So I was listening to ToD today and it occurred to me...just how did Indy know Mola Ram's name? I know it is said in the chanting, but how would one know they were talking about the guy with the skull hat on? Perhaps it was the Black Sleep that clued him in? I dunno just was an interesting observation.
Once again, a cut scene from Temple of Doom that would have cleared things up...
Quote:
134. INT. THE TEMPLE ALTAR 134.
And once again the three sacred Sankara Stones glow magically.
Mola Ram materializes evilly amidst the swirling smoke and he
begins chanting in Sanskrit.
Beside the altar, half-clad female acolytes pass in front of the
robed priests -- with their fingers the women paint two white
lines across the priests' foreheads.
An acolyte moves in front of Chattar Lal -- the Prime Minister is
now dressed in robes. As the devotional markings are painted on
his forehead, Chattar Lal translates the High Priest's speech to
Indiana who stands next to him.
CHATTAR LAL
Mola Ram is telling the faithful
of out victory. He says the
British have left the palace,
which proves Kali Ma's new power.
INDIANA
Yes, I understand.
Indiana bows his head to receive the mystical markings. He lis-
tens to Mola Ram's rantings -- Indy's eyes are ominously vacant
as he stares up at the hideous statue of Kali.
Indy didn't need translating at any other point in the film.
Well, that's true. (A shift from Raiders, naturally, but no matter.)
Nevertheless, as things go, we only know Mola Ram's name from the bridge scene, and the credits. (Better than we can say for Toht, of course. And does Vogel's name ever show up? Or Dovchenko's?)
Location: "What was it again? The penitent man will what? Oh No."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Attila the Professor
Nevertheless, as things go, we only know Mola Ram's name from the bridge scene, and the credits. (Better than we can say for Toht, of course. And does Vogel's name ever show up? Or Dovchenko's?)
I believe we first hear his name when Indy yells "Mola Ram!" when he escapes through a trap door as Indy tries to hit him with that staff.
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Polo423
...just how did Indy know Mola Ram's name? I know it is said in the chanting, but how would one know they were talking about the guy with the skull hat on? Perhaps it was the Black Sleep that clued him in?
The most logical explanation would be that Indy found out off-screen somehow (such as the script excerpt that Attila posted). This never really occurred to me before so thanks for mentioning it, Polo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by michael
I believe we first hear his name when Indy yells "Mola Ram!" when he escapes through a trap door as Indy tries to hit him with that staff.
Good observation, Michael. True that it's the first time he is referred to as Mola Ram but, technically, as Polo pointed out, his name is first heard much earlier as part of the sacrificial chant (which Indy even recites later when he locks Willie in to the cage). However, you are right!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lance Quazar
Indy didn't need translating at any other point in the film.
Well, Indy does reply, "Yes, I understand." so he didn't need the translating here either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Polo423
They should have kept the half-clad female acolytes in...
Thuggee was an all-male society. Showing female acolytes would have increased the pulp factor to an even higher degree.
