INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
US, 1989, 127 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, River Phoenix, Denholm Elliot, Allison Goody.
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a rousing finale to the Indiana Jones trilogy. The heroes ride, literally, into the sunset. The plot ingredients are much the same: an enjoyable Utah prologue with River Phoenix as the earnest young Indy; rowdy adventures, a touch of the university and then a quest for the Holy Grail that uses spectacular locations in Venice, Austria, Berlin (with a good Hitler joke), Jordan and a climax in Rose- Rock Petra.
Steven Spielberg has perfected his matinee style and Harrison Ford (with jokey references to the previous films) is at ease as Jones. The extra pleasure of this film is Sean Connery as Professor Henry Jones, a bespectacled umbrella-carrying scholar who gets caught up in the impossible adventures - the pleasure and joke being that Connery plays against James Bond type. In fact, he gives the film a nice touch of humour and humanity. Most fans will enjoy the film with some affection. It is a rousing finale to rousing adventures.
1. The popularity of Indiana Jones? The matinee hero, matinee action? Indiana Jones as an icon of the '80s? The success of the trilogy?
2. Colour photography and locations, Utah, the ocean, university, Venice, Austria, Berlin, Jordan? Editing and pace? Stunts and special effects? The musical score and John Williams' theme?
3. Keeping the memory of the serials, the cliff-hanging climaxes, the quick pace and style? The echoing of the other films in the series, in-jokes?
4. The prologue: Utah, the scouts, the precious cross, the thieves, Indiana Jones and his righteousness, the search, confronting the thieves, on horseback (after falling)? The chase, the train, the circus, the stunt work on the train, with the animals, the magic? Getting home, his encounter with his father? The sheriff, the group winning out, the villain with his hat? Indiana Jones and the shaping of his future? The gift of the hat and the whip? The cut on his chin from the whip?
5. The transition to the Atlantic Ocean, the fight, action at sea, the villain, explosions? To the quiet of the university, giving the cross to Marcus? The lecture, the adulation of the girls in his office?
6. Speaking with Donovan, the theme of the Holy Grail, Donovan's explanations, the mystique of the Grail, the disappearance of his father? Indiana and Marcus going? The map of the flight?
7. The beauty of Venice, meeting Elsa, going to the library, the search in the cellar, the discovery of the numbers, the rats and the petroleum fire? The tomb of the knight? Matching the document with Donovan's document, the information of where the grail was? The boat chase in the Venice harbour, the dangers and action? The knights protecting the Grail? Elsa and her presence, her help, Indy's relationship with her?
8. Going to Austria, the castle and the butler, coming in through the window, discovering his father, the name `Junior'? Their clashes? Their being tied up, Elsa as a Nazi, the Nazi officer, the headquarters in Austria, the events of 1938? The revolving door, the stairway, the fire, the escape on the bike? The decision to go to Berlin to get the diary?
9. Berlin, the seriousness of the burning of the books, the Nazi rally, Elsa's presence but her saving Indiana? The confrontation with Hitler - and his signing the diary with his autograph? The Zeppelin, the luxury of the Zeppelin, the Nazi officer, Indy's disguise and throwing the officer out of the Zeppelin and everybody getting their ticket? Getting into the plane, the flying, Professor Jones shooting the tail of the plane, the pursuit? The crash-landing? Taking the car? Professor Jones and the umbrella with the birds thwarting the plane?
10. Donovan in league with the Nazis, his ambitions? The interview with the sheikh and offering the jewels - but his wanting the car? The expedition, Marcus and his wandering the Middle East, imprisoned?
11. The trek across the desert, the knight protectors and their attack on the Nazis, the battle? Indiana and his pursuit? On the horse, pursuing the tank, the explosions? Professor Jones meeting Marcus? In the tank, their escape, Indy and his derring-do on the tank, the fights? The crash over the cliff? The three watching - and Indiana's survival?
12. Indiana and his heroism, humanity, quips, experience, meeting his father, his father's manner, the importance of the diary and the search for the Grail, the relationship between father and son, the father's preoccupation, his theory of making his son self-resourceful, his father's speech on the cliff? The reconciliation?
13. Sean Connery's sketch of Professor Jones, playing against type, his hat, bag, umbrella, spectacles? His diary, memory? Involvement in the adventures? The difference from his son?
14. The arrival of Petra, Professor Jones being shot, the quest for the Grail, the three endurance tests and the deaths? Indiana and the memory, kneeling in humility, the letters of Jehovah's name, the leap in faith and the path across the chasm? The knight and his presence, the 700 years? Donovan and his greed, the wrong Grail and his corruption? The healing of Professor Jones? Elsa and her greed for the Grail and her death? Indiana giving it up and learning wisdom?
14. The riding into the sunset of Indiana, Professor, Marcus and their Arab help?
15. Steven Spielberg's intentions with the Indiana Jones trilogy? Their achievement? Three films embodying the entertainment values - and the need for heroes and good and evil struggles in the '80s?
