Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is a fictional bullwhip-toting archaeologist with an overdeveloped ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) played by Harrison Ford in a series of films by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Younger versions of the character were also played by River Phoenix in the third film and by Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier on television. An older version (93) of Jones was played by George Hall.

Origins

Indiana Jones, "Obtainer of Rare Antiquities," is modeled after the strong-jawed heroes of the pulp magazines and matinee serials that Lucas and Spielberg enjoyed in their childhoods, such as the Republic Pictures serials. The two friends first discussed the project while in Hawaii during the time of release of the first Star Wars film. Spielberg told Lucas how he wanted to direct a James Bond film. Lucas responded that he had something better than that.

Related Topics:
Antiquities - Pulp magazine - Serial - Republic Pictures - Hawaii - Star Wars - James Bond

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Spielberg wanted Indiana to be a James Bond-like figure that got into difficult situations and worked his way out. Upon requests by Spielberg and Lucas the costume designer was given the task to make the character have a distinctive recognizable silhouette through the style of the hat (much like Dick Tracy). After examining many hats, the designers chose an urban version of the classic Australian fedora, the Akubra.

Related Topics:
Dick Tracy - Australian - Fedora - Akubra

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Other elements of the outfit were the jacket (still available today from Indyjacket.com http://www.indyjacket.com) - the bag was a modified World War II gas mask bag, and of course the whip. For a good resource on the Indiana Jones costume visit IndyGear.com http://www.indygear.com for a comprehensive discussion on all aspects from the fedora to the boots.

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Many people have been called the real-life inspiration of the Indiana Jones character. Probably the most cited person is famous paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Another person cited as a possible inspiration is the Italian archaeologist and circus strongman Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778?1823). Religious archaeologist Vendyl "Texas" Jones claims that he was the inspiration, citing his names (he notes that his first name trimmed becomes Endy — very similar to Indy), but this claim has reportedly been denied by Spielberg. Other candidates include explorer Gene Savoy http://umanitoba.fitdv.com/new/articles/article.html?artid=383, Yale University historian and explorer Hiram Bingham III and University of Chicago archeologist Robert Braidwood http://maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2003/01/21/obituary_robert_and_.php. However, the most likely inspiration was the fictional character Allan Quatermain.

Related Topics:
Paleontologist - Roy Chapman Andrews - Archaeologist - Strongman - Giovanni Battista Belzoni - Vendyl "Texas" Jones - Gene Savoy - Yale University - Hiram Bingham III - University of Chicago - Allan Quatermain

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The character was originally named Indiana Smith, but Spielberg disliked the name and Lucas casually suggested "Indiana Jones". The name was thus changed early in the production of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The origin of the name "Indiana" is the same in the real world as in the fiction: It was the name of an Alaskan malamute Lucas had in the 1970s (the same dog was also the inspiration for Chewbacca). His name is also said to be derived from the character "Nevada Smith," played by Steve McQueen in the 1966 film of the same name.

Related Topics:
Alaskan malamute - Chewbacca - Steve McQueen - 1966 - Same name

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