"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" Mini-Oner

Much has been said about Steven Spielberg’s uncanny ability to tell a story within a frame and set up geography, and usually folks use his long oners as examples of this talent. In fact, we break down a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) oner on the Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, in Episode 3 (starting around 27:35).

But here’s a relatively innocuous, non-flashy 26-second-long shot from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) that does all those things.

With this blocking, Spielberg quickly sets up the geography of the scene, the physical goals of the characters, and even allows for full-body physical comedy to happen within the frame. Other directors would shoot this scene as a wide+closeups, then intercut “to increase tension”.

The same angle repeats later in the sequence, again to clearly establish the geography and the relationships between the characters. This is how directors like Spielberg help the audience understand the action and never get spatially confused.

Now, you might be asking yourself “How did Indy and his dad get in the box? How did they close the box? Why did they close the box instead if just driving away? Why didn’t they wait until the bad guys were cruising down the river?” Because it’s a movie, that’s why.

OH AND ALL THIS TIME YOU NEVER SAW THE CREW MEMBER’S HAND CREEPING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH A TARP, PUTTING THEIR HAND ON THE MOTOR SO IT CAN BE "STEERED", something that you will now never be able to unsee. Ha.

And here's some speculation on my part - maybe this was designed as one big long shot, with Indy and his dad emerging/running off camera/bad guys emerge/camera reveals the box/Indy drives out. (Which would also qualify as a Texas Switch, since Harrison Ford and Sean Connery would not have been the driver and passenger of the motorcycle). Perhaps the timing/choreography didn't work out, and the middle shot was required to complete the sequence.

Original, abbreviated Bluesky post.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark:" Simply Cool Shots

Wrapping up our series, paying tribute to the photography of Douglas Slocombe for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (Be sure to see Part 1, "Raiders:" Shadows and Silhouettes, Part 2, "Raiders:" Eyes, and Part 3, "Raiders:" Foregrounds and Backgrounds.)

Here is a sampling of just plain cool in-camera shots (no visual effects) from "Raiders."

"Raiders of the Lost Ark:" Foregrounds and Backgrounds

Continuing our series, paying tribute to the photography of Douglas Slocombe for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (Be sure to see Part 1, "Raiders:" Shadows and Silhouettes, and Part 2, "Raiders:" Eyes.)

Here is a sampling of images from "Raiders," where Spielberg and Slocombe frame objects of varying depths in the frame. In these shots, the filmmakers are telling a story from multiple depths, as well as filling the screen from left to right.











Coming up next time: simply cool shots from "Raiders."

 

"Raiders of the Lost Ark:" Eyes

Continuing our series, paying tribute to the photography of Douglas Slocombe for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (Be sure to see Part 1, "Raiders:" Shadows and Silhouettes.) Here are a sample of images from "Raiders" where Slocombe and Spielberg focus on characters' eyes.








Coming up next time: foregrounds and backgrounds in "Raiders."

"Raiders of the Lost Ark:" Shadows and Silhouettes

Douglas Slocombe B.S.C., A.S.C. (in glasses), on the set of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

In anticipation of the latest Indiana Jones film (which comes to theaters on May 22), let's take a look back at the work of extraordinary cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, who shot the first three Indiana Jones films.

By the time of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," (1981) Slocombe was a veteran cinematographer, with a rich and varied filmmography in both the United States and in England, and both in black and white and color. He was nominated for three Academy Awards (including "Raiders"), and for ten British Academy Awards (winning three, for "The Servant" in black and white, and for "The Great Gatsby" and "Julia" in color).

His photography gave "Raiders" a classic feel, visually paying homage to the matinee thrillers of the 1930's, while also raising the level of quality and aesthetics of 1980's blockbuster filmmaking. The collaboration between director Steven Spielberg and Slocombe is the reason why "Raiders" remains, to this day, one of the best looking action movies of all time.

Director Steven Spielberg and Douglas Slocombe, on location for "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

In this, the first of several posts paying tribute to the cinematography of "Raiders," we look at Slocombe's use of shadows and silhouettes. Enjoy.

UPDATE, 2/20/2016: Here's a peek behind the curtain, showing exactly how the production photographed the shadow of Sallah and Indy carrying the ark. That's a cutout of the ark, to cast the perfect profile shadow on the wall. Look how awkwardly John Rhys-Davies is forced to hold the "ark". Movie magic at its best.

Coming up next: Slocombe's photography of eyes in "Raiders."