How did Indy lose his eye?

[Hawkangel]

The Old Indy always sports an eye-patch. Was it ever explained in the series or novels or comics?

[ClintonHammond]

He gouged it out after reading fan web-sites....

[Finn]

http://www.theraider.net/films/indy4/rumorscripts/swordofarthur.zip

One author's version as an answer can be found reading this script that was never used (mostly because it's nothing official).

[IAdventurer01]

Because it looks cool, duh! :rolleyes:

:p

[Stoo]

No, it has never been explained but if Indy IV is eventually made,
I'm hoping this would become part of the story. Here's my take:

You can see in George Hall's makeup that there is a 6" vertical gash
down the right side of his face. To me, it looks like a large cut from
a knife or perhaps even a sabre wound. I figure this would have
probably happened around the late 1950's.

In my personal Indy world, losing the eye would make him retire from
the "adventure business" and eventually turn him into the indignant,
rambling, tall-tale-telling, old man from the series (like it or not).

Great question - Welcome to The Raven, Hawkangel! :whip:

[Hawkangel]

Well, it couldn't happen in Indy IV. Remember how Harrison Ford made a cameo as a 50-year old Indy in a leter episode of Young Indy?
He didn't have an eye-patch then, so obviously it hadn't happened, yet.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that particular episode happened AFTER the movies.
Maybe Lucas wants to go back and digitally put the eye-patch in when the DVDs come out. :)

[VP]

Well, it couldn't happen in Indy IV. Remember how Harrison Ford made a cameo as a 50-year old Indy in a leter episode of Young Indy?
He didn't have an eye-patch then, so obviously it hadn't happened, yet.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that particular episode happened AFTER the movies.

Indiana Jones turned fifty on the 1st of July, 1949.

[Stoo]

Hawkangel, it's a good bet that Indy IV will take place AFTER the segment
in "Mystery of the Blues" which was set in 1950 (yes, after the movies).
This is why I said that he probably loses his eye in the late '50s.

[Doc Savage]

He gouged it out after reading fan web-sites....

That even made ME crack a smile...;)

[IndyBuff]

I know it seems weird but I've never really considered this question before. Maybe Indy IV will reveal this or maybe not, but it's fun to speculate nevertheless. Perhaps if some new official Indy novels are released they might explain as well.

Hawkangel, welcome to The Raven!:whip:

[moondrifter]

me, flossie sequin, and brodyisdead are writing a collaboration story invovling how he loses his right eye. check it out on the fanwork and activities board: the curse of the chinese whisperer.

[MikeArizona]

Indy is seeking the ark of suburbia, he wonders into a back yard... hears a noise picks up a rifle he sees on the ground takes aim and fires... ohh know it was a red ryder official beebee gun he shot his eye out!;)

[Aaron H]

Indy is seeking the ark of suburbia, he wonders into a back yard... hears a noise picks up a rifle he sees on the ground takes aim and fires... ohh know it was a red ryder official beebee gun he shot his eye out!;)
"You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

To answer the posed question as to how Indy lost his eye the answer is easy. He ran with scissors.

[moondrifter]

nuh uh!! he got scratched in the face by a chinese dog called Neves

[roundshort]

No, Indy, well starts to lose it a bit, and half the time he thinks he is a priate (think Steve in Dodgeball)

[Ray Delark]

Because it looks cool, duh! :rolleyes:

:p

Yes, I have enjoyed thinking of this too. That patch is an interesting aspect of the Chronicles, and of Indy. It's cool for a lot of reasons. It adds a mysteriousness. It foreshadows great possibilities, for the great adventurer. What is behind it? And I agree with you, when did he start using it? It's also adds to the coolness of Indy, the hero, partly because it's cool to look at. Young, old, or in his prime Indiana Jones is always the coolest and the greatest adventurer and hero. :whip:

[roundshort]

ToJ, didn't Indy lose his eye one night with Nads?

[Ray Delark]

There's just got to be a spectacular story behind it, which is yet to appear, and not a domestic accident...

[Rivers]

I always thought it would be funny if he did it as an old 80 year old man on an adventure he shouldnt have been on, trying to be young again.

[Moedred]

half the time he thinks he is a priate
He was looking for his earring in the vacuum nozzle when the cat jumped on the switch.
(I hope Ford lost that earring. I don't want to see the hole sagging open.)

