Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, is the last of the trilogy featuring everyone’s favorite archeologist/adventurer. It brings together two iconic action stars, Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Their presence alone makes this an enjoyable film. They play respectively, Doctor’s Henry Jones Sr. and Jr. Connery and Ford show their acting chops and their ability to play comedy, in this almost farcical film. The movie is enhanced with two characters who were in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Marcus Brodie, (Denholm Elliot) and Sallah, (John Rhys-Davies). There is also Alison Doody, as Dr. Ilsa Schneider, an archeologist, working for Walter Donavan, (Julian Glover).
The film has a prologue, showing how Indiana Jones developed an interest in archeology, and how he obtained his hat and whip. It also gives the reason for Jones’ fear of snakes. This opening has River Phoenix as the young Indy. After this, it jumps to 1938, with Jones, trying to keep the artifact he lost as a teenager, out of criminal hands.
The main story is Indiana Jones trying to recover The Holy Grail, for Walter Donavan and to find his father, who was abducted by the Nazis. Henry Jones Sr., was taken, because he is the foremost authority on the grail. He also has kept a diary on the subject, which the Nazis want. The cup of Christ, the grail’s informal name, is thought to have healing powers. It is when Jones catches up to his father, that the film kicks into high gear. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery show their ability to do comedy: a challenge for many actors. There are the comical attempts to escape the Nazis. It is right out of the script of any Abbott and Costello film. Henry Jones shows his ability to laugh in the face of danger. There is one scene where he steers seagulls in the direction of a Nazi pilot, using his umbrella, causing the pilot to crash.
Even more comedy is brought by Denholm Elliot and John Rhys-Davies. They are very entertaining on the screen. It is particularly funny, when Indiana Jones tells the Nazis, that Marcus Brodie has Henry Jones’ diary; and that he will blend in and disappear. The next scene shows Marcus fumbling his way in a desert town, asking for directions. When Brodie and Sallah are trying to get away from Nazi agents, Sallah puts Brodie on a truck. He doesn’t realize that it is A Nazi truck. It is the humor in the film that adds to its watch ability.
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade works because it gets back to the premise of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The heroes search for a religious relic, and encounter Nazis. The main difference is that Indiana Jones is recruited by a captain of industry, and not the United States government. The female lead of Dr. Ilsa Schneider is also cooler and calmer than Marion Ravenwood was in Raiders. This film is very different from the dark tone of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This is partly due to the negative criticism the middle film received, but also the creative talents of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. They realized the franchise had gotten off track and put it back on track.
What is amazing about Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is that two legendary stars could work well without a collision of egos. Their professionalism made this film happen. It also would make any film fan want to watch any Connery Bond film or rewatch Raiders of the Lost Ark or The original Star Wars trilogy. This shows both actors ability to project larger than life characters on screen. The legacy of both actors is cemented by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.