Raiders of the Lost Stars

[Raiders112390]

Just a funny note. If the main cast's original choices had been picked or signed to the movie, we would've had a movie which starred:

Tom Selleck....as Indiana Jones
Sean Young...as Marion Ravenwood
Danny DeVito...as Sallah (Sallah was originally envisioned as a 5'2'' Bedouin, salacius crumb type)

all of whom were hugely successful during the '80s but whose shine waned into the '90s. I know a lot of you know of those casting choices, but I figured it'd be interesting to discuss. With the exception of Selleck, I cannot picture any of them in said roles. Sean Young wouldn't have carried the grittiness of Marion well, and Danny DeVito..well, yeah, he's a great actor but not in a 1930's inspired serial.

Anyone know of any other interesting facts or casting choices which might have greatly affected Raiders?

[Michael24]

I love Danny Devito (fantastic actor; Jack the Bear was a great movie), but I've always thought Sallah would have been like his character in Romancing the Stone if he had played him.

Tim Matheson, while also a good actor, I think was far too young for the role. I once heard that John Travolta had also auditioned, but I wish the documentary had said whether or not he did. And Karen Allen mentioned John Shea? I believe that's the same actor who played Lex Luthor on Lois & Clark. Not sure how he would have been, as Lex is pretty much the only character I've ever seen him play.

[Raiders112390]

I love Danny Devito (fantastic actor; Jack the Bear was a great movie), but I've always thought Sallah would have been like his character in Romancing the Stone if he had played him.

Tim Matheson, while also a good actor, I think was far too young for the role. I once heard that John Travolta had also auditioned, but I wish the documentary had said whether or not he did. And Karen Allen mentioned John Shea? I believe that's the same actor who played Lex Luthor on Lois & Clark. Not sure how he would have been, as Lex is pretty much the only character I've ever seen him play.

Spielberg also said Peter Coyote auditioned, and I've read that the casting director recommend Jeff Bridges for the part

[Adamwankenobi]

Just a funny note. If the main cast's original choices had been picked or signed to the movie, we would've had a movie which starred:

Tom Selleck....as Indiana Jones
Sean Young...as Marion Ravenwood
Danny DeVito...as Sallah (Sallah was originally envisioned as a 5'2'' Bedouin, salacius crumb type)

all of whom were hugely successful during the '80s but whose shine waned into the '90s. I know a lot of you know of those casting choices, but I figured it'd be interesting to discuss. With the exception of Selleck, I cannot picture any of them in said roles. Sean Young wouldn't have carried the grittiness of Marion well, and Danny DeVito..well, yeah, he's a great actor but not in a 1930's inspired serial.

Anyone know of any other interesting facts or casting choices which might have greatly affected Raiders?

I think it's funny how Sean Young was considered for the role of Marion, since she would later play Harrison Ford's love interest in Blade Runner. I guess either Lucas, Spielberg or Ford recommended her to Ridley Scott.

[Niteshade007]

Yeah, they may have been popular in the 80's, but it's not as if Karen Allen or John Rhys-Davies are big names now. Especially not Allen. The only one who has shown staying power is Ford, but that is based more on previous work than on his most recent films.

[Raiders112390]

Yeah, they may have been popular in the 80's, but it's not as if Karen Allen or John Rhys-Davies are big names now. Especially not Allen. The only one who has shown staying power is Ford, but that is based more on previous work than on his most recent films.

Yeah, true, they kind of (sadly) faded away after Raiders. But at least they fit the roles. Sean Young would've been too..idk..b*tchy and pouty as Marion, IMO she wouldn't have captured the intensity or grittiness of Marion. She's good at playing off-kilter or slightly kooky characters. Danny DeVito, while a good actor in urban comedic roles, has a gritty, old school NYC kind of style and might have fit if he had been cast as a rival of Indy (not Belloq, but another more bare bones adventurer like Indy) But as Sallah, he would've just been very forgettable and cheesy, like

"Ya know, Indy, this Ark thing, it ain't of this world."

Selleck, perhaps paired with Karen and Sallah could've carried the role. I don't know much about Peter Coyote or Tim Mattheson, so I can't comment. Jeff Bridges definately wouldn't have.

