'RAIDERS' AT 35: THE QUEST BEGINS!

Our 35th anniversary celebration of Indiana Jones incredible landmark adventure with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK comes to an end today via this gorgeous art from Tsuneo Sanda, showing our hero at his best, and the dangerous and cliffhanger laden quest he's soon a vital part of.

SANDAWORLD.COM | The Art of TSUNEO SANDA

Meanwhile our hero's adventures live on in lively animation until his eventual cinematic return:

Watch The Animated Indiana Jones Movie

'RAIDERS' AT 35: ENJOYING A "FAMILY LABEL"!

Surely one of the all-time great moments from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, or from any of the Indy films, as Marion Ravenwood uses her formidable drinking skills, learned from years stuck in Tibet, to inebriate her captor Belloq and plan an escape. "You pour!"

'RAIDERS' AT 35: INSIDE THE MAP ROOM!

Gaining covert entrance to the unearthed Map Room at the Nazi controlled Tanis dig, Indy gets ready to use the Staff of Ra and find the location to the Well of Souls, in this memorable scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, given extra atmosphere from John Williams grand and spooky music.

'RAIDERS' AT 35: THE BIG SQUEEZE!

The Well of Souls has plenty of snakes - why did it have to be snakes! - but just as loathsome for Marion Ravenwood are the multitude of mummified corpses she's soon trapped with, in a filmed sequence ultimately trimmed down for the final version of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

'RAIDERS' AT 35: "NOW YOU'RE GETTIN' NASTY!"

You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies, of which our heroic Indy has certainly had some of the best cinematic adversaries to enter into conflict with these late thirty-five years, starting off with Paul Freeman's Rene Belloq- a true rival in archeology to Indy, just as passionate in his quests as the American adventurer, but allied squarely with the Germans in the race to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. Certainly, one of their best scenes was in the Cairo bar, sizzling with Indy's anger towards the smarmy Belloq after the supposed death of Marion.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: CEREMONY OF DEATH!

Harrison Ford and Karen Allen-their characters of Indy and Marion now captured by the Nazis, and finding themselves on an unknown island- prepare to film the classic finale to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK at London's ELSTREE STUDIOS, in this fun panoramic shot from 1980, where the Ark of the Covenant is finally opened and a mysterious and deadly force is unleashed!

Beyond RAIDERS, as for any chances of seeing a new INDY movie, there's still no concrete news behind the scenes, though Spielberg recently talked about the controversies that have dogged THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. Head over to the link here: Spielberg blames Lucas for Indy 4's story sucking so hard | Blastr

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY FIGHTS BACK!

Almost down but not out from the mighty fists of a German bully (played by Classic Indy Trilogy action veteran Pat Roach), as well as at life-threatening risk from the dangers of the moving propellered underside of a flying wing, Indiana Jones summons all his personal strength and physical ingenuity to make a successful fightback whilst trying to re-claim the Lost Ark.

A cheer out loud classic moment from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: MAKING A MARK!

The evil Nazi spy Toht (a brilliant performance of comedy and creepiness from the much missed British actor Ronald Lacey) gets a major burn, and some additional intriguing new skin markings, when he attempts to retrieve Marion Ravenwood's prized medallion within the fiery shell of her Nepalese bar/nightspot, in this classic moment from Indiana Jones premiere 1981 adventure: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

And speaking of "fortune and glory" seekers, check out the first fifteen minutes or so of fan documentarian Jamie Benning's RAIDING THE LOST ARK: A FILMUMENTARY, via his FACEBOOK page: Raiding The Lost Ark

CLASSIC RAIDERS: MILEAGE CHECK!

Recovering from their many ordeals in Cairo, Marion tends to an injured Indiana Jones, who retorts: "It's not the years. It's the mileage!", in one of the cabins aboard the Bantu Wind. A charming scene beautifully written by Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Spielberg, and played with absolute charm by Karen Allen and Harrison Ford.

Today is Karen Allen's landmark Birthday. HAPPY 60TH from all your fans across the globe!

CLASSIC RAIDERS: ADVENTURERS AND FILM-MAKERS...

Icons forever! Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg catch a rare breather moment together in this great behind the scenes shot from the filming of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Friends for life from this original shooting adventure within an adventure, the duo, alongside series creator George Lucas, are confident that Indiana Jones may yet return for a fifth film...if they can agree on a story that has no aliens in it!

Check out some recent news items linked to the September screening of RAIDERS in Los Angeles for it's Thirtieth Anniversary:

Steven Spielberg on the future of Indiana Jones [video] | Hero Complex – movies, comics, fanboy fare – latimes.com

Steven Spielberg looks inward before ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ | Hero Complex – movies, comics, fanboy fare – latimes.com

Harrison Ford: ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ swordsman scene was my idea | Hero Complex – movies, comics, fanboy fare – latimes.com

The Geek Life: 30th Anniversary Screening of Raiders - Mania.com

CLASSIC RAIDERS: A FIGHT FOR LAUGHS!