[Twilightpro101]

Yes, I have enjoyed thinking of this too. That patch is an interesting aspect of the Chronicles, and of Indy. It's cool for a lot of reasons. It adds a mysteriousness. It foreshadows great possibilities, for the great adventurer. What is behind it? And I agree with you, when did he start using it? It's also adds to the coolness of Indy, the hero, partly because it's cool to look at. Young, old, or in his prime Indiana Jones is always the coolest and the greatest adventurer and hero. :whip:

I agree with this wholeheartly and it's such a great visual touch to the character.

[Viper]

Indy was pretending to be a pirate, when a barrel of toxic waste poured onto his face. He quickly dove into a lake to get it off of his skin. One of his eyes was ruined, but the eyepatch saved the other. Duh.

[Twilightpro101]

Talk about your Daredevil lol.

[Adamwankenobi]

I wouldn't expect Lucas to explain why Indy loses his eye in Indy 4. I say this because of Lucas' attitude toward his other famous franchise.

In Star Wars Episode III, Anakin Skywalker is seen with a scar on the right side of his face. At a convention in 2005, a fan asked Lucas how Anakin gets the scar. Lucas replied "Ask Howard [Howard Roffman, president of licensing for Lucasfilm]. I mean, I think he [Anakin] slipped in the bathtub, but he's [Roffman] not going to tell anybody that."

[HovitosKing]

A wicked knife slash that left a big scar and took out the eye. Like the one sported by Tony Montana in "Scarface." Probably lost it at the hands of the Nazis, the Commies, or the Hovitos on a later adventure. :whip:

[Canyon]

Yes, I have enjoyed thinking of this too. That patch is an interesting aspect of the Chronicles, and of Indy. It's cool for a lot of reasons. It adds a mysteriousness. It foreshadows great possibilities, for the great adventurer. What is behind it? And I agree with you, when did he start using it? It's also adds to the coolness of Indy, the hero, partly because it's cool to look at. Young, old, or in his prime Indiana Jones is always the coolest and the greatest adventurer and hero. :whip:

IndiRama, very nicely said!!! :up:

[MissDefense]

IndiRama hit the nail!!:D

I'd like to see in a possible 4th movie how Indy lost his eye!

[Viper]

New theory: He just thinks it looks cool.

[Rivers]

I still say he did it as an 80 year old crazy coot on an adventure he shouldnt have been on.

[Dr. HenryJones.jr]

A wicked knife slash that left a big scar and took out the eye. Like the one sported by Tony Montana in "Scarface." Probably lost it at the hands of the Nazis, the Commies, or the Hovitos on a later adventure. :whip:

Yes, correct!!! Probably is from the Comics, I think I have some read...

[BrodyIsDead]

one theory might come out of a collaborative story being written on these very threads right now! Read all about it and even join in with the Curse of the Chinese Whisperer:

http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?t=8292

Into it's sixth page and still going strong - but we need more input from more fans!

---------------------------------------

www.findthemissingreel.com - another mystery waiting to be answered!

[Violet Indy]

Nothing like a little subliminal advertisement for collabrative writing, eh BID? I'll add to it soon, but this week is going to be hell for me so I won't till next weekend unless I get a stroke of genius.

[sarah navarro]

Hawkangel, it's a good bet that Indy IV will take place AFTER the segment
in "Mystery of the Blues" which was set in 1950 (yes, after the movies).
This is why I said that he probably loses his eye in the late '50s.

that eyepatch looks hard core but i dont like it :down:

[Attila the Professor]

that eyepatch looks hard core but i dont like it :down:

I'd be willing to put money on it being yet another reference to John Ford.

[IndyJr.]

Well, it couldn't happen in Indy IV. Remember how Harrison Ford made a cameo as a 50-year old Indy in a leter episode of Young Indy?
He didn't have an eye-patch then, so obviously it hadn't happened, yet.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that particular episode happened AFTER the movies.
Maybe Lucas wants to go back and digitally put the eye-patch in when the DVDs come out. :)

Mystery of the Blues, Harrison scene takes place in 49... I beleive Indy IV takes place around 1957 or 58 or 59. It's 10 years before Indy IV.

[The_Minority]

actually the mystery of the blues segment with ford takes place in 1955! And supposedly Indy IV is going to be in 57 so I'm all for him losing his eye in the IV film! Great way to tie into the series!

[Niteshade007]

I wouldn't count on it. I doubt that the new film will have anything to do with the series.

[Rivers]

No, the young Indy episode takes place in 1950.

[Bullwhip]

No, the young Indy episode takes place in 1950.

Yup, that's right.

[Don Karnage]

wouldnt it be fitting for him to lose it in some twist of irony?

like trimming the hedge or something?

(i like the 'youll shoot your eye out' bit though :gun: ;) )

(we need an eyepatch indy smiley)

[oki9Sedo]

I'd be willing to put money on it being yet another reference to John Ford.