[|ZiR|]

Tim Matheson, while also a good actor, I think was far too young for the role

I never knew Matheson adutioned for Raiders! I love him. He's like an uglier, more butch Rob Lowe. But I agree, he would've been to young.

The only one who has shown staying power is Ford, but that is based more on previous work than on his most recent films.

Yes, but that's only because Harrison Ford is a talent sucking vortex. The sheer amount of up-and-coming actors whose first (and last) big roles were in films with Ford... it's positively eerie. So, hey, Shia haters, who knows; maybe Ford'll suck up his career too. :up:

[Michael24]

I'm not sure about Allen, but Rhys-Davies still works regularly. Maybe not in some of the best movies, but he still does a lot and has also been pretty prolific in the voice acting field. With a voice like that, he was bound to end up in cartoons. :)

I never knew Matheson adutioned for Raiders! I love him. He's like an uglier, more butch Rob Lowe. But I agree, he would've been to young.

The documentary on the DVD set shows a clip from the Matheson/Young audition. :)

[Raiders112390]

I never knew Matheson adutioned for Raiders! I love him. He's like an uglier, more butch Rob Lowe. But I agree, he would've been to young.



Yes, but that's only because Harrison Ford is a talent sucking vortex. The sheer amount of up-and-coming actors whose first (and last) big roles were in films with Ford... it's positively eerie. So, hey, Shia haters, who knows; maybe Ford'll suck up his career too. :up:

It's because Ford always steals the show in the movies he's in. He's just that damn charismatic. Where is Mark Hammill these days, I wonder....?

[Raiders112390]

I'm not sure about Allen, but Rhys-Davies still works regularly. Maybe not in some of the best movies, but he still does a lot and has also been pretty prolific in the voice acting field. With a voice like that, he was bound to end up in cartoons. :)



The documentary on the DVD set shows a clip from the Matheson/Young audition. :)

Which DVD set are we talking about? The new Special Edition DVDs or the previous one? Because the previous one has clips from the Selleck/Young audition.

[ROTLA]

Yeah, they may have been popular in the 80's, but it's not as if Karen Allen or John Rhys-Davies are big names now. Especially not Allen. The only one who has shown staying power is Ford, but that is based more on previous work than on his most recent films.

Wow...it has been a long while since my last post. I often check the site/board, but just haven't had much time to post lately. Anyway...

Rhys-Davies had a fairly recent spike in his career with the character of Gimli in the Lord of the Rings movies, but he hasn't made much noise since then.

[ROTLA]

Yes, but that's only because Harrison Ford is a talent sucking vortex. The sheer amount of up-and-coming actors whose first (and last) big roles were in films with Ford... it's positively eerie. So, hey, Shia haters, who knows; maybe Ford'll suck up his career too. :up:


Heck, look what happened with that bright, young talent in The Last Crusade. I think the guy's name was Sean Connery or something like that. I don't even think he's acting anymore!

[|ZiR|]

Heck, look what happened with that bright, young talent in The Last Crusade. I think the guy's name was Sean Connery or something like that. I don't even think he's acting anymore!

Sean Connery was an already established star in his on right long before tha time of LC. If anything, he probably gave Ford a few pointers in talent vampirism. :dead:

[Niteshade007]

I'm not sure about Allen, but Rhys-Davies still works regularly. Maybe not in some of the best movies, but he still does a lot and has also been pretty prolific in the voice acting field. With a voice like that, he was bound to end up in cartoons. :)

Rhys-Davies had a fairly recent spike in his career with the character of Gimli in the Lord of the Rings movies, but he hasn't made much noise since then.

True, I had forgotten about Lord of the Rings, as I wasn't really a fan. And I have seen him in a few things here and there, but he certainly isn't a household name by any means. Devito at least is, despite his lack of career in the past few years. Sadly, both Sean Young and Karen Allen are not. But I guess none of the Indy girls (with the exception of Cate Blanchett) are. In the series history, probably the only recognizable names are Ford, Connery, LaBeouf, and Blanchett, and that's because they had well established careers before the Indy movies.

