Who is more responsible for Indy's success?!?

[Riker]

I saw this being argued on the IMDB boards I wondered what you guys had to say?

 

Is it Lucas for creating the story and characters, Speilbergs ability to amazingly direct, or Harrison Ford's coolness as Indy, or is it all of them collaborating together to make it awesome?!

[GPM in ICT]

I voted for Lucas just because I saw an interview with Speilberg a while ago and he talked about the creative process that has gone into making all four movies and it seemed like Lucas has a bit more influence when it is said and done. He has story and script approval and gets to do a first edit of the movie. Then Speilberg does an edit and then Lucas does one and they go back and forth until they both like it. But I would like t say that I think all three people bring a lot to the projects and without Ford as Indy the movies wouldn't be as good as they are.

[shokker]

teamwork.

[AmbroseKalifornia]

Well, I'd say collaboration of three of the most impressive names in movie history would be the reason, but that wasn't a poll option. So I'll go with Ford. George Lucas had a great story, and Spielberg makes fantastic movies, but Raiders wouldn't have been the same with a smug, cocksure Magnum PI as Indiana Jones. Ford lent a weariness, an aged, tired, been-there done-that sense of wisdom and toughness that no other actor can duplicate. The voice, the posture, the haggard squint... Simply put, Indy would not be Indy without Ford. And George Lucas didn't want him!

 

Of course, you could just as easily argue the other two, but I'm a Ford man.

-AK

[jedimaster-c]

I think you have to look at Lucas' past when making the Indiana Jones films.In an interview on the Heroes,Myths and Magic Documentary that came on PBS back in 1993.He said the idea came from the Saturaday morning serial cliffhangers he watched as a kid,King Solomns Mines an so on.I think Lucas had more impacted with Indy than Speilberg did.That's my take on it.Ford did a great job with Indy.I love the fact that Indy had flaws(scared of snakes was one of them).I agree that Tom Selleck probably wouldn't have worked.

[Riker]

I first put Lucas as my choice for writing the series but I saw the Fugitive today and I had forgotten how much Harrison rocks as an actor!

[Archer1120]

John Williams.

 

You can't hear that song and not smile.

[Riker]

John Williams.

 

You can't hear that song and not smile.

#US1#

 

Great answer Archer!

 

As a musician I just slapped myself for not putting him as an option!

[Rama Sha]

I put Lucas, because I've often maintained that the Indy movies should be like the Bond films with a new younger Indy taking over the role ever decade or so, and newer directors should be brought in to keep things fresh. Just as long as the movies are based on Stories by Lucas (but not scripted or directed by hom) I think it would work.

[BrotherShane]

I've gotta go with George. It seems like any Indy news has always been found in Star Wars publications throughout the years.

[Dragonrider1227]

I saw it's like a very fragile game of Jenga. Take one of those three out and the whole thing crumbles

[wiredscotty]

I definitely say Spielberg. Look, Lucas has great IDEAS. But when he's in charge, they are usually poorly executed. Don't get me wrong, I love star wars...but look at it compared to the Indiana Jones movies. Star Wars seems clunky, poorly written, goofy, and poorly directed. Indiana Jones always had a quality to it. A timelessness. The original Star Wars is showing it's age, but Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom still holds up today in my opinion. You ask most people which movie is "cooler"...star wars or Indiana Jones, and they'll say Indiana Jones. I rest that squarely in the hands of Spielberg. Lucas was involved heavily in both, but Spielberg can take those ideas and give them a real sense of legitimacy. His movies just seem like a step above any other movie that has a geek following.

Then of course there is Harrison Ford. I agree that with Magnum P.I. in his place, we wouldn't have the same movies we have now. I know I'm going to get crap for this...but tough.

Harrison is a great actor with a lot of sex appeal. Lucas is an ambitious business man without any real skills. Spielberg is an incredible artist.

I guess that's my two cents.

Begin fighting please.

[Capt.S.G.Wiseman]

I voted Ford because he really did make the character. Ya, Lucus wrote the stories, and Spielberg made it happen, but without Ford, it would have been just another PG-rated 80's flick that may have been forgotten. Harrison had a charisma that made you interested in what he was going to do next. No writer or director can do that with out the actor.

[JFAK075]

I gotta go with Ford because he was the face if Indy. Would Indy have been as popular with Tom Selleck in the role?

[Mr. Yac]

I put Lucas, because I've often maintained that the Indy movies should be like the Bond films with a new younger Indy taking over the role ever decade or so, and newer directors should be brought in to keep things fresh. Just as long as the movies are based on Stories by Lucas (but not scripted or directed by hom) I think it would work.

 

no offense, but thats insane, Indy is Ford and thats that, the revolving door works for bond but theres nobody else who could be Dr. Jones, he gets my vote too by the way. writing and direction is obviously crucial but the Actor is the one on screen the whole time and if he doesn't pull you in then no direction is going to make you watch

[synch]

I'm going to go with all 3 no doubt about it you can argue it with out any of them it just wouldn't be what it is today

[Capt.S.G.Wiseman]

I'm going to go with all 3 no doubt about it you can argue it with out any of them it just wouldn't be what it is today

 

That's true as well. If Lucas had gotten someone else besides Speilberg to direct it, it wouldn't have turned out as good. If Lucas never had the idea, then it would not have existed at all, let alone the possiblity that it would be terrible.

[Rama Sha]

I put Lucas, because I've often maintained that the Indy movies should be like the Bond films with a new younger Indy taking over the role ever decade or so, and newer directors should be brought in to keep things fresh. Just as long as the movies are based on Stories by Lucas (but not scripted or directed by hom) I think it would work.

 

no offense, but thats insane, Indy is Ford and thats that, the revolving door works for bond but theres nobody else who could be Dr. Jones, he gets my vote too by the way. writing and direction is obviously crucial but the Actor is the one on screen the whole time and if he doesn't pull you in then no direction is going to make you watch

 

And no offense to you, but that's the same old short sighted "It works for bond, but not Indy." statement that I've heard time and time again. But you know there were people back in the day that had the same attitude towards Bond. No one other then Connery could be Bond. It was an attitude that was so common that they even brought Connery back for "Diamonds are Forever." and "Never Say Never Again." proving that Connery wasn't the key to a good Bond flick since both where pretty awful. If people had taken this attitude with Bond there wouldn't have been any more of those films either and there were some damn good Bond films since then. You can't really say it won't work, since it hasn't been done. If they made one without Spielberg or Ford and and it sucked to high heaven then you could make such statements, but I think poeple should get over their attachments and give it a chance before declareing it the end of the world.

[revsears]

I agree with wired scotty up there. Spielberg is the man here. Actor's definatly help and so do great ideas, but Lucas proved himself great ideas can be executed patheticly. I'm a big sw hater now, sorry folks the 6 movies as a whole are pretty bad once he got through with them, especially considering the potential. Great many making machine yes, but as a solid story? There is reason i own the indy box set on dvd, and still only have vhs copies of the original trilogy. Ford was an awesome actor, but i find it hard to believe someone else couldn't have pulled it off, maybe not Magnum P.I. but someone. Spielberg made it all click together i think he is the most important of the three.