Yes, that seems very likely.

As for losing it in the new film, I doubt very much that that will happen. They're under no obligation to change the film to fit in with a sh*t TV show.

[No Ticket]

I hate that old Indy segment for the following.

1.) He doesn't look anything like Harrison would in his old age.

2.) He doesn't SOUND anything like Harrison. His voice is high and not the lower gruffness. I know it's a different actor and all that but his voice wouldn't be THAT different.

3.) The eye patch is stupid. How tragic would it be to see Indiana Jones lose an eye in IV? I don't want to see that!

4.) The Young Indy Series (of which now I've watched a little of) sucks. I don't think it should tie into the films at ALL. The films should exist on their own as the REAL story of Indy. All those Young Indy episodes, even the one with Harrison back as Indy pail in comparison to ANYTHING from the films. Not to mention the way they were shot (the cameras or whatever) makes them look cheesy or cheap or something.

Bahhh... I really hate the Young Indy series.

[VP]

I hate that old Indy segment for the following.

1.) He doesn't look anything like Harrison would in his old age.

2.) He doesn't SOUND anything like Harrison. His voice is high and not the lower gruffness. I know it's a different actor and all that but his voice wouldn't be THAT different.
It's the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, not the Young Harrison Ford Chronicles.

[No Ticket]

It's the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, not the Young Harrison Ford Chronicles.

I know, I know... but it takes me out of believing it to be Indiana Jones because I'm one of those "Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones" guys.

[peterlally]

Do you know what bothers me and its really wierd it does. In the Mystery of the Blues, the Harrison Indy has a beard and a scarf. Although its really cold and those two things would be useful, I cant see the Indy of Fate of Atlantis having a beard, which i weird because you would think the Indy of the Films having a beard would bother me more, I don't think i'm making any sense....:confused:

[Major West]

Seeing as George Hall was removed from the Indy Chronicles, it's probably safe to assume that he and the eye patch are no longer necessarily 'canon'.

[Grizzlor]

Seeing as George Hall was removed from the Indy Chronicles, it's probably safe to assume that he and the eye patch are no longer necessarily 'canon'.

Unfortunately, you're probably right.

[Olliana]

May it be that George Hall had only one eye? So they had no choice?:o

[Bullwhip]

No, Hall had both eyes functional.

[Attila the Professor]

It's a John Ford thing, not a doubt in the world, coupled with a bit of the cost of adventure.

[Adamwankenobi]

I know it's a pipe dream, but maybe Irina Spalko cuts Indy's eye out with her sword.

[DocWhiskey]

As much as I love old Indy, I hope they ignore this angle all together in Indy 4.

[Rocket Surgeon]

He didn't lose his eye, he had a fish cornea transplant and the eye patch is there while it heals! Sort of like the plastic cone they put around a dog's neck so it won’t re-injure some surgery...;)

[Indy's Fist]

Are the George Hall scenes even canon anymore?

[Attila the Professor]

Are the George Hall scenes even canon anymore?

Well, they haven't been released for years, so there's a strong case for "no." But ultimately, a big part of Indy canon (like any fandom's canon, from Sherlock Holmes onward) is deciding what to accept and what not to accept. Which version of Shihuangdi's tomb? Which version of the Hall of Records/Omega Book? The Staff of Aaron or the Staff of Kings? And just how many Interior Worlds or Hollow Earths are there? Oh, and when did that Wu Han guy show up?

To say nothing of the crazy Marshall College/Barnett College issue.

[Crack that whip]

If the question concerns the official Lucasfilm stance (if any), my guess is that they want the leeway or option to declare them apocryphal if some future project requires it, but that at the present they don't feel the need to do so.

As I understand it, they were dropped not because George Lucas decided Indy's life goes differently from what's depicted in the bookends, but simply because Lucas and the show's other makers (notably Rick McCallum) decided the segments simply didn't "work" as part of the narrative presentation (that is, all the stuff we see and hear onscreen). That doesn't mean they don't happen, but just that they're not part of the (current main version of the) show.

I think the segments are therefore considered part of the official canon, unless and until Lucas / Lucasfilm decides to specifically omit them from it for one reason or another - say, releasing an Indy story where Indy dies sometime prior to the early '90s, or lives to that point with two good eyes, or reaches that point without getting any new family members beyond Marion and Mutt.

[Gear]

But ultimately, a big part of Indy canon (like any fandom's canon, from Sherlock Holmes onward) is deciding what to accept and what not to accept.


But are the likes of canon material up to the individual recipient to judge or is there a higher power, a secret society, that governs what is and is not?

