CLASSIC INDY: NIGHT-TIME SCARES!

The jungle at night can be a weird and dangerous place, as out of place showgirl and musician Willie Scott soon discovers in a fun comedy sequence for Kate Capshaw and her fellow Indiana Jones stars, before the darkness of Mola Ram emerges, from 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

CLASSIC INDY: ON A CLIFFHANGER!

Indy and friends may have managed to evade the evil Irina Spalko as they enter the final stage of their wet and chaotic journey to Eldrorado, but the Russian villainess will soon catch up with them, despite her current predicament!

Acclaimed Australian actress Cate Blanchett was a fine addition to the adventure that was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

CLASSIC INDY: 'TRUST HIM!'

UK quad poster art, possibly incorporating art by Tom Jung.

No matter how tight the spot, no matter how much danger he and Marion Ravenwood find themselves in whilst fighting the dreaded Nazis over the Lost Ark of the Covenant, you can always rely on the courageous and inspirational hero that is Indiana Jones to save the day. And if there's some fortune and glory to be had along the way, then so much the better!

Happy Forty-Fifth Anniversary this year to Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark!

CLASSIC INDY: AN 'INTOLERABLE' SITUATION!

They've been captured by those damn Nazis, betrayed by a once friend, and now imprisoned in a castle on the Austrian border, where they soon find themselves in an inferno. But through it all, Indiana Jones and his 'dad' will get through such hardship via the pure cinematic adventure and humour that is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

CLASSIC INDY: INDY vs MOLA!

It's the greatest fight for survival ever for our intrepid hero Indiana Jones as he takes on the remaining warriors of the horrific Thuggee Cult and their brutal, terrifying leader Mola Ram, possessed with devilish powers. It's action and excitement all the way high above the Pankot landscape, and across a rickety rope bridge, no less! 

Another classic sequence from the under-appreciated Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

CLASSIC INDY: FIRE FIGHTING!

Indy's rescue of Marion Ravenwood within her Tibetan-based bar turned inferno soon sees him face off against a dangerous force of Nazi acolytes (including regular stuntman Pat Roach as a brutal Mongolian) intent on murdering him without compunction. Cue breathless action, violence and humour as only a classic Indiana Jones movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark can deliver!

CLASSIC INDY: WHERE'S THE ANTIDOTE?

Chaos has erupted within the glamorous environs of the famous Club Obi Wan in Shanghai, as a poisoned Indiana Jones struggles to recover an antidote to his deadly condition from the domineering gangster entrepreneur Lao-Che and his sinister henchman, in this great movie card publicity for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, from 1984.

CLASSIC INDY: METAL MAYHEM!

A sequence rich in action, suspense, danger, heroism and emotional humour, heightened by a terrific score from John Williams, the battle by Indy to rescue his father from the belly of a German tank was surely one of the indomitable physical highlights of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade back in 1989, filmed in Spain in spectacular and explosive fashion by an enthused crew led by Steven Spielberg, and a wonderful example of why the Indy franchise has endured and remains superior to so many action movies before and since.

CLASSIC INDY: EAST VS WEST!

Telepathy, mind control and the ultimate search for infinite knowledge are the goals of the ambitious Russian soldier and political leader Irina Spalko as she soon locks wits and physical skills against the older but never more spirited American hero Indiana Jones, in this great posed image at the Area 51 location, from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

Quentin Tarantino ranks Crystal Skull above The Last Crusade

CLASSIC INDY: GETTING THE BIGGER PICTURE!

At Elstree Studios, Steven Spielberg, ever the keen visualist, sprawls across the planned Tunisian location diorama for the Nazi desert base and prepares his future directorial shot. A now-classic image behind the scenes image from Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.

CLASSIC INDY: FILLING IN FOR HARRISON!

A clearly fatigued from long filming hours Kate Capshaw gets some support from director and eventual husband Steven Spielberg, as well as the young and enthused Ke Huy Quan, in this intriguing shot taken within the Thuggee cavern set at Elstree, as the actors film their scenes around a hospital recovering Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

It's great to see Ke Huy Quan back in cinemas for the acclaimed new modern fantasy adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once, opposite the iconic Michelle Yeoh.

Ke Huy Quan on the Long, Hard Journey From 'Indiana Jones' to 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' | GQ

CLASSIC INDY: INDY VS THE MACHINE MAN!

The ultimate showdown between the forces of good and evil as Indiana Jones takes on the despicable German SS nasty Helmut Von Mephisto for control of an ancient civilisation's mysterious and lethal power, in this great cover art by Greg Knight for the much-missed author J.W. Rinzler's one and only Indiana Jones Young Readers Adventure published specifically for the US during 2009: Indiana Jones and the Mystery of Mount Sinai, a lively read where Rinzler channels the adventure of Raiders of the Lost Ark (bringing back two of the story's semi-supporting characters in the process) with a World War II era semi-prequel to the then 2008 released Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Intriguingly, the villainous Mephisto, with his Darth-Vader like mechanical arm/energy discharging weapon, would be inspired by a villain of the same name from the ultimately aborted Indiana Jones and the Monkey King movie script.

