THE MAN WITH THE HAT IS BACK. AND THIS TIME, HE’S BRINGING HIS DAD.
In 1938, Indy (Harrison Ford) joins his father (Sean Connery) in the quest for the Holy Grail, but the Nazis turn out to be devious competitors.
The third film is close in tone and story to the first one, which is specially evident in the finale; John Rhys-Davies and Denholm Elliott are very welcome back in their roles. An interesting prologue explains a few things about Indy and introduces us to his stern, mostly absent father. Ford and Connery are hilarious together as they try to work out their issues while fighting the Germans; the duo bring a freshness and new energy to the concept.
The action sequences are as always a thrillride, particularly a fight involving a tank.
1989-U.S. 127 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Screenplay: Jeffrey Boam. Story: George Lucas, Menno Meyjes. Music: John Williams. Cast: Harrison Ford (Henry “Indiana” Jones), Sean Connery (Henry Jones), Denholm Elliott (Marcus Brody), Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, Julian Glover, River Phoenix.
Trivia: Laurence Olivier was considered for a role. Followed by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
Oscar: Best Sound Effects Editing.
Last word: “The dad thing was my idea. The Grail doesn’t offer a lot of special effects and doesn’t promise a huge physical climax. I just thought that the Grail that everybody seeks could be a metaphor for a son seeking reconciliation with a father and a father seeking reconciliation with a son. It also gave me a chance to suggest Sean Connery. Who else but Bond could have been worthy enough to play Indiana Jones’ dad?” (Spielberg, Empire Magazine)