[Hans]

My idea is that the show added it to make indy look better. But maybe they should include it into on of the movies.
:whip:

[Insomniac]

He didn't loose his eye he just wears it to look more "dashing"!:hat:

[chicago103]

Either it will be explained in Indiana Jones 5 or it could be something unrelated to adventuring, old Indy is supposed to be in his 90's, maybe something happened to one of his eyes that is old age related. Personally I don't want to see Indy get a permanent injury like that in Indiana Jones 5, I know it will make his character seem more human instead of invincible but a big part of the Indy films is that he gets injured but in the end he always recovers.

[Stoo]

Either it will be explained in Indiana Jones 5 or it could be something unrelated to adventuring, old Indy is supposed to be in his 90's, maybe something happened to one of his eyes that is old age related.Hey, chicago103, I maintain that this is definitely an injury due to contact with a sharp edge.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Stoo65/Scar.jpg

Personally I don't want to see Indy get a permanent injury like that in Indiana Jones 5, I know it will make his character seem more human instead of invincible but a big part of the Indy films is that he gets injured but in the end he always recovers.The loss of his eye wouldn't necessarily put him completely out of action (ex. Rooster Cogburn). Indy survived his chin scar, afterall!:p Seriously though, if there ever is another film, I WANT to see him get cut in the face!:eek:

[Violet Indy]

^ Stoo wants to see BLOOOOOOOD!!!

Maybe Indy lost his eye like Elle Driver ala Kill Bill Vol 2. :p Now that's a nasty way to lose your eye!

[Rocket Surgeon]

Q:How did he lose the eye -- adventuring, diabetes, fork mishap, or what?



A:Hasn't been determined, though back in 1992 George Lucas responded to the question by saying "That's possible!" Of course, with the "Old man Indy" (played by George Hall) segments cut out of the VHS releases, the official continuity of older Indy has been in limbo.

[Stoo]

Stoo wants to see BLOOOOOOOD!!!Yes! Neither "Crusade" nor "Skull" show Indy injured/hurt. It would be great to fianlly see him in some real pain.
A:Hasn't been determined,...What a cop-out answer by Mr. Leland Chee (not the status of the bookends but the loss of his eye). It's OBVIOUSLY a WOUND! Sometimes, you just have to wonder...

[Rocket Surgeon]

They dropped the ball years ago. They "forced" Kenner into the IJ toys and they did the same with Hasbro. There was no real thought behind the line. Some of the stuff was cool but when you put out an Indy figure suffering from Strabismus what do you expect. Crap in/crap out.

Strabismus?!!! Is that really true? That's a hoot! Didn't Indy end up in an eye patch sometime? I seem to recall reading it somewhere. If so, maybe the eyepatch was to treat the strabismus!!

Lol! Finally we have the answer to the whole eye patch ordeal! Indy wears his eye patch because of a Hasbro Voo Doo Curse!:hat:

[Crack that whip]

What a cop-out answer by Mr. Leland Chee (not the status of the bookends but the loss of his eye). It's OBVIOUSLY a WOUND! Sometimes, you just have to wonder...

I agree about it clearly being a wound (as indicated by the huge scar that runs down that whole side of his face, through the eye area), but in fairness I think it's safe to say the exact cause of this hasn't been determined. We don't know whether it came during one of his many altercations with adversaries (and if so, exactly what weapon inflicted it - rapier? Dagger? Board with a nail in it? :eek: ), or was attacked by some animal (unlikely, since there's a single scar line and not the set of parallel tracks one might expect claws to leave, but still within the realm of possibility), or even just a pure accident. Given Indy's general lifestyle, I imagine it'd likely be something more "adventurous" than, say, being put through a windshield by a drunk driver, but there's really no telling.

I think Mr. Chee's answer is just ruling out disease and the like. It certainly has to have come about from some physical trauma, but that still encompasses a wide range of possibilities.

[Rocket Surgeon]

I agree about it clearly being a wound...
No way! Definitely a Hasbro Voo Doo Curse!

[Deckard]

Perhaps we could find an expert on edged weapons and have him look at the scar in the picture.

He may be able to say the shape and depth look like something particular or just that its a random scar.

While Lucas may have thought, "Hey he'll lose an eye in a sword fight," In reality it's also possible Lucas just loosely said to the makeup guy that he wanted an eye missing and left it upto the makeup guy just how to go about it and if their would be a scar or not.

While the adventure thing is a nice thought, it could also be as simple as he was in a car accident with no saftey belt.