CLASSIC INDY: DECIPHERING THE OXLEY CODE!

Now held captive by the Russians, Indy tries to work out the mystery visual language linked to the location of El Dorado referenced by his mentally incapacitated friend and mentor, Harold Oxley, in a memorable moment for the under-used Sir John Hurt, during the events of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

CLASSIC INDY: INDY THE LIBERATOR!

It's been a death-defying (literally!) adventure for Indiana Jones and his weary travelling companion Willie Scott, but the smiling faces of the liberated Indian slave children running towards their loving parents more than makes up for their past harrowing troubles, in this memorable finale to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

CLASSIC INDY: 'IT BELONGS IN A MUSUEM!'

It's been a pursuit that has taken him across the world since his teenage years, now Indiana Jones' personal quest to recover the stolen Cross Of Coronado nears success. But first he has to retrieve it from the evil 'Carnation Man' and get off a doomed sea transport, in this superb action scene concluding the vigorous past prologue opening to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989.

'RAIDERS' AT 40: OPENING THE ARK!

The Ark has once more fallen back into Nazi hands, of which our heroes are now resultantly captured and await their deaths. But not before the ancient and mysterious relic is opened to Belloq and company in a special Jewish festival (unnerving to the Germans) that will hopefully unlock the Ark's deepest secrets prior to its delivery to the power-mad Adolf Hitler.

Indy knows the potential dangers ahead and warns Marion to keep her eyes shut.

Spielberg and Ford in between takes.

'RAIDERS' AT 40: THE ARK IS THEIRS!

Overriding his fear of snakes (in this case thousands of them!), Indy, having found the perilous underground location of the Well of Souls, accompanied by his loyal friend Sallah, uncovers the eerie lost Ark of the Covenant before the Germans can. What could possibly go wrong from here!

'RAIDERS' AT 40: STREET FIGHTER!

Having met their friend Sallah and discussed the Nazis nearby archaeological dig search for the Lost Ark, Indy and Marion's at first pleasant trip to the local Cairo market ultimately turns into a comedic/dramatic fight for survival, of which Marion is soon presumed dead after an incident involving an explosives- filled truck.

Still one of the best action sequences of not just Raiders of the Lost Ark but also the Indiana Jones saga, as Indy uses his trademark bullwhip to superb effect on his attackers, in a sequence heightened by great stunt choreography mixing thrills with humour, and great music from John Williams.

The complete Indiana Jones series (so far) comes to 4K box set this June, 2021:

Exclusive UK release details here;

https://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/indiana-jones-zavvi-exclusive-4-movie-collection-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-steelbook-9-disc-version/12956689.html

Zavvi exclusive UK disc set release.

Main release packaging/details.

'RAIDERS' AT 40: ENTER MARION RAVENWOOD!

The last few years haven't been kind to Marion Ravenwood - separating badly from the man she was foolishly, madly in love with at such a young age: Indiana Jones, and having endured the tragic death of her archaeologist father, the esteemed Abner, who'd ultimately leave her near penniless and relatively stranded outside of the US to run a dingy bar in the middle of nowhere, Tibet. Now, however, she's luckily found herself with an opportunity to escape her woes and finally make some good money, via a so-called 'worthless medallion' that once belonged to Abner in his search for the legendary 'Lost Ark of the Covenant'. It's a striking piece with an eerie and uncanny aura about it that soon brings more trouble, danger and 'wrath of god' incident than even she could ever think possible!

Rising star stage and screen actress, Karen Allen, having nearly turned the film down originally, proved a spectacular casting choice to play the sassy, spiky yet vulnerable and heroic Marion, lover, capable equal and comrade to Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, of which, with her showcase performance and a great script to work on from Lawrence Kasdan, the actress/character rightly remains the franchise heroine opposite its lead star in Harrison Ford.

'RAIDERS' AT 40: ROLLER BALL OF DEATH!

He's risked life and limb to acquire the golden idol of the Hovitos tribe, now Indiana Jones faces the final oncoming risk to his life, in a classic scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and another great homage to the regular matinee action/adventure B/W cliffhanger series that Lucas and Spielberg had eagerly enjoyed as children.

Interestingly, though he had departed the Star Wars saga at this point, the now London-based producer Gary Kurtz can be seen on set hurriedly running back alongside Harrison Ford, taking key stills photography during camera/stunt rehearsals at Elstree Studios.