If Adventure has a name…
it must be Indiana Jones.
This summer marks the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), the first film in the popular Indiana Jones franchise. Chicago native Harrison Ford starred as the intrepid, bullwhip-cracking archeologist in search of the Ark of the Covenant. The Indiana Jones films remain a cultural touchstone and a high watermark in the adventure film genre. A fifth and final Indiana Jones film with Ford is currently in production and is scheduled to be released in 2022.
The “Man with the Hat” was created by producer George Lucas (Star Wars) and brought to the screen by director Steven Spielberg (Jaws). Both filmmakers gave free rein to their imagination, though they were heavily inspired by the movie serials of old, including Zorro Rides Again (1937) and Spy Smasher (1942). Many creative talents were involved in the making of these films.
Particularly noteworthy were the contributions of musical composer John Williams, who scored the famous “Raiders March,” and cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, who photographed the original trilogy. Numerous special effects technicians were also instrumental in the movies’ success. In the 1980s, before the days of computer-generated imagery, filmmakers relied on practical effects and old-fashioned craftsmanship; the Indiana Jones films epitomized this.
This August, the Park Ridge Public Library celebrates “Indiana Jones and the 40th Anniversary” with a collection of memorabilia from Raiders and the other films in the series: 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. What is on display is the result of years of collecting and represents the passion of fans everywhere.
The month-long exhibit is courtesy of the library’s own Matthew C. Hoffman (Park Ridge Classic Film program host) and Tony Letrich (Patron Services Interlibrary Loan).
“We’ve had this stuff for years, stored away like the warehouse crates seen at the end of Raiders,” says Hoffman. “It’s one of my ‘top five’ favorite movies, and I want to share this stuff– and the memories it represents.” Some of the items are replicas of famous props like the headpiece to the Staff of Ra or the Grail Cup. Other items are more unique, such as a fragment of the actual “Flying Wing” that was blown up in the first film.
“Some of the best Indiana Jones collectibles are those that use a variety of amazing artwork used to promote the films on everything from traditional movie posters to a set of Brown’s Chicken drinking glasses to a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes—all of which are featured in the display,” added Letrich.
Raiders of the Lost Ark will be screened at the Pickwick Theatre on September 15, 2021, as part of the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series.