Before the Tunisian rots caught up with him and the rest of the RAIDERS filming company, Harrison Ford was able to partially film a little bit of the ambitiously scripted and planned whip confrontation against a deadly sword wielding bad guy (played by stuntman Terry Richards, who, prior to the shoot, had trained extensively for the sequence. Richards had also played the Wampa in several deleted scenes from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK). Eventually, with illness getting the better of him, the actor, in talks with Spielberg and Vic Armstrong, came up with the now inspired idea of Indy just whipping out his gun and shooting him!

Every time I see that classic RAIDERS moment, with family or friends, it still gets a laugh-one of cinemas greatest scenes ever!

As a nice look back at the making of the film, check out this recent interview with British producer Robert Watts, which he did at the recent EMPIRE magazine BIG SCREEN event, in honour of RAIDERS Thirtieth Anniversary: Big Screen: Memories Of Raiders Panel | Movie News | Empire and here:  Empire Big Screen – Interview with Raiders of the Lost Ark Producer Robert Watts «

CLASSIC RAIDERS: BAR FIGHT!

Within the fiery interior of Marion Ravenwood's bar in frosty Nepal, Indiana Jones' life is under threat once more -this time from one of Toht's "Mean Mongolians" (as played by Indy Classic Trilogy action veteran, the late Pat Roach), in another classic scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, celebrating it's Thirtieth Anniversary this year (with the Blu-rays arriving in late 2012).

CLASSIC RAIDERS: COMES A HORSEMAN!

Telling Marion and Sallah, "I'm making it up as I go!", nothing, not even overwhelming Nazi forces and firepower, can stop Indiana Jones from commandeering a horse and going in pursuit of the truck carrying the Ark of the Covenant.

Ballsy, and then some!

CLASSIC RAIDERS: DISCUSSING THE LOST ARK

Back in his regular job as University Professor, Indiana Jones and his loyal friend and boss, Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot), consult with two members of US Military intelligence- Colonel Musgrove (Don Fellows) and Major Eaton (STAR WARS William Hootkins)- about the Nazi's involvement with their old friend Abner Ravenwood, and his mysterious Staff of Ra...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: SPIELBERG'S ACTING CLASS!

At ELSTREE STUDIOS, Steven Spielberg has a fun time with Harrison Ford emoting the look he wants from Indiana Jones's discovery of the speared cadaver of rival archeologist Forrestal, in one of the classic early scenes of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY'S YOUNG FLAME!

The delightful Karen Allen poses for a lovely promotional picture as spunky Marion Ravenwood in the dress given to her by Captain Kananga from the finale of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Allen as an actress, and Marion as a character, would show great on-screen charisma opposite Ford's Indy and she remains the series ultimate female companion/partner/adventurer. After years of waiting, her later return in THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL was demanded and much appreciated by fans worldwide...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: A MAN AND HIS MONKEY!

Actor Vic Tablian was the eye patched Nazi conspirator in Egypt simply known as Monkey Man, with his partner in crime, the brilliant, Nazi saluting Capuchin Monkey who almost steals the film. Tablian would end up having two roles in RAIDERS. He would also play the villainous Barranca who tried to kill Indy at the beginning of the film, before the discovery of the entrance to the Hovitos warrior tomb/temple.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: MARION IN TROUBLE!

Nazi henchman Toht (Ronald Lacey) makes a dangerous nuisance of himself when he captures Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) in a tense scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: TROUBLE IN CAIRO!

Indy (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen) get into trouble once again-this time on the market streets of Cairo (actually shot in Tunisia)- when they are unexpectedly attacked by Nazi sympathisers in this classic scene of memorable comedy and action from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: INDY'S CELEBRATION!

Time goes so fast when you're having fun! Hard to believe, but it's INDIANA JONES birthday this year-celebrating 30 years of the superb RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. In celebration, every week or so we'll be putting up a classic image from the pioneering action adventure film-its cast, characters and breathtaking stunts.... so enjoy!

First up is the classic poster art in the UK by famous film poster illustrator Amsel, who brilliantly captures Harrison Ford at his best as Indy! The image was also used on the cover of the original UK paperback adaptation, too.

American RAIDERS fans look out for the special screening of a new digitally restored print by OSCARS.ORG on Friday June 17th at 7.30pm with a guest talk from Frank Marshall, Ben Burtt and others...  Here's the link:"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 30th Anniversary Screening | Events Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences