Sometimes the best moments in a movie are thanks to chance or a spontaneous idea. This was also the case with an iconic scene from Indiana Jones.
Which scene is it? Do you remember that moment in the first part of Indiana Jones, where Harrison Ford as Indy stands in a marketplace and is about to engage in a dramatic duel with a swordsman?
The two men are surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, and everyone is eagerly waiting for the moment when Indy duels the challenger with the saber.
But it turns out differently than expected. While the swordsman, wrapped in black robes, wildly swings his weapon, Indiana Jones quickly pulls out his revolver and shoots the poor guy down. He then turns to the camera. His face in that moment speaks volumes: He simply didn’t feel like an honorable duel.
Here you can see the scene:
The resolution of the scene fits well with the character of the adventurer Indiana Jones. He does not want to waste time with this unwanted situation and takes the easy way out, which makes him appear tough and cool.
This scene was not in the script but was changed on set. The reason for this was a rampant illness that restricted the crew and actors in their work.
Indiana Jones will soon also be in a new video game. Here you can see the gameplay trailer:
The Sick Harrison Ford Did Not Want to Fight
What happened on set? Parts of the filming crew were infected with dysentery at that time. This is an inflammation of the intestines caused by bacteria. Those affected suffer from abdominal pain or diarrhea, among other symptoms (via flexikon.doccheck.com)
Harrison Ford was also affected. When the day came for the actor to face his adversary with a whip in hand, Ford turned to director Steven Spielberg, who has his own rituals during filming.
Ford asked for a change to the scene. CNN recalls the actor reminiscing about that time:
We were supposed to film a four-day whip and saber fight in a marketplace. And I was suffering from dysentery, just like many crew members. … So it was up to me to say: ‘Listen, I can’t stay outside the dressing room for long. Should we consider shortening the scene?’ And Steven said, ‘I was just thinking about that myself!’
Harrison Ford via CNN
So they decided to change it and let Indiana Jones resort to dishonorable means. The actor Terry Richards, who played the swordsman, probably wasn’t very pleased about this.
According to Harrison Ford, he had trained for about four months for the fight. All for nothing, as the circumstances required a change in the script.
Nevertheless, or precisely because of this change, the scene became very famous and has become one of the iconic moments of the Indiana Jones character. The casual way just suits him well, and it is questionable whether he would have had any chance against a seasoned swordsman in close combat, whip or not.
What do you think of the scene? Did you know that it was originally supposed to look different? Do you know any other interesting facts about Indiana Jones? If so, feel free to let us know in the comments. By the way, Harrison Ford cannot bear the thought of retirement and is still working at 81 years old.
