's bar setup, why Scanners head explosion is more satisfying than Belloq's, Tom Selleck hypothetical, what actually motivates Indiana Jones (not money, he donates items to museums, seems like perverted version of fame), and questions why a professor would steal idols from temples

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:26Steven Spielberg — Spielberg - because he resuscitated his career after 1941, got profit participation, and also developed E.T. with Ford's wife during production
Chris Ryan▶ 1:53:21Harrison Ford — Ford - noting this starts a 20-year run for Ford and that he's underrated
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:51:55Steven Spielberg — Spielberg - because this made him 'the king of Hollywood' and bulletproof for his career

Movies Referenced (64)

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

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jaws (1975)

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Superman (2025)

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blade Runner (1982)

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 17:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Covenant (2023)

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 12:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chariots of Fire (1981)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 32:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Klaus (2019)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Boogie Nights (1997)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 55:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Graffiti (1973)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 5:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Atlantic City (1980)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 33:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Body Heat (1981)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 12:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Regarding Henry (1991)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (14)

Steven Spielberg

41 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 3:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Philip Kaufman

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Right Stuff, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Raiders of the Lost Ark▶ 4:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andrea Bias

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Black Adam, A Simple Favor, The Intern▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Marshall

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Raiders of the Lost Ark▶ 4:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Nichols

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Graduate▶ 1:29:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Warren Beatty

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Heaven Can Wait▶ 33:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hugh Hudson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Chariots of Fire▶ 33:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hancock▶ 38:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Soderbergh

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Traffic▶ 38:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vivian Kubrick

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Full Metal Jacket▶ 1:31:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Douglas Slocum

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Easy A, My Big Fat Greek Wedding▶ 14:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Mangold

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Logan▶ 32:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (78)

Indy Jones

35 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 44:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeff Bridges

26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Big Lebowski, Crazy Heart, True Grit▶ 1:13:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Karen Allen

24 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Starman▶ 8:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harrison Ford

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 17:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Selleck

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kate Winslet

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Revolutionary Road, Titanic▶ 10:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Klaus Kinski

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Williams

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Jurassic Park, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope▶ 14:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kathleen Turner

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Romancing the Stone, Peggy Sue Got Married, Body Heat▶ 1:25:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tunisia Hardison

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:28:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Empire of the Sun

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Sex Tape, Hall Pass▶ 12:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Han Solo

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 12:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

George Lucas

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, THX 1138, American Graffiti▶ 4:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lawrence Kasdan

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Big Chill, Wyatt Earp▶ 4:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 36:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don Winslow

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Crime 101▶ 8:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

J.J. Abrams

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Star Trek▶ 1:35:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Michael Kahn

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Jurassic Park, Minority Report▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Fuhrer

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Lord of the Flies▶ 53:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