FAQ

Egypt was declared an independent nation in 1922 and largely remained neutral. True, the British had a military base in Cairo to protect the Suez Canal as a result of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936. But that wasn't ratified until December of that year. The film probably takes place before that.

No he did not. Steven Spielberg just removed the frame where the fly flew away to make it look like Belloq ate the fly, because he thought it would be funny.

Dr. Jones wears a brown rabbit-felt fedora made by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company of Saville Row, London (not Stetson, as is widely reported). The hat style, known as the "Poet," has a wider brim (2.75" front and back) than many fedoras, with a 1.5" ribbon.

In 1936, the US military learns that the Nazis have discovered Tanis, an ancient Egyptian city buried in a gigantic sandstorm in 980 B.C. Tanis is believed to be the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, a mystical chest built by ancient Hebrews which is said to hold the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. According to legend, any army that carries the Ark will be invincible. The US Army commissions archeology professor Dr Henry "Indiana" Jones (Harrison Ford) to obtain the Ark before the Nazis do. Unfortunately, the Nazis have enlisted Indy's longtime rival, French archeologist René Belloq (Paul Freeman), to also look for the Ark. However, before Indy can begin his search, he must stop in Nepal to meet with his former mentor Abner Ravenwood in order to obtain the headpiece to the Staff of Ra, an artefact which will allow him to determine the exact location of the Ark. When he gets there, he learns the artefact is now in the safekeeping of Abner's daughter Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who holds a grudge against Indy following their failed romantic relationship years earlier.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is based on a story created by film makers George Lucas (who co-produced the movie) and Philip Kaufman. The subsequent screenplay was written by Lawrence Kasdan and a novelization of the screenplay was written by Campbell Black. The film supposedly originated from Lucas' desire to create a modern version of the movie serials of the 1930s and 1940s, adventure stories that he enjoyed as a kid. Hence, this Indiana Jones film is set in 1936. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) (released in 1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) (1989) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) (2008), and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). A prequel television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992), was produced in the early 1990s.

It is the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol, a sacred object that the Hovitos protect.

The idol appears to be about 5,000 c.c. (300 cubic inches) in volume. If it were solid gold, it would weigh around 100 kg (3,200 troy oz. or 220 lbs). The film, however, never specifies its make-up; it might well have been gold-plated stone or ceramic, seeing as Indy lifts it quite easily and Belloq lifts it easily over his head. The gold nature of the idol may not have been as important as its symbolic importance to the Hovitos.

Yes. Tanis was at one point the northern capital of Egypt, and in 1939, after extensive excavations, a great deal of treasure and artifacts were found there (however, the Ark was not among them).

Marcus provides the answer in the scene where he and Indy talk to the two agents from Army Intelligence: "An army which carries the Ark before it is invincible." Also, one of the agents tells them that Hitler had become obsessed with the occult. This may or may not be historically accurate, however, it was actually Heinrich Himmler (Reichsführer-SS, head of the Schutzstaffel, SS), an alleged Thule Society member and who had a fond interest in the occult.

It's a clear plastic shield, like safety glasses, for his eyes. In the desert there's a lot of wind and blowing sand so Belloq was using this device as eye protection.

Although tethered to a pole, Indy and Marion are allowed to watch as Belloq opens the Ark, cameras rolling to record the momentous event. In it, they find only sand. Suddenly, lights begin flashing and bulbs exploding. Fog begins pouring out of the Ark and jets of light shoot upwards. Indy warns Marion to shut her eyes and not look at it, no matter what. The rays of light turn into ethereal beings then into skeletons. Beams of fire course through the bodies of the soldiers, consuming everyone but Indy and Marion. The fire courses upward into the skies, taking the Ark's lid with it and then depositing it back upon the Ark. When it's all over, Indy and Marion open their eyes and realize that they haven't been harmed. Weeks later, Indy and colleague Dr Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) are in Washington being thanked (and paid) by the Army officers. Brody asks where the Ark is now, but the only answer he's given is that it's being researched by "top men". Leaving the office, Indy is met by Marion, who loops her arm through his and offers to buy him a drink. In the final scene, a workman is shown locking a box marked "Top Secret. Army Intel. Do not open" and storing it in a massive warehouse stocked with thousands of other such boxes.