The Most American Movie Scene of All Time
What’s the most American movie scene? Some may think of Patton in front of the Stars and Stripes, or a something from Jimmy Stewart’s’ catalogue. Maybe a scene from Saving Private Ryan or Glory. Maybe you lean toward Star Wars or E.T. because of their impact on the world? Well, I have your answer, and it is from a Spielberg movie.
The scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones shot that Egyptian sword guy.
For me, it doesn’t even come close. The scene is this: Indy is running through the marketplace for Marion who has been kidnapped again. The crowd parts to reveal a man in a black turban with a scimitar. He whips it around announcing his attention to fight Indy. Our hero pulls out a gun and blows the guy away with one shot.
I will admit it. I love this scene. It makes me laugh every time I see it. But over the years I think it encapsulates America in so many ways that it is hard to ignore.
First, take a look at Indy’s face when he sees the swordsman. There’s no look of fear or confusion. There’s no respect for the display of skill. He doesn’t perform a quick draw like a western, he just grabs his gun like a can of Raid and the dude is a spider on his patio. He acts like a dad shooing the cat way from his favorite chair. Indy shoots, then he is expressionless. He goes right back to looking over the heads of the crowd for Marion. He barely acknowledges it.
That’s America! At least, historically. We trample our way around the world with our own agendas and biases and when we are confronted with centuries-old traditions, customs, relationships, motives, and prejudices, we just plow through anyway. We don’t have time for your Old World crap…we got shit to do. It’s highly offensive and regretful for the most part, but every once in a while, we get the dirty job done that needs to get done.
Also, Americans don’t have centuries of tradition. We do our talking with technology. There is no honor or notion of a fair fight. A gun beats a sword. Fuck you. Next. We don’t play by your rules. We play by ours.
That look on his face when it’s over. It’s so perfect. It’s such a suburban dad look. “What was I doing again? Where are my keys?” Meanwhile there’s a dead guy in the dirt with a hole through his torso. “I ain’t got time for that mess. I got shit to do.” We are strangers in strange lands and we make messes for others to clean up. (Yikes! A little to satirical. This is supposed to be about a movie, right?)
The funniest part is that the story behind that scene is also crazily American. The stuntman who played the swordsman trained to whip that scimitar around for weeks in the lead up to the day they shot in the marketplace. Harrison Ford had a fight scene practiced and ready to go for the day, but he caught dysentery that week. Basically, he had the shits, as did most of the crew on location. So, he talked with Spielberg and came up with the easiest solution that got Harrison back to the toilet quicker. Just shoot the guy. Done.
Weeks of practice and set-up. All thrown away because the rich and handsome movie star probably drank the water he wasn’t supposed to.
“I ain’t got time for that mess. I got shit to do.”
It’s boorish and kinda gross. Like us at our worse. It’s not all bad, though. Indy eventually defeats some Nazis and gets the Ark of the Covenant back.
To a warehouse.
In…America.
Good movie, though.
Clip below: