The Last Crusade is probably the Indy film I am most fond of. This was the first Indiana Jones film I got to see in the theater, which was rare for me as a kid. Our neighbor, Mrs. Johnson, would occasionally take my brother and I to the theater to watch new movies. This happened to be one of those films. I remember an early teaser for this film on an old VHS tape we owned. What movie? Couldn’t tell you. But it essentially was behind-the-scenes footage of the film letting you know it was in production. I even remember a bit where Harrison Ford’s hat kept falling off, so they cut to a shot of him stapling the hat to his head. Did he actually do that? Of course not but it was believable enough to a 9-year-old.
Now trying to decide whether Raiders or the Last Crusade is the better movie is pretty hard for me personally. Seeing as how Spielberg himself has said this is his favorite, I think you’d be in good company. Am I saying that I agree? Not yet but I may before this is over.
The opening scene is a treat, getting to see a young Henry Jones Jr. start down his path of exciting archeology. While I don’t think River Phoenix was necessarily the right choice to portray a younger Harrison Ford, Ford handpicked Phoenix to play the role. And there’s no denying his performance is solid, so I let it pass. And obviously, this opening is what inspired the creation of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. George Lucas had apparently offered River Phoenix the opportunity to reprise the role for the series, but he turned it down. It makes me wonder what his career would have looked like had he not passed at a young age. Would him taking this series have changed anything for him? It’s possible but not a guarantee either.
While on the subject of this scene, was it TRULY necessary to see how Indy got his chin scar? As a kid, it never crossed my mind, but I’ve seen it so much in prequels nowadays that it’s becoming an annoying trope. It’s not necessary to see how a character gets a jacket or a gun or whatever else they own UNLESS it’s incredibly important to the story. Same with the whip! Did he take that one home or something because I don’t remember him having it on him when he returned home. The snake bit wasn’t a bad choice though. Falling into a pit of vipers would traumatize anyone.
I can make the same argument with how he got the fedora, but in some way, it feels less ham-fisted than the scar. I can kinda see the guy giving Indy the hat as a sort of peace offering. Why he would then rip-off the guy’s whole look is a bigger mystery. The man who played the aptly named “Fedora” is actor Richard Young who unfortunately is only best known for this film, despite being in over 50 different film and TV projects, one being Friday the 13th part V where I knew him prior to this film. Now, if you’re asking yourself, “How would you have known him from Friday the 13th part V before this? You would have been between 5 and 9 between the release of both movies!” I’m sure I’ve mentioned it on Horror Ramblings, so go listen to our Friday the 13th episode.
Anyway, Richard Young’s part could have added a wrinkle or a plot hole into the story had they not changed one minor detail. It seems in earlier drafts of the script, his character name was not “Fedora” but instead Abner Ravenwood. Now, would that have complicated matters with Marion’s age? Possibly if she wasn’t born yet, but we’ll never know since this is not Abner. We also get another random villain that Indy is tussling with like Lao Che before him. While it could be problematic narratively in some ways, I think it works for this series to establish that Indy has screwed over quite a few people in search of rare artifacts that clearly belong in a museum. That said, the name “Panama Hat” needs some work… like a lot.
Denholm Elliot returns as Marcus Brody. I would have mentioned his appearance in Raiders, but his role was so miniscule compared to Last Crusade. Here, the man becomes part of the adventure and the movie is all the better for it. He can play serious and comedic in the same film, and it never feels inapt. He also says one of my all-time favorite lines in a movie…
Like, who the fuck thought of that and then wrote it down on paper. Sure, I guess there’s truth in it, even if it’s not in the way we think… but still!
I was so happy to see Sallah again, portrayed by the talented John Rhys-Davies. I’m glad they’ve used the character sparingly and haven’t tried to force him into adventures where he shouldn’t be. He also provides some comedic moments in the film. One of my favorites is when he’s trying to distract the Nazi gestapo while telling Brody to run. His timing and rhythms are on-point and makes me laugh every time.
Julian Glover is another career actor that is probably best known for this film. Either that or being General Veers in Empire Strikes Back. I almost didn’t recognize him in the Disney+ series Willow because I hadn’t seen him in such a long time. He’s been working steadily since this film with almost 200 titles under his belt. Just not in projects I’ve seen, so that’s on me. But the guy is a fantastic villain. Even knowing he’s the bad guy upon rewatch, he doesn’t play his hand when meeting Indy for the first time. Nothing about Donovan immediately screams “bad guy,” even though we know it.
Then we have the blonde bombshell that is Alison Doody. This Dublin born actress is probably known more for her modeling work than acting, even though she’s done a bit in her time. The only other film I know I’ve seen her in is Major League II. Had no idea she was in the breakout hit of 2022, RRR (Rise Roar Revolt). The film has been recommended to me, but… eh… the highlights were enough. I enjoyed the character of Elsa in the sense that we hadn’t seen Indy in THIS kind of predicament. In prior films, he always had his damsel. Here, the damsel is also the bad guy which subverts our expectations. It was more of a twist than Donovan.
Finally, we have to discuss Sean Connery. While the man may not have been at an age to actually BE Harrison Ford’s father, his portrayal of the character and his chemistry with Ford makes it completely believable. And returning to that James Bond trivia, Speilberg knew what he was doing. Bond is Jones’ dad, in essence at least. It all comes back to Bond. And while there were other choices in case Connery said “no,” I’m so glad he didn’t because I can’t think of another actor who would have nailed the role like he did. Can you imagine Gregory Peck in the role? Also, I can’t say the word “junior” without this innate desire to say it like Connery.
So far, I have barely discussed any of the McGuffins, as they are so affectionately referred to. The Ark and the Sankara Stones seemingly represented a great power that was being chased by villains who craved this power. It’s a simple concept I understand but cannot relate to. With the Holy Grail, I completely understand the desire for eternal life. If the opportunity was presented to me, I would probably act first and think about consequences later. Would I be a Donovan about it? I wouldn’t think so but who knows? Because of this, I feel the search for the Grail is a much more fascinating tale overall. Which means I think I’m saying this is the better movie.
As a person who does not classify as religious or spiritual, there are concepts that I do find fascinating. With religion like Christianity, I can find the lore appealing at times. Much in the way this film and Raiders posits much of the artifacts in their respective films. It never feels like something more than a legend and it’s more appealing to me that way. Much in the same way Greek mythology is usually presented. And I mean no disrespect to anyone listening who may be a Christian. Believing in biblical stories is a stretch for me, but again no disrespect for those who do. I just find them to be captivating tall tales when presented a certain way.
The rat scene under the library never bothered me like the snake pit. I can’t say I would WANT to be in that situation, but rats terrify me way less than snakes. (shudder) The chase scene from the Nazis out of Austria is a great chase scene with some creative ways of dispatching the bad guys. While it was amusing for me, it wasn’t for Henry which in itself was even more amusing to me. That glare he gives. I don’t know if it’s disappointment or what? But it’s so damn funny to me. The escape from the blimp is another great getaway scene, especially when Henry shoots the tail of the plane. Credit to him for playing it cool and blaming the Nazis.
The rescue of Marcus is another fantastic action set piece, especially the fight on the tank itself. Things get pretty intense. I’ve always wondered what would happen IF Indy had been dragged through that piece of dirt and rock. Because I want you to think about it for a moment, if the tank hits the rock, it could potentially get stuck upon hitting it. If that’s the case, there’s nothing behind Indy that would potentially crush him to death. Sure it could be like slamming into a wall which would hurt. Furthermore, I personally believe the tank has the power to push through the dirt and rock. And if it did, Indy would be pushed through it BUT I cannot imagine anything more than a hefty beating… possibly. I’ve thought about that scene a lot. And I’m probably wrong about it all. Mythbusters should do an episode.
The trials for the grail are another highlight for me. Something simplistic about the ideas and what they represent feels so on point. You MUST know what the riddles of these trails mean to pass them and they work in the context of Christianity. They don’t feel overly outlandish. The effects for Donovan decaying after drinking from the wrong cup is some next level special effects work that would have easily been CG today. And I get it. That whole sequence which runs about 30 seconds took over three months to complete. But it was worth it in my opinion. Effects, CG or otherwise, take time to refine. Studios need to slow down and allow effects teams to do their jobs. I’m looking at you Marvel.
I also have wondered about the Grail itself. Now, according to the Knight, the Grail could not pass beyond the great seal. So IF the Grail never left the temple, would Indy and Henry be immortal? Or did they have to remain in the temple for that to stay in effect? I was never 100% sure how that worked. If anyone has clarification, I’d love to hear it.
No surprise that John Williams returns once again for the score. There are quite a few choice compositions this time. “On the Tank” adds to the intensity of the situation already present, accentuating every element. Same goes with “Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra” during that chase scene. “The Keeper of the Grail” feels on point with the presentation of the Knight himself. But the best composition is found in “Indy’s Very First Adventure.” This was the theme that Peter Griffin hums in the season 10 episode “Seahorse Shell Party”.
Because of that, I now do it too. But it IS a catchy theme and sets the tone going forward. Something I have to give credit to John Williams for is only reusing the Raiders March in these films since it became synonymous with Indiana Jones. Beyond that, every score is unique in its own way.
Seeing how, like so many of us, I believed this was going to be the final Indiana Jones film, there was a time I hoped that news would come down the pipeline that another one was in production. However, after some time had passed, I accepted the fact that The Last Crusade was the end of the line. Little did I know I would be proven wrong, for good or for ill. Had this particular film been the end of Indy’s adventures, you have to admit that this would have been an amazing note to go out on. In fact, I think the idea of attempting to top the Last Crusade is what kept Spielberg and Lucas from doing another sequel for so long. And we’ll talk about that journey next time!
Pencil & Paper Productions 