The Great Recasting: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Hello Everyone! 

     Of course, I had to get in on the fun. So, here's my piece for my and Rianna's blogathon:

      I love all of the Indiana Jones movies, but I think of the three original movies, the first, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is my favorite. It's actually very tempting for me to say that Raiders is my very favorite modern movie, because I just love it that much. For that reason, when Rianna and I got serious about this blogathon business, I claimed Indiana Jones right off the bat. 

      As far as the recasting goes, I didn't have any real problems deciding who would play who, I had actually been thinking about this a long time before Rianna ever decided to inspire me by saying that Ingrid Bergman should play Maria Von Trapp. The re-casted year was also simple, and the director was no more difficult than the other things, so let's get this over with, shall we? I'm not going to go over the plot because if you've never seen Indiana Jones you're not actually living right now. It's all a figment of your imagination until you see Harrison Ford running around with a whip and a fedora. If you have actually never seen this movie, I suggest you go watch it before proceeding; and after watching it you'll know what happens, so a plot summary would be useless here. Right? Moving on...

     The year I'm recasting Raiders to is 1941. My favorite year in film in general, and my favorite year for both of the stars to be cast in the leading roles.  

     Note here that changing the director of this movie is really hard for me because I honestly believe that Steven Spielberg is an unmitigated genius, but... the fact that he wasn't even born in 1941 makes keeping him impossible. So, after not-so-much thought I've decided that Cecil B. DeMille ought to direct this 1941 epic-of-my-dreams. Mr. DeMille because, whether or not he knew what a good performance looked like, he will always be associated in my mind with two of my favorite action movies, Union Pacific and Reap the Wild Wind. I can see this movie being completely alright in his hands.

      Now, this is where it gets *serious*. Recasting a couple of the most iconic roles in film: Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood (or maybe they're not so iconic. Indy is, but maybe not Marion, poor girl). 

      As Indiana Jones I chose to recast Ray Milland. Because when trying to recast your favorite male film character (who happened to be played by your favorite modern actor) with a classic star, the only person for the job is obviously your favorite classic actor. That, and the fact that I think Ray Milland would be an epic [I mean, EPIC] Indiana Jones, made me choose him.
     I think Ray's Indy would be something like Ray's Tom in Arise, My Love (1940) - in other words, it would be fantastic. I think Ray Milland had a real touch for that hero act, but he was too busy starring as playboys and such for the majority of his career to show it off. Think of Golden Earrings (1947), think Arise My Love (1940), think Reap the Wild Wind (1942)...think of Mr. Milland's Welsh accent saying all those fantastic things Indiana Jones says.

     And now to recast the leading lady, which isn't half as hard for me because I don't like Karen Allen half as much as I like Harrison Ford. As Marion Ravenwood I chose to recast Barbara Stanwyck. Don't even pretend you weren't expecting that.
     For one thing, Ray and Missy are my two favorites and they have wonderful chemistry (as proven in 1947's California). I want so badly to see them in more movies together - this is admittedly a big part of my choosing both of them. 
     Plus, Marion Ravenwood is such a Stanwyck character - she's hard-as-nails and self-reliant among other things. Marion is one of my favorite film characters, and I think Stany could have done so much with her. [Forgive me, but I'm going to mention her eyes again eventually.] While I was re-watching this movie for the millionth time, I saw so many scenes in which Marion's character could have been improved by the queen. Scenes where the bitterness hiding the majority of Marion's other emotions could have been so impassioned by the fire in the Stanwyck's performances always waiting just below the surface to come out [did that sound way corny? Sorry 'bout that, but it's true]; and scenes where Stanwyck's eyes could have added so much to the performance as well. [My life consists of mentioning how great an experience watching Stany's eyes is.] 
     I honestly believe Stany could've pulled this off with the fineness characteristic of the queen's performances, but, I must tell the truth, I really re-cast her because I would find seeing her punch Ray Milland sincerely entertaining. I admit it, I have a warped sense of humor.


     So, there we go. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1941). Directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Starring Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck. In TECHNICOLOR. I forgot to mention that it would HAVE to be in Technicolor - can you even imagine how gorgeous Stany would be in 1941 in Technicolor? Le Sigh.

    
*****

Don't forget guys, if you have an article written for this blogathon but you haven't sent a link to me yet I have a running list of entries up so you can leave a comment there and I'll add you to the list! 

Until Later On~