Abner Ravenwood in Last Crusade

Goodeknight

New member
Montana Smith said:
I thought Abner was a respectable archaeologist. Whereas Fedora's role was obviously that of a rogue.

Indy himself seems to have adapted both halves of his personality from these two role models.

Interesting take, Montana. I agree. Indy melded the two into one, Fedora and Abner Ravenwood, perhaps with a bit of his dad thrown in.
 

Mickiana

Well-known member
We have never met Abner and, as much as we might want to, we never will. Reintroducing Abner alive would be very difficult at this point, as it would have been for CS actually. He was a briefly mentioned character, though interesting, and was vital to the plot of Raiders, but I can't imagine how someone might think Fedora or Ox was Abner.

If Abner were to be introduced to us alive, I would like, as someone else previously suggested elsewhere, Wilford Brimley. He is pretty old but he's a great character, so he'd be suitable.
 

The Drifter

New member
I have a question. I have all of the Bantam Books in the Indiana Jones run. I have read every one up until Indiana Jones and the Unicorn's Legacy. I need to find the time to read the rest. But, my question is this - did Abner ever appear or even mentioned in the following books at any point?
 

Violet

Moderator Emeritus
goodeknight said:
Came across and article that said the role of Fedora in LC was originally written as Abner Ravenwood.

http://pompousfilmsnob.com/2010/10/25/the-man-who-made-indiana-jones-fedora/

Is that true? I can't take the article at face value, because the writer goes on to say Ox is Abner in CS.

In the original script the character of Fedora was originally Abner Ravenwood who was later played by John Hurt in “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls” who was the father of Marion (Karen Allen) and dubbed as Indy’s “mentor”.

Anyone?

THREAD MERGED. I managed to find this fine thread about Abner = Fedora using the search words, "Abner, crusade." And about the Ox is Abner thing- a popular speculation that went on here before the film's release. So well-known that even the Official Indiana Jones website managed to tease a few people with a page on the site with a cast list- with John Hurt being credited as Abner.

@Drifter= No appearances of Abner in any of the Bantam's. However there is the possibility he appeared in issues #17 & 18 of Marvel's Further Adventures of Indiana Jones comics, the story arc titled, "The Search for Abner." Now if they do a radio drama of that, I'll be listening! Also as Stoo mentions earlier in this thread, there is an unpublished Dark Horse comic called 'The Lost Horizon" and the cover art with the only image we have o Abner being modelled after Wilford Brimley (a great actor!).

I have to admit it's always interesting what people think about Abner. Funnily enough I think he's a dark character- a academic fallen from grace, and I'm willing to bet more roguish as he got older.
 
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Goodeknight

New member
Violet said:
THREAD MERGED. I managed to find this fine thread about Abner = Fedora using the search words, "Abner, crusade." And about the Ox is Abner thing- a popular speculation that went on here before the film's release. So well-known that even the Official Indiana Jones website managed to tease a few people with a page on the site with a cast list- with John Hurt being credited as Abner.

@Drifter= No appearances of Abner in any of the Bantam's. However there is the possibility he appeared in issues #17 & 18 of Marvel's Further Adventures of Indiana Jones comics, the story arc titled, "The Search for Abner." Now if they do a radio drama of that, I'll be listening! Also as Stoo mentions earlier in this thread, there is an unpublished Dark Horse comic called 'The Lost Horizon" and the cover art with the only image we have o Abner being modelled after Wilford Brimley (a great actor!).

I have to admit it's always interesting what people think about Abner. Funnily enough I think he's a dark character- a academic fallen from grace, and I'm willing to bet more roguish as he got older.

Wow! Thanks for the input, Violet, and for merging the threads. Nicely done.
 

DoomsdayFAN

Member
I literally just discovered that Fedora may be Abner, so I was gonna rush to create a thread to see what you guys thought, but I found this one first.

I love the idea that that's actually him and not just a random guy. Even if they didn't keep his name in the script or put it in the movie, it was originally intended to be him. I'd like to think they just decided to keep it mysterious. Just discovering this gives the whole opening scene of Last Crusade so much more weight. It's already great but this makes it even better! (y)
 

Indy86

New member
I think it should remain a mystery but I can see where the ideas are coming from. Maybe his name's Abner Jake Garth Ravenwood. He tought Indy his first lesson of defeat.

'You lost today, kid. But that doesn't mean you have to like it.' :hat:

And out of respect he gives him the hat. Despite Indy losing, he gains great confidence because Fedora acknowledged him and there for respects him back perhaps idolizing him by starting to dress like him.
 
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