I've always wondered why the heck Walter Donovan has Indy practically kidnapped to give him information about the Grail and Henry Sr.? Indy says himself that he knew of Donovan and made comments about how generous his contributions had been to the museum Indy works for. Indy shakes his hand! So he's a well-known and respected individual and contributes to the science of archeology. Of course, Henry Sr. had his own opinions of him!
Still, why didn't Donovan just invite Indy to his place and tell him he has found something of great historical significance and he would like to get Indy's professional opinion on it? Why the kidnapping? Why do you guys think? Personally, BTW, I thought that Indy's "kidnapping" didn't make any sense in the plot. I mean, they could have just done what I mentioned above. He'd still get to Donovan's either way.
One more observation. This whole "kidnapping" in the novelization of LC is hilarious! Read it over/ Indy's sitting between these goons with guns and he actually asks for thier ID and tries to get them to talk about the weather! It was funny how naive Indiana seemed there!
Your comments on all this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Just another hole in a lame Indy flick, which is still better than most all the other movies in the world. Maybe Donovan invited Indy, but his invitation was lost in mail, uhh can't say. Lame writers looking for a cliffhanger type plot twist? A good place to stop for a commerical?
Maybe just foreshadowing. Donovan is a man who wants to get want he wants, one way or another. The somewhat harsh treatment of Indy should maybe key him in that Donovan may not be able to be trusted.
Just another hole in a lame Indy flick, which is still better than most all the other movies in the world. Maybe Donovan invited Indy, but his invitation was lost in mail, uhh can't say. Lame writers looking for a cliffhanger type plot twist? A good place to stop for a commerical?
Not really, Donovan has a quest under way for the Holy Grail, he wants done as secret and undercover as possible. Donovan even says when Jones arrives something to the effect, he hopes his men didn't frighten him.
I think the more pertinent question is "why did Donovan need the aid of the Nazis when he already was able to convince both Joneses to work for him and clearly already had the necessary money and resources to finance his own private Grail expedition?" If you think about it, there really is no reason other than plot device for Donovan to be a bad guy in this scenario. I suppose he had to make arrangements that would allow him to collect the Grail itself for his private collection rather than giving it to the museum, but it seems like he could have pretty easily made it all the way to the Grail simply with the help of the Joneses without resorting to the Nazis. I mean, why bother enlisting Henry Sr. and then kidnapping him from your own project?
Another possibility is maybe Donovan's Grail quest started out on the up and up, but then the Nazis intervened, kidnapping Henry Sr., and Donovan decided (maybe even after getting Indy's help) that it was simply easier to team up with the Nazis than to try and fight them. Seems like Donovan is the type of guy who's looking out only for his own interests, and will take whatever is the simplest and most direct means of getting what he wants.
Agreed. Donovan is a dull character, to boot.
Most likely because he refused to co-operate after finding out Nazis were involved.
"She talksh in her shleep", remember?
I quite like Donovan. We didn't get to see much of him, and he was quite calm most of the time. Until near the end, when we saw him shoot Indy's dad in cold blood. I think he worked well for me.
It was simply a cinematic device for showing peril and an expedient way in getting from point A to point B. It was a red herring in a way because as soon as Indy is introduced to Donovan, the audience believes everything is legit (which it is until Austria).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benraianajones
I quite like Donovan. We didn't get to see much of him, and he was quite calm most of the time. Until near the end, when we saw him shoot Indy's dad in cold blood. I think he worked well for me.
His introduction scene is good. I do like Glover's acting after he asks, "Can you translate it's inscription?".
One gets a good sense of Donovan's anticipation and zealous obsession boiling up under his polite exterior.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vile
I think so... I think they probably removed it as it would indicate Donovan was nasty before the reveal in Austria...
The comic also says that Indy wants to avoid risking any accidental injuries to students if he resists.
What you say makes perfect sense, tough.
I can't quite remember, but I think I was surprised to learn of Donovan's 'allegiances' later in the movie. Ahh, the days before spoilers, eh..?
I certainly was the 1st time around in '89 but the "don't trust anyone" line should have tipped me off.
Now, I'd probably foresee his his nastiness with that one piece of dialogue. Days before spoilers? Too right, mate.
They don't threaten Indy, per se. He just notices one of them is wearing a shoulder holster under his business suit.
Irrespective of what may or may not be in the script, comic or novel, in the movie, Indy is most definitely not kidnapped nor threatened.
He's just approached by a couple guys in suits. We don't see the rest of their conversation. Could just have been, "Dr. Jones, we have some very urgent business, blah, blah, blah." They might have even mentioned Donovan by name, since Indy doesn't react with a trace of surprise when Donovan introduces himself.
He was definitely not "kidnapped" and, though the scene is shot with a vague air of menace, I don't think that's how we're supposed to read it at all.
It would frankly be stupid and wildly unnecessary for Donovan to order his men to take Indy at gun point.
I don't remember them kidnapping Indy. I just remember them approaching him and he was slightly on-guard (what do you expect? he usually has a reason to be)... and then everything is okay as they seem to explain something to him and then it cuts to another scene.
Not really "kidnapping" of any form if you ask me. *shrug* Maybe I'm forgetting, it's been awhile since I seen the flick.
There was a deleted scene where they pointed guns or something wasn't there??
The reason that was deleted I guess was because it then did seem like a kidnapping - and that isn't what was really required from Donovan. As mentioned he does state he doesn't hope his men alarmed him in the final cut of the film.
So, perhaps originally planned as a kidnap kind of idea, then they decided to cool it off - though it can still seem like a kidnap of screen.
There was a deleted scene where they pointed guns or something wasn't there??
Not really. They "insist" he accompany them, he says no, until he notices one of them is wearing a shoulder holster under his suit, and so he agrees to go with them. That's pretty much it.
At least, that's what happens in the novelization and comic. No actual gun-pointing, but Indy does note that they're armed.
