Home/Episodes/Raiders of the Lost Ark
‘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 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening 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▶ 38:18
Chris RyanStrongly supports the opening sequence, highlighting Soderbergh's black and white version and the visual storytelling efficiency▶ 38:56
Sean FennesseySupports the opening temple scene, emphasizing the iconography and practical filmmaking elements▶ 39:45
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsPaul Freeman's fly-in-mouth moment as Belloq, Nazis as villains, and bars in the middle of nowhere like Karen Allen's Nepal bar▶ 56:41
Chris RyanThe small detail of the male student leaving an apple for Indiana Jones in his classroom▶ 57:24
Sean FennesseyThe rocket launcher moment when Belloq says 'we all go' and Karen Allen going from Cruising to Raiders of the Lost Ark▶ 57:03
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsPaul 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▶ 1:06:41
Chris RyanThe monkey character - questions how you could train a monkey to be like an undercover cop▶ 1:07:09
Sean FennesseyTemple of Doom - lost the tone of Indiana Jones, became too slapsticky and like a clown show▶ 1:08:40
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJeff 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▶ 1:13:52
Chris RyanJeff Bridges — Thinks Jeff Bridges would have been good as Indiana Jones, comparing it to 'the vanishing crossed with Indiana Jones'▶ 1:14:11
Sean FennesseyJeff 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▶ 1:15:22
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsPat Roach — Nominated the eyelid student and the bald, bare-knuckle Nazi guy (Pat Roach) who dies twice▶ 1:23:52
Chris RyanGeorge Harris — Suggested Mr. Katanga and the Cairo swordsman, but proposed the swordsman for a new 'reverse Dion Waiters' award instead▶ 1:24:16
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShares 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▶ 1:26:31
Chris RyanAdds 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▶ 1:31:20
Sean FennesseyContributes 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▶ 1:30:10
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsHarrison Ford — Yes for Harrison Ford - in middle of Star Wars trilogy with Blade Runner coming, can do whatever movie he wants after this▶ 1:34:28
Sean FennesseyDiscusses various people's careers but doesn't give clear yes/no positions - mentions JJ Abrams wrote Regarding Henry, questions John Williams timeline▶ 1:35:04
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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)▶ 1:44:28
Chris RyanWeighs 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▶ 1:45:09
Sean FennesseyDiscusses 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▶ 1:44:39
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsSteven Spielberg — Spielberg - because he resuscitated his career after 1941, got profit participation, and also developed E.T. with Ford's wife during production▶ 1:52:26
Chris RyanHarrison Ford — Ford - noting this starts a 20-year run for Ford and that he's underrated▶ 1:53:21
Sean FennesseySteven Spielberg — Spielberg - because this made him 'the king of Hollywood' and bulletproof for his career▶ 1:51:55
Movies Referenced (56)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:55 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:55 |
| Superman (2025) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 23:23 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:55 |
| The Covenant (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:06 |
| Chariots of Fire (1981) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 32:53 |
| Klaus (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:19:25 |
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 55:07 |
| American Graffiti (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:44 |
| Trading Places (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:35:23 |
| Apocalypse Now (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:55 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:37:08 |
Directors Referenced (14)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 41 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 3:53 |
| Philip Kaufman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Raiders of the Lost Ark | ▶ 4:51 |
| Andrea Bias | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Black Adam, A Simple Favor, The Intern | ▶ 0:00 |
| Frank Marshall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Raiders of the Lost Ark | ▶ 4:51 |
| Mike Nichols | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Graduate | ▶ 1:29:05 |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 33:18 |
| Hugh Hudson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Chariots of Fire | ▶ 33:25 |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Hancock | ▶ 38:11 |
| Steven Soderbergh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 38:56 | |
| Vivian Kubrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Full Metal Jacket | ▶ 1:31:20 |
| Douglas Slocum | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Easy A, My Big Fat Greek Wedding | ▶ 14:35 |
| James Mangold | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 32:23 |
Actors Referenced (79)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indy Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 35 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 44:17 | |
| Jeff Bridges | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 26 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Big Lebowski, True Grit | ▶ 1:13:41 |
| Karen Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Starman | ▶ 8:50 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 17:49 |
| Tom Selleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:15:27 | |
| Kate Winslet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Revolutionary Road, Titanic | ▶ 10:27 |
| Klaus Kinski | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:19:25 | |
| John Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Jurassic Park, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope | ▶ 14:04 |
| Kathleen Turner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Romancing the Stone, Peggy Sue Got Married, Body Heat | ▶ 1:25:11 |
| Tunisia Hardison | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:28:43 | |
| Empire of the Sun | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Sex Tape, Hall Pass | ▶ 12:50 |
| Han Solo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:45 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Lucas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 27 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti | ▶ 4:51 |
| Lawrence Kasdan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Big Chill | ▶ 4:51 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 36:20 | |
| Don Winslow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:38 | |
| J.J. Abrams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Star Trek | ▶ 1:35:04 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Kahn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Jurassic Park, Minority Report | ▶ 0:00 |
| Martin Fuhrer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Lord of the Flies | ▶ 53:53 |