Archaeological adventurers
Seekers of ancient truths or obtainers of rare antiquities. A list of films and TV shows featuring treasure hunters, adventurers and scholars.
See also: Mummy movies, which often feature archaeologists, although they are often unfortunate victims. I also have an occult detective list, which has some crossover with this list, as well as being another well-known archetype.
Further reading:
* Adventurer Archaeologist: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AdventurerArchaeologist
Comments: As I don't have a Facebook account I cannot interact with the new comments system, so have switched it off. I will start a thread on the message board and link it in here shortly.
See also: Mummy movies, which often feature archaeologists, although they are often unfortunate victims. I also have an occult detective list, which has some crossover with this list, as well as being another well-known archetype.
Further reading:
* Adventurer Archaeologist: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AdventurerArchaeologist
Comments: As I don't have a Facebook account I cannot interact with the new comments system, so have switched it off. I will start a thread on the message board and link it in here shortly.
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- 196 titles
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by Army Intelligence to help locate a legendary ancient power, the Ark of Covenant, before the Nazis get it first.Here for the thumbnail, the list starts below:
- DirectorHorace Lisle LucoqueStarsAlbert LawrenceH.J. HamlinRaymond BrownAdventurer Allan Quatermain leads an expedition into uncharted African territory in an attempt to locate an explorer who went missing during his search for King Solomon's gold mines.Allan Quartermain is perhaps the classic archaeological adventurer and features strongly in this list.
- DirectorHorace Lisle LucoqueStarsAlbert LawrenceH.J. HamlinRaymond BrownAllan Quatermain is an English professional big game hunter and adventurer.
- DirectorLouis KingStarsWarner OlandPat PatersonThomas BeckWhile investigating the theft of antiquities from an ancient tomb excavation, Charlie discovers the body of the expedition's leader concealed inside the mummy's wrappings.
- DirectorHarry S. WebbStarsRichard TalmadgeAlberta VaughnGeorge WalshA sailor finds an ancient vase on an uncharted island. He is later hired by archaeologists to lead them back to the island. They discover the temples of a lost civilization.
- DirectorsRobert StevensonGeoffrey BarkasStarsPaul RobesonCedric HardwickeRoland YoungWhite hunter Allan Quartermain and his enigmatic guide help a young Irish woman locate her missing father in unexplored Darkest Africa.One of the few films that I've seen which were preceded by a warning that it contains racist depictions.
Public domain
Get from the Internet Archive:
http://archive.org/details/king_solomans_mine - DirectorNorman FosterStarsPeter LorreJoseph SchildkrautLionel AtwillDisguised as an Austrian archaeologist, Moto helps unearth the priceless crown of the legendary Queen of Sheba and sans disguise defends it from a variety of thugs and criminals.
- DirectorJames W. HorneStarsWilliam TracyJeff YorkJoyce BryantAsian warlord Fang is determined to take the treasures beneath the temple of the God of Mara. He kidnaps Dr. Lee with his jungle expedition and, learning of this, Dr. Lee's son, Terry, comes to his rescue with his friends.
- DirectorsJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsHenry BrandonWilliam RoyleRobert KellardThe nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world. His nemesis, Dr. Nayland Smith, and his associates fight to keep the evil doctor from getting his hands on the keys.Also includes regular character Flinders Petrie, the name of a real-life archaeologist who had connections with Indiana Jones.
- DirectorLeslie HowardStarsLeslie HowardFrancis L. SullivanAllan JeayesProfessor Horatio Smith, while seeming very unassuming, rescues victims of Nazi persecution during World War II.A fearless archaeologist* battles Nazis - now that sounds familiar.
That coincidence aside, the film inspired Raoul Wallenberg who would go on to save the lives of tens of thousands of Jews.
* Horatio Smith - an unusual first name and a mundane surname. - DirectorWilliam WitneyStarsKay AldridgeClayton MooreWilliam 'Billy' BenedictNyoka is the only person capable of translating the ancient tablets of Hippocrates, recovered by two archaeologists. They run into trouble from Vultura, the exotic ruler of a band of cutthroats who want the tablets for their own ends.
- DirectorGeorge ArchainbaudStarsWilliam BoydAndy ClydeRand BrooksSue Harmon gets Hoppy and his friends to join their expedition looking for Indian artifacts. Expedition leader Atwood makes a deal with nearby cattle rustler Morgan to loot the Indian treasures instead and sell them. Hoppy is on to their plan and pretending to leave follows them. Not only is he outnumbered by Morgan's men, but California has himself about to be sacrificed in an Indian ritual.Has a character called California Carlson who appears in a lot of these Hopalong Cassidy films. Odd that there's be a character named after a state of the US there.
- DirectorWilliam BeaudineStarsRoland WintersKeye LukeMantan MorelandCharlie Chan and his two eldest sons, investigate a murderous gang who is forcing an archaeologist to search for a treasure in Mexico.
- DirectorsCompton BennettAndrew MartonStarsDeborah KerrStewart GrangerRichard CarlsonAdventurer Allan Quartermain leads an expedition into uncharted African territory in an attempt to locate an explorer who went missing during his search for the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon.
- DirectorJerry HopperStarsCharlton HestonRobert YoungNicole MaureyAn adventurer searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles.A strong influence on the design of Indiana Jones.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJohn WayneSophia LorenRossano BrazziAmerican ne'er-do-well Joe January is hired to take Paul Bonnard on an expedition into the desert in search of treasure.
- DirectorKurt NeumannStarsGeorge MontgomeryTaina ElgDavid FarrarAlan Quartermain's son comes to Africa to find the treasure his father was unable to bring home.
- DirectorFrederic GoodeStarsKenneth NashElizabeth WhiteJ. Peter GraeffeTwo children on vacation in Egypt with their archaeologist parents expose the villainy of Arab workmen and help their father find the treasure he seeks.
- DirectorRobert DayStarsUrsula AndressPeter CushingBernard CribbinsAn Edwardian archaeologist and two companions stumble upon a lost city in East Africa, run by a beautiful queen whose love holds the promise of immortality.
- DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsRobert FoxworthJoan HackettPeter UstinovIn 1869 Kentucky, a young boy and his friends set out to find a treasure chest hidden by his late father in the Florida Everglades during the Civil War.
- DirectorAlvin RakoffStarsDavid McCallumJohn ColicosPatrick MacneeThree adventurers lead an expedition into darkest Africa in search of the treasure of King Solomon, and on the way encounter hostile natives, volcanoes, dinosaurs and a lost Phoenician city ruled by a beautiful queen.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsCharlton HestonSusannah YorkJill TownsendAn archeologist discovers his daughter is possessed by the spirit of an Egyptian queen. To save mankind he must destroy her.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordKaren AllenPaul FreemanIn 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by Army Intelligence to help locate a legendary ancient power, the Ark of Covenant, before the Nazis get it first.
- DirectorAntonio MargheritiStarsDavid WarbeckAlmanta SuskaLuciano PigozziAn American soldier and a British intelligence agent try to track down an ancient relic called the Golden Cobra, rumored to have supernatural powers.
- DirectorsRobert GriffithScott RhodesStarScott RhodesA parody of "Raiders Of the Lost Ark" and credit card commercials.
