Raiders of the Lost Ark History

Original Movie Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Official Revised Title: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Film Production Crew:

Directed by Steven Spielberg (movie director)

Script screenplay written by Lawrence Kasdan

Story idea by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman

Executive producers of Howard Kazanjian, George Lucas and Robert Watts

Produced by Frank Marshall (producer)

Music soundtrack by John Williams (original music composer)

Cinematography by Douglas Slocombe (director of photography)

Movie Film Editing by Michael Kahn

Casting by Mary Selway, Jane Feinberg and Mike Fenton

Set Decoration by Michael Ford

Production Design by Norman Reynolds

Costume Design by Deborah Nadoolman

Art Direction by Leslie Dilley

Special effects by Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)

Cast of Actors:

Actor Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones

Actress Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood

Denholm Elliott as Dr Marcus Brody

Paul Freeman as Dr Rene Belloq

John Rhys Davies as Sallah

Ronald Lacey as Major Arnold Toht

Fred Sorenson as Jock

Alfred Molina as Satipo

Vic Tablian as Barranca

Wolf Kahler as Colonel Dietrich

Anthony Higgins as Gobler

Don Fellows as Colonel Musgrove

William Hootkins as Major Eaton

Release Date in Cineplexes Movie Venues: 12 June 1981 in the United States of America

Film Production Budget: $ 20 million U.S dollars

Box Office Gross in Theaters Cinemas Multiplexes:

$ 243 million U.S. dollars from theaters cineplexes in the United States and Canada

$ 142 million U.S. dollars at cinemas multiplexes in foreign overseas nations and territories

$ 385 million U.S. dollars grand total worldwide box office gross

Box Office Revenues Adjusted For Monetary Inflation Increases:

$ 661 million U.S. dollars at movie venues theatres in North America (United States and Canada)

$ 390 million U.S. dollars from international multiplexes cineplexes

$ 1.047 BILLION U.S. dollars box office earnings globally

DVD Sales in the United States:

3.1 million units sold of the Indiana Jones trilogy DVD package with all three classic Indiana Jones movies including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade

1.4 million copies shifted of the individual DVD of Raiders of the Lost Ark

Historical Date Year Setting: 1936

Plot Script Story Synopsis: The first Indiana Jones movie opens in South America with Indiana Jones in the middle of the search for a golden idol. After much danger and excitement, Indy Jones manages to find the golden idol, but it is taken away from Indiana Jones by the primary villain named Belloq. After returning back to the United States, the United States federal government asks Indy Jones to locate the Ark of the Covenant, which Nazi Germany is seeking in order to give them an invincible military.

Indiana Jones agrees to the quest and subsequently flies to Nepal to inquire about the headpiece of the Staff of Ra, which is the only means to find the true location of the Ark, from Indy Jones' former girlfriend named Marion Ravenwood. Since Marion despises Indy Jones, she informs Indiana Jones that she doesn't know anything about the headpiece. Indy Jones leaves and then evil Nazi minions enter Marion's tavern to retrieve the headpiece. A thrilling action sequence ensues whereby Indy Jones and Marion save each other on several occasions. However, Marion's tavern is destroyed in the process.

Marion tells Indiana Jones that she will give Indy Jones the headpiece if he agrees to make her a partner in the adventure. Next, Indiana Jones and Marion fly to Cairo, Egypt where Indy Jones meets with an old friend name Sallah. Indiana Jones learns from Sallah that the Nazi military is already in Egypt digging for the Ark. Yet Indy Jones knows they are looking in the wrong place since the Nazi don't have the needed headpiece for the Staff of Ra.

Eventually, Indiana Jones discovers the location of the Ark after utilizing the Staff of Ra in a map room. Sallah and Indy Jones enter the Well of Souls and find the Ark. However, the Nazi and Belloq are aware of what the heroes are doing. The villains take the Ark and seal Indiana Jones and Marion in the Well of Souls. The heroes manage to escape successfully. After the legendary chase sequence involving Nazi vehicles, Indy Jones takes back the Ark. However, the villains eventually once again take the Ark back from Indiana Jones.

The film concludes with Belloq and the Nazi opening the Ark. As expected, the supernatural power of the Ark annihilates all the villains. Indy Jones and Marion then transport the Ark to the United States. However, the United States federal government seizes the Ark from the heroes and then hides the Ark in an anonymous government warehouse for permanent storage.

CLICK HERE ENTER SuperShadow: Argue Star Wars with other fans, give your ideas to George Lucas, Indiana Jones 5, Star Wars 10 11 12, Star Wars Pictures, Star Wars Episodes 7 8 9, Star Wars history, Star Wars 7 trailer, Star Wars midichlorian, Jedi Sith, popular Star Wars characters, Star Wars Questions, Star Wars prequel trilogy, Star Wars box office and other data about Star Wars CLICK HERE ENTER SuperShadow