[Raiders112390]

True, I had forgotten about Lord of the Rings, as I wasn't really a fan. And I have seen him in a few things here and there, but he certainly isn't a household name by any means. Devito at least is, despite his lack of career in the past few years. Sadly, both Sean Young and Karen Allen are not. But I guess none of the Indy girls (with the exception of Cate Blanchett) are. In the series history, probably the only recognizable names are Ford, Connery, LaBeouf, and Blanchett, and that's because they had well established careers before the Indy movies.

And River Phoenix (R.I.P.)

[ROTLA]

In the series history, probably the only recognizable names are Ford, Connery, LaBeouf, and Blanchett, and that's because they had well established careers before the Indy movies.

I think it also has to do with the fact that Spielberg/Lucas used many actors not from the states, so the casual moviegoer in the U.S. wasn't/isn't familiar with them. However, some had pretty good careers overseas and still do. But they definitely don't have that big name, Hollywood status like Ford, Connery, etc.

[Niteshade007]

And River Phoenix (R.I.P.)

Maybe at the time, but I know that none of my friends have a clue who River Phoenix is. I had to explain while we were watching Last Crusade.

"That's Joaquin Phoenix's brother."

"Oh, really? What's his name?"

"River Phoenix."

"Does he still act?"

"No, he's dead."

[Michael24]

It's because Ford always steals the show in the movies he's in. He's just that damn charismatic. Where is Mark Hammill these days, I wonder....?

Still working regularly, including stage productions (he's earned Tony nominations and starred in the stage version of Amadeus, but lost the film version because a studio exec didn't want "Luke Skywalker playing Mozart" :( ) and basically a whole second career in voice acting.

Mark Hamill hasn't had as quite a "non-existent career" as many people think. Not as high profile as Ford, but still just as successful in its own way. Though I wish he could have maintained as high profile a career, because I think he's a very talented actor.

Which DVD set are we talking about? The new Special Edition DVDs or the previous one? Because the previous one has clips from the Selleck/Young audition.

Yeah, I was talking about the previous one from 2003. Maybe it wasn't Young who was in Matheson's audition, but they do show a clip from his. :)

[No Ticket]

If that had been the actual cast, I don't think the movie would have succeeded as well as it did. I know a lot of people here like to believe that Ford didn't MAKE Indiana Jones. Well, I think he did. Ford is Indy. Yeah, I'm one of those guys. Anyone can wear that hat and say those lines... but can they deliver them like Ford does?

Someone posted a thread recently that brought up his voice. Ford does have that dry sense of humor and sharp wit required, with an authoritative voice to yell demands. He can seem funny, book-smart, tough and aggressive when necessary. He also retains that "every man" kind of persona that makes you feel like even though you know you couldn't, you could pull off some of the stuff Indy does. He just nails the character. Plus he looks great in the outfit, it just suits him.

That's not to say the others cast don't make a difference. John Rhys-Davies as Sallah is a perfect fit as is Karen Allen. This was a movie that happened upon some terrific casting choices. When it all came together, it made for a terrific movie. You can't plan that sort of thing, it just kind of does or doesn't happen. Indiana Jones could have NOT been a success just as easily as it was, all it takes is a few minor details to not work out in the right way.... be it costume, casting, story or whatever.

I think if the cast mentioned above had actually been the cast in Raiders, the movie would obviously still have been popular... but I don't know if it would have garnered the level of popularity that it did.

[Crack that whip]

Which DVD set are we talking about? The new Special Edition DVDs or the previous one? Because the previous one has clips from the Selleck/Young audition.

The previous set (released in 2003, and still available - how can it be that someone registered at this forum hasn't checked it out yet?) has clips from both the Selleck / Young screen test and the Matheson / Allen one (at different points in the Raiders portion of the "Making the Trilogy" documentary). The new releases aren't out yet; they're to be released May 13th.

[Billy Ray]

I read in Valerie Bertinelli's book, Losing It, (hey, my wife left it in the bathroom) that she read for the part of Marion. she started dating Spielberg shortly thereafter and somewhat insinuates that the reading was a ploy by Spielberg to get in her pants. I really can't picture her as Marion at all:confused: