The late Charlton Heston's influence on Indy

SterankoII · Apr 6, 2008

Charlton Heston, who died last night at the age of 84 made a lot of great movies(Ben-Hur, Planet of the Apes, Touch of Evil) but two have a clear influence on George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's creation of Indiana Jones.

As mentioned in TheRaider.net Influences section his 1954 movie Secret of the Incashttp://www.theraider.net/information/influences/secret_of_incas.php there a lot of similarities to Raiders.

Steven Spielberg said first movie he ever saw was Cecil B. Demille's 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth, when he was five and which starred Heston. Look at his outfit:

The Man · Apr 6, 2008

It certainly isn't inconcievable that Heston was thought about for Connery's role in Last Crusade.

Stoo · Apr 6, 2008

SterankoII said:
As mentioned in TheRaider.net Influences section his 1954 movie Secret of the Incashttp://www.theraider.net/information/influences/secret_of_incas.php there a lot of similarities to Raiders.

While not an exciting film, it still is an extremely, cool movie. Have you ever seen it?
There is a part where Hestion is about to walk into the temple doorway and he stops,
turning to look back. Indy does the same thing at the beginning of "Raiders" and the
timing/pacing is exactly the same!

Grethe · Apr 7, 2008

Does my memory play tricks on me or were there plenty of ants - big 'uns on the warpath - in Secrets of the Incas too?

Stoo · Apr 7, 2008

Ha ha! You're thinking of "The Naked Jungle". Some VERY Indy-ish moments in this one.
It came out around the same time as "Secret of the Incas" and Heston wears another hat!
The last half is edge-of-your-seat excitement and, as usual, Chuck is superb.

herr gruber · Apr 7, 2008

Oh boy, The Naked Jungle. That film horrified me as a child! Heston covered in thousands of ants and making a heroic dash to the local dam to blow it up and wash away the critters.

Paden · Apr 7, 2008

I only wish Secret of the Incas would get a DVD release. I'd love to own it. Maybe with the arrival of KOTCS it will get some airtime on AMC or Turner Classic so I can record it.

Michael24 · Apr 7, 2008

AMC aired it several times just a few years ago. I recorded it because I'd never seen it before, and it had been years since my dad last saw it. Then I accidently taped over it.

It's kind dated and slow by today's standards, but it's still pretty cool to see a precursor to Indiana Jones.

I'm surprised it's not out on DVD yet. Warner Bros. made it, didn't they?

Stoo · Apr 7, 2008

Michael24 said:
Then I accidently taped over it.

Ouch! Don't you hate when that happens?

Michael24 said:
It's kind dated and slow by today's standards, but it's still pretty cool to see a precursor to Indiana Jones.

I'm surprised it's not out on DVD yet. Warner Bros. made it, didn't they?

Paramount (which is why I believe the crew were allowed so many screenings when making "Raiders").

herr gruber said:
Oh boy, The Naked Jungle. That film horrified me as a child! Heston covered in thousands of ants and making a heroic dash to the local dam to blow it up and wash away the critters.

Heston running down the canal from the rushing deluge is "Doom" all the way!
As for the "critters" in this film, discussing them any further could be considered
SPOILER material!

ResidentAlien · Apr 7, 2008

herr gruber said:
Oh boy, The Naked Jungle. That film horrified me as a child! Heston covered in thousands of ants and making a heroic dash to the local dam to blow it up and wash away the critters.

Haven't seen it... but damn, that happens verbatim in a season-1 episode of MacGyver called Trumbo's World.

Michael24 · Apr 7, 2008

I believe that MacGYVER episode actually used footage from THE NAKED JUNGLE.

ResidentAlien · Apr 7, 2008

Michael24 said:
I believe that MacGYVER episode actually used footage from THE NAKED JUNGLE.

Lol, consider The Naked Jungle high on my priority list now.

Stoo · Apr 7, 2008

Michael24 said:
I believe that MacGYVER episode actually used footage from THE NAKED JUNGLE.

I'm not surprised. "The A-Team" used shots of the heliocopter crash from "Capricorn One"!

ResidnetAlien said:
Lol, consider The Naked Jungle high on my priority list now.

While "Secret of the Incas" has the Indy costume and all the S.American temple trappings,
"The Naked Jungle" is a far more engaging film. The relationship between Heston and his wife,
Leiningan's Woman (Eleanor Parker), is one to behold. It's available on DVD. I think you'll like it!

WillKill4Food · Apr 7, 2008

The Greatest Show on Earth is one of my all-time favorite films.
I haven't seen that others, but you can bet I will now.

Tron7960 · Apr 7, 2008

He defended his right to bear arms. :gun:

Tron

Michael24 · Apr 7, 2008

From what I remember, isn't the majority of THE NAKED JUNGLE actually a romance story between Heston's character and his wife? I think the fire ant thing, which everybody remembers most about the film, is just sort of a recurring "approaching" element that finally shows up for the climax of the film and isn't really the focus of the story.

isaac_z · Apr 7, 2008

found a couple of clips from 'the secret of the incas' on the youtubes.

very indy.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QBnFtBwiUTE&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QBnFtBwiUTE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

and

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NveefDpjK6k&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NveefDpjK6k&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

and

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PeFy9S0MKp4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PeFy9S0MKp4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

note the origin of a song from the big lebowski in the final clip...

isaac_z · Apr 7, 2008

edit: sorry, double post.

Violet · Apr 8, 2008

isaac_z said:
found a couple of clips from 'the secret of the incas' on the youtubes.

very indy.

and

and

note the origin of a song from the big lebowski in the final clip...

I would say I think this is what we can expect from KOTCS. Especially on that last clip, with the whole "I'm sorry I don't have a ring." I keep getting shocked at how much Lucas and Spielberg have ripped off movies and serials and somehow put it together and make it a classic.