CLASSIC RAIDERS: BAR FIGHT!

Within the fiery interior of Marion Ravenwood's bar in frosty Nepal, Indiana Jones life is under threat once more -this time from one of Toht's "Mean Mongolians" (as played by Indy Classic Trilogy action veteran, the late Pat Roach), in another classic scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, celebrating it's Thirtieth Anniversary this year (with the Blu-rays arriving in late 2012).

CLASSIC RAIDERS: COMES A HORSEMAN!

Telling Marion and Sallah, "I'm making it up as I go!", nothing, not even overwhelming Nazi forces and firepower, can stop Indiana Jones from commandeering a horse and going in pursuit of the truck carrying the Ark of the Covenant.

Ballsy, and then some!

INDY TURNS 30! THE "SHORTLIST' CELEBRATION...

Indy goes Warhol on the cover of the UK SHORTLIST magazine!

The latest edition of the free UK men's lifestyle magazine SHORTLIST has a great cover and special, picture packed feature celebrating the birth of Indiana Jones and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK's Thirtieth Anniversary.

Check it out on their online site here: Indy turns 30 / Films / ShortList Magazine

CLASSIC RAIDERS: DISCUSSING THE LOST ARK

Back in his regular job as University Professor, Indiana Jones and his loyal friend and boss, Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot), consult with two members of US Military intelligence- Colonel Musgrove (Don Fellows) and Major Eaton (STAR WARS William Hootkins)- about the Nazi's involvement with their old friend Abner Ravenwood, and his mysterious Staff of Ra...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: SPIELBERG'S ACTING CLASS!

At ELSTREE STUDIOS, Steven Spielberg has a fun time with Harrison Ford emoting the look he wants from Indiana Jones's discovery of the speared cadaver of rival archeologist Forrestal, in one of the classic early scenes of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY'S YOUNG FLAME!

The delightful Karen Allen poses for a lovely promotional picture as spunky Marion Ravenwood in the dress given to her by Captain Kananga from the finale of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Allen as an actress, and Marion as a character, would show great on-screen charisma opposite Ford's Indy and she remains the series ultimate female companion/partner/adventurer. After years of waiting, her later return in THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL was demanded and much appreciated by fans worldwide...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: A MAN AND HIS MONKEY!

Actor Vic Tablian was the eye patched Nazi conspirator in Egypt simply known as Monkey Man, with his partner in crime, the brilliant, Nazi saluting Capuchin Monkey who almost steals the film. Tablian would end up having two roles in RAIDERS. He would also play the villainous Barranca who tried to kill Indy at the beginning of the film, before the discovery of the entrance to the Hovitos warrior tomb/temple.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: MARION IN TROUBLE!

Nazi henchman Toht (Ronald Lacey) makes a dangerous nuisance of himself when he captures Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) in a tense scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: TROUBLE IN CAIRO!

Indy (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen) get into trouble once again-this time on the market streets of Cairo (actually shot in Tunisia)- when they are unexpectedly attacked by Nazi sympathisers in this classic scene of memorable comedy and action from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY'S CELEBRATION!

Time goes so fast when you're having fun! Hard to believe, but it's INDIANA JONES birthday this year-celebrating 30 years of the superb RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. In celebration, every week or so we'll be putting up a classic image from the pioneering action adventure film-its cast, characters and breathtaking stunts.... so enjoy!

First up is the classic poster art in the UK by famous film poster illustrator Amsel, who brilliantly captures Harrison Ford at his best as Indy! The image was also used on the cover of the original UK paperback adaptation, too.

American RAIDERS fans look out for the special screening of a new digitally restored print by OSCARS.ORG on Friday June 17th at 7.30pm with a guest talk from Frank Marshall, Ben Burtt and others...  Here's the link:"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 30th Anniversary Screening | Events Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

BACK ON UK TV: "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK"

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" Indy descends into trouble in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

On BBC 1 and HD today at 9pm, and then the other two to follow each week. I'll be intrigued to see which version of RAIDERS is shown: the original as has been seen on the UK's SKY MOVIES over the last year, or two years ago BBC HD copy, which had a new cgi overlay background sequence during one scene in the truck chase (image below):

Old version 1981

New version for the so far unreleased INDY Blu-rays? With thanks to ORIGINALTRILOGY.COM

I'll never forget seeing RAIDERS for the first time in 1981. I was eleven years old, and I knew nothing about the film apart from seeing some stills in STARBURST magazine (I didn't even know it was set in the 1930's). Me, mum, my brother and his wife (my dad didn't want to come-he regretted it afterwards!) went to the weekend sneak preview midnight screening, the week before its proper release in UK cinemas, at the lovable flea-pit cinema the Streatham ABC, in the days when you didn't book online or phone for tickets, you just went and hoped you got in there! We did, the cinema was jam packed, and we were all blown away by how exciting the film was- and as the opening scene unfolded we were all impressed by Harrison Ford, superb in a role that was meant for him! My love of STAR WARS got me in trouble, though: when I saw William Hootkins in the film, I remember turning round to my mum and saying, "It's Porkins!", to which I got an aggressive "sshhh" from the angry adult above me!

Great days and happy memories!

UPDATE 6/1/2011: The new version of RAIDERS was shown.

INDIANA JONES: AN ANNIVERSARY OF ADVENTURE!



Fans who want to keep up with the Jones's will no doubt enjoy today's all day showing of Indy's feature film adventures on SKY MOVIES ACTION/ADVENTURE in the UK. We can't confirm this but it looks like the screenings, which will be shown in HD, will not be the same HD prints as the ones recently shown on the BBC (of which RAIDERS had a new cgi background effects shot added) - the latter were apparently the versions to have been released on Blu-ray before Spielberg apparently changed his mind and asked for more extensive cleaning up be done to them.

With the thirtieth anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and Indiana Jones next year, lets hope that there are some major league celebrations upcoming planned by LUCASFILM and PARAMOUNT. How about a limited theatrical run of all four films in plush digital screenings at the cinema, or at least RAIDERS, and not just in the US but worldwide, and then release the Blu-rays? How about some kind of cast and crew signings. And OFFICIALPIX, open up your INDY shop again for a limited time to celebrate (with some new images, too!). Perhaps a revised and updated release of the Rinzler making of book with some more publicity on it may be nice to see.

With the recent news that the main cast have been told the apparently "crazy and exciting" story, what's going on with INDY 5? And, with the success of THE CLONE WARS, how about an Indy animated series?

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