[Crack that whip]

While Lucas may have thought, "Hey he'll lose an eye in a sword fight," In reality it's also possible Lucas just loosely said to the makeup guy that he wanted an eye missing and left it upto the makeup guy just how to go about it and if their would be a scar or not.

Oh, certainly. While I do think Lucas wanted a scar, I don't think he had anything specific in mind for how Indy was supposed to have gotten it; I think he was more interested in just suggesting further adventures beyond what we see in the movie era, without having any particular intention of saying what those adventures actually were or how he got the wound.

I do know that while it was George Lucas' idea for Indy to have the scar, he let the actor, George Hall, pick which eye would actually get the patch (since George Hall had two good eyes, of course, and could've worn it on either the left or right), which suggests Lucas wasn't too fussy about the matter.

While the adventure thing is a nice thought, it could also be as simple as he was in a car accident with no saftey belt.

Yup.

[Violet Indy]

The fact that Old Indy has a scar and an eye missing reminds me of another Lucasfilm character who had a great big scar in that area of the face, though he didn't lose his eye (though he did lose other parts, lol). :p

Now for a long time, we didn't know how that scar got to be till the Clone Wars animated series (not the CGI one, the other anime style one). Oh wait, I don't think they show how he gets that scar either.

But isn't it strange? Two major characters in two different franchises from Lucasfilm, have similar scars. Hmmmm....

[Deckard]

In certain cultures scars are symbols of glory or overcoming a battle or adventure. Especially in cultures surrounded by war. I suspect Lucas is applying that same level of warrior status to Indy and Anakin. Both were soldiers more or less and lived their lives surrounded by conflict, WWI and 2 to Galactic Civil Wars.

[Hans]

What he was live in the 90's (duh) but how old does that make him:confused:

[Crack that whip]

What he was live in the 90's (duh) but how old does that make him:confused:

I don't entirely understand you, but if you're just asking how old Indy is, it's simple enough to figure out. We know when he was born - July 1st, 1899. That would put him in his early-to-mid-90s at the time of his appearance in the "bookends" from the TV series (and make him 110 now, if he were a real person and still alive).

[Stoo]

How does Indy lose his eye?:confused: Like this...
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Stoo65/SabreWound_A.jpg

Coming Soon: The aftermath...:eek:

[AnnieJones]

Eww!:eek:
Gross!:eek:
Creepy!:eek:
Yuck!:eek:

But your right,that's probably how he lost his eye.:up:
It's the only thing that makes sense.

[Stoo]

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/Stoo65/SabreWound_A.jpg

Eww!:eek:
Gross!:eek:
Creepy!:eek:
Yuck!:eek:

But your right,that's probably how he lost his eye.:up:
It's the only thing that makes sense.Either that scenario or Indy met up with Remy again and they got into an argument over the Eye of the Peacock. In an inexplicable RAGE, Remy attacked Indy with a MEAT CLEAVER and took out his eye!:eek::p

[Crack that whip]

Good God, Stoo, that's one hell of an image! :eek: You don't hold back, do you? What have you got against our beloved Indy, anyway? :p

That said, I've occasionally myself envisioned how he'd get the wound, though I've always pictured it being done with a vertical slashing (or slicing :eek: ) movement, rather than the move you've pictured, with a chopping motion, but one never knows until it happens (and in one of George's productions, even after it's been put on screen it's always subject to change... :p ). I think it's safe to assume we'd never see it depicted so explicitly in an actual Indy production - it'd be off-camera, or in shadow, or with Indy facing away from the audience or something like that.

That's assuming it'll ever be addressed at all, of course, which I doubt will happen, but you never know. Like you, I actually would like to see it come up in that hypothetical Indy V - perhaps not with the directness of your image sequence, mind you :p , but at least enough to establish when and how it takes place (and, of course, to enhance support for the "Old Indy" bookends in the canon ;) ). I kind of think that even if they do make a fifth movie (hardly a sure thing to begin with), it's kind of unlikely The Beards would want to give Indy such a serious and permanent wound in the course of the adventure (but as I said, you never know...).

In the eyepatch thread (http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?t=19465) over in Collecting Indy (I'd have thought it should go in Indy Gear and Props, myself, but never mind), I see you mention the facial similarities between George Hall and Harrison Ford (in how much their features line up when you superimpose one's image over the other). I've actually always noticed this myself; I've long thought that of the three non-Ford actors who regularly played Indy on the Chronicles, Hall was the one who bore the most resemblance to Ford, once you allowed for the age difference (though oddly, I've never sought out images of the younger Hall from earlier in his career to see how close he looked; perhaps I should...).

[No Ticket]

I think he's just faking.