Indy's Dwindling Whip Usage

Stoo

Well-known member
I guess you could label this thread under the "Who Cares?" category...

One thing I've noticed over the years is that Indy's whip has featured
less and less with each passing film. By the time the 3rd movie came out,
the whip had been steadily reduced to an occasional rescue tool...

"Raiders"
1. Weapon - against Barranca
2. Tool - crossing Chachapoyan pit
3. Weapon - against Toht
4. Weapon - Cairo street fight
5. Tool - climbing Well of Souls statue
6. Tool - dragging behind truck
7. Tool - (Not shown: lashing himself to submarine periscope)

"Doom"
1. Tool - swingin' down to Kali altar
2. Weapon - against Thug in Pankot bedroom
3. Tool - swinging across mine scaffolds
4. Weapon - against Thugee by cliff
5. Joke - around Willie's waist

"Crusade"
1. Weapon/Tool - against lion/climbing from lion
2. Tool - Brunwald Castle swing
3. Tool - around Henry Sr.'s ankle

"Mystery of the Blues"
0. -

The only other time we see Indy use one is in "Curse of the Jackal",
which brings up a question...When did Indiana Jones adopt the whip?
He used one in 1912 & 1916 but not for the remainder of the TV show
(until 1920), although the books (1922+) have it firmly established as
part of his choice equipment.

A suggestion for fan fiction writers out there...How about a story
concerning Indy's acquisition of his first whip?
 

IndyBuff

Well-known member
Mariah said:
It?s not the quantity that matters it?s the quality of its usage. :rolleyes:

Point taken. Hopefully Indy's whip will get some major screen time in Indy IV. It's such a unique and cool item and like Stoo mentioned it was used quite a bit in the books.

Or in the immortal words of Devo: "Whip it good!" :whip:
 

IAdventurer01

Well-known member
More whip usage is definately a good thing... well if not going overboard. For an example: Indy Video Games. Von Beck's Revenge anyone? :p

It?s not the quantity that matters it?s the quality of its usage.
 

HovitosKing

Well-known member
Stoo said:
A suggestion for fan fiction writers out there...How about a story
concerning Indy's acquisition of his first whip?

I always assumed that Indy acquired his first whip right after witnessing first-hand the power of the leather against a lion in LC. I also assumed that the Circus train was where his snake phobia was born, since he was undisturbed by a snake just minutes earlier in the caves but started freaking out around them after falling into the reptile pit. I always thought that the young Indy bit in LC was meant to show where some of his more interesting characteristics originated (whip, snake phobia, scar).
 

HovitosKing

Well-known member
Yeah, I know. I just assumed that after being in a situation where using the whip was his only option, Indy realized what a functional and effective weapon/tool it could be and ran right out to buy one.
 

Stoo

Well-known member
HovitosKing said:
I always thought that the young Indy bit in LC was meant to show where some of his more interesting characteristics originated (whip, snake phobia, scar).
Don't forget the fedora!;)

Intergamer is right in that he didn't keep the whip. He didn't take the one
in Mexico 1916 either ("Curse of the Jackal"/"Spring Break Adventure") and
still looks rather inexperienced with it. In my personal Indy world, he doesn't
own until c.1921.

The TV series has an inconsistency with the snake phobia. As HovitosKing
mentioned, Indy is undisturbed in the cave at the beginning of "Crusade"
but in Africa 1908/09, his fear is featured in a short scene.

As for the hat, one would like to think that the one given to him by Fedora
is the *same* one throughout his entire life! (He may have lost it once or
twice in "Young Indy" but I can't remember right now).

It's my bet that the whip's diminished screen time in "Crusade" was to avoid
the predictability of Dr. Jones' escapades.
 

Jay R. Zay

New member
Stoo said:
As for the hat, one would like to think that the one given to him by Fedora
is the *same* one throughout his entire life! (He may have lost it once or
twice in "Young Indy" but I can't remember right now).

well i don't know either but i'm pretty sure that (at least originally) fedora's fedora was supposed to become indy's fedora. erm what i'm trying to say is that when they were shooting LC, i think lucas and spielberg wanted to show where indy got his one hat. i've never seen the YIJC but i'd be surprised if he did lose it there. on the other hand, many things were changed in the YIJC as the intro of LC was supposed to be his very first adventure. but i think, as the hat is the most typical thing about indy, it would be wrong to include a scene where he loses it.
 

IndyBuff

Well-known member
Indy has his current whip as soon as the first book, Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi, starts. Since it's set in 1922 I assume he aquired his traditional whip sometime around that era, possibly a year or two before.

I always wonder how he got it. Did he steal it from an enemy or simply buy it? Who knows, but it would be neat to find out. :whip:
 

Stoo

Well-known member
As for the whip possibilities, here's what I figure:

1. Purchased - too boring.
2. Found - a simple idea with limited potential.
3. Given/inherited - open wide to numerous avenues.
4. Stole - more in tune with the original, Indy nastiness of "Raiders".

Now that I think of it, there may be a horsewhip used at the end of
"The Hollywood Follies" which fits the timeframe. Must check it out...

What I did check out was if Indy loses his hat. Technically, he does not.
In the 2 episodes where I thought it was gone ("Attack of the Hawkmen"
& "Austria, March 1917"/"Adventures in the Secret Service") he abandons
the fedora in order to run around disguised. Whichever case, Indy must've
been extremely clever at concealing it since both closing shots have him
pulling the hat out of nowhere(!) and popping it on with a goofy grin.

Given the situations, it's ridiculous - but that's movie magic for ya...
 

HovitosKing

Well-known member
I agree...stealing the whip in the midst of battle in order to defeat an enemy with his/her own weapon would be the most fun means of Indy's acquiring the whip. I like that. If it's used again in this hypothetical Indy IV, I'd like to see some novel use...soemthing he hasn't used it for in the past.
 

Stoo

Well-known member
Considering the trilogy's penchant for re-introducing ideas that were initially
created for "Raiders", I would like to see something similar to Indy lashing
himself to the submarine periscope with the whip. This really demonstrates
Indy's resourcefulness as well as an alternate use for his trusty appendage.
(Originally, he leaves/forgets the whip on the sub & returns later to get it back.
Conflict enuses...) :whip:

Anyway, if Indy IV is eventually made, we'll definitely see the whip again!
 

IndyBuff

Well-known member
Stoo said:
Considering the trilogy's penchant for re-introducing ideas that were initially
created for "Raiders", I would like to see something similar to Indy lashing
himself to the submarine periscope with the whip. This really demonstrates
Indy's resourcefulness as well as an alternate use for his trusty appendage.
(Originally, he leaves/forgets the whip on the sub & returns later to get it back.
Conflict enuses...) :whip:

Anyway, if Indy IV is eventually made, we'll definitely see the whip again!

I would like to see a scene similar to that too. Indy's whip is a rare and unique weapon/tool and it's cetainly something we can expect to see again in all its glory if Indy IV ever rolls around. :whip:
 
Top