1950s culture will not be a character in this movie

joelwatts

joelwatts

New member
I've seen a lot of posts saying that 1950s culture will, or should figure, into this film. I disagree. The era in Indy movies has never been what I call a "character" in the movie. It is just a backdrop. Sure it determines what kind of transportation, communication, weaponry, baddies, etc. (aside from a few anachronisms), but that's about it. We never have seen the over-the-top, plethora of "hey, in case you didn't know this is the 30s," pop culture references thrown in- type caricature of the era. That's why I don't think we will see Einstein, the H-Bomb, or a pop culture styling of Area 51. We might get Are 51, but not what we think, and probably not referred to by name.

I was trying to come up with a list of cheesy culture references they could have had in the first three films. Any ideas?
 
Violet

Violet

Moderator Emeritus
Actually there was one in LC. Two if it weren't for the dub for the Butler.

"I should have mailed it to the Marx brothers!" - Indy's Dad.

The zeppelin I personally count as a cheesy reference because I think "Hindenburg" when I see it. Especially since the tail-fin has the Nazi symbol on it.
 
Stoo

Stoo

Well-known member
The Mickey Mouse line in ?Crusade? was originally to have been:
?...then I am Jesse Owens."
as well as
?...then I am Mae West."
 
C

commontone

New member
There was also the cabaret-style song and dance number in Temple...

I kind of hope you're right though, joelwatts. It would really suck to be introduced to Mutt with him playing chicken on his motorcycle, a la James Dean, with "Leader of the Pack" playing in the background...

Or if the campus chase scene had them blowing through a park-your-car burger joint with girls on roller skates...or a drive-in movie theater with teenagers making out...

They will have to acknowledge the changes in the world somehow, though, obviously the Cold War. The villains are Russians, and there's a nuclear race going on...I don't see how that can be totally avoided. I think it would be cool to see them introduce atomic weapons or Einstein to the Indy world, just not the kind of stuff I listed above.
 
Stoo

Stoo

Well-known member
There?s also the LIFE magazine in ?Raiders?.

I wouldn?t be surprised if Indy shows distaste for rock?n?roll
as Bond does with The Beatles.
 
joelwatts

joelwatts

New member
I concede the inclusion of the Life magazine, and the Mickey Mouse reference, etc., but those are very mild compared to the references you see in cheesy period movies, where every scene goes out of the way to tell you what time period you are in. you just don't get that in Indy movies. A good example of a movie that's over the top with period stuff is Rocketeer. Movies like make the period a stereotype. I don't think Indy movies do.

I just don't think this movie will feel like the 1950s scenes in Back to the Future.
 
O

Osceola

New member
Back to the Future was intended as a nostalgia movie. That's why they show much pop culture. On the DVD they say that the sets were built to remind everyone of where they grew up. About the anachronisms, can you name some? I can't think of any.
 
Finn

Finn

Moderator
Staff member
Osceola said:
About the anachronisms, can you name some? I can't think of any.
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In Indy films? Sure. Raiders' bazooka is one. First explosive projectiles were developed well into WWII, in 1942 (Raiders takes place in 1936). LC's zeppelin is another, they were pretty much removed from commuter traffic after the Hindenburg accident in 1937 and as we know, Crusade takes place a year later.

Then, the maps in red line secquences are full of countries and locations that didn't exist in the 30s...

Shall I continue?
 
O

Osceola

New member
Finn said:
First explosive projectiles were developed well into WWII, in 1942
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You are speaking of the M1A1. The first shoulder fired rocket was demonstrated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, on November 6, 1918.

Finn said:
LC's zeppelin is another, they were pretty much removed from commuter traffic after the Hindenburg accident in 1937
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Pretty much. But there is still the possibility of a few in operation.

If you wish to continue, you may.
 
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BadDates

BadDates

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joelwatts said:
I concede the inclusion of the Life magazine, and the Mickey Mouse reference...
Click to expand...

I agree that the Mickey Mouse reference feels rather clumsy and contrived (actually the whole scene is a bit of a low point for the Indy movies IMO) but what's cheesy about the inclusion of the Life magazine? Apologies if I'm missing something obvious.
 
Finn

Finn

Moderator
Staff member
Osceola said:
You are speaking of the M1A1.
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Kraut hardware, actually. Bottom line, even though some prototypes existed, they weren't brought into hands of common grunts 'til well into the war.

Actually, pretty much all the German equipment in the films, from small arms to uniforms and vehicles are the kind that weren't introduced before the start of the war (MP40s, P38s, Kubelwagen cars to name some). It's nothing of course a regular Joe Viewer would notice, or even if he did it wouldn't hinder much from his suspense of disbelief.

The location names are another issue that can be looked into. We have Thailand (should be called Siam), Iran (didn't exist), Jordan (Transjordan). In LC, we have Alexandretta renamed Iskenderun, this actually happened in 1939, not 1938.

I'm not the nitpicking kind in any way, and any of this stuff mentioned doesn't bother me at all. In general, the movies depict the era well. There's nothing that would be glaringly "off", let's admit that.
 
E

Echo22

New member
Knowing the love for that era from both GL and SS, I think a few 50's style references are inevitable. It's going to be pretty hard to avoid during the scenes in Connecticut, for example. I just hope it doesn't get too overdone. And I really hope it doesn't make it's way into John Williams' score. I'm worried about the Shia LeBeouf theme.

They seem pretty committed to doing things as they have been done before - not really changing the formula. Which is such a good sign.
 
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oki9Sedo

New member
I shouldn't think the 1950s setting will be any more of a character than the 1930s setting was in the originals. That setting wasn't explored, ot was just a backdrop.
 
O

oki9Sedo

New member
salussolia said:
But lucas grew up in tthe fifties and is interested in it ,American graffiti(wich actually takes place in 62 but whatever
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Thats true. We'll have to wait and see I suppose.
 
joelwatts

joelwatts

New member
BadDates said:
I agree that the Mickey Mouse reference feels rather clumsy and contrived (actually the whole scene is a bit of a low point for the Indy movies IMO) but what's cheesy about the inclusion of the Life magazine? Apologies if I'm missing something obvious.
Click to expand...

I didn't say it was cheesy. I first said that there were NOT cheesy, over the top culture references in Indy movies. Someone referred to the Life magazine, which I conceded was a cultural reference, but not cheesy. My entire point was that Indy movies aren't spattered with pop cultural references of the period.

What I did ask for, however, were some funny ideas of over the top cultural references that could have been in the movie.
 
joelwatts

joelwatts

New member
I just now remembered the scene from Connecticut with the protestors (sp?). Granted, I have seen nothing but stills, but this seems the most blatant culture reference in Indy movies yet.
 
No Ticket

No Ticket

New member
I think that for the most part, your right, 1950s culture wont be much of a main point of the movie. I mean, once Indy is out in the jungle I doubt it will come into play at all besides the obvious fact that Mutt is a 50's greaser. I imagine it will be comparable in references to all the others.
 
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