Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

An original script used in the production of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first instalment in the popular Indy franchise starring Harrison Ford.

This original production used revised third draft script is dated August 1979 and comprises of 102 brad bound pages with the front cover featuring the title of the movie and production credits. This early draft of the script features a number of key story differences and dialogue to the finished film, including, but not limited to, the following.

• The headpiece to the Staff of Ra is conceived as being in two pieces.
• The ultimately unused character of Tengtu Hok features as a warlord who has in his possession one half of the headpiece, a lengthy action sequence takes place in Shanghai where Indy acquires the piece from him. During this sequence a large gong is unhooked from the ceiling behind which Indy makes his escape and dives through a window, this idea would later be reused in the opening sequence of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
• The climactic action sequence set in the Tabernacle is notably different with Indy and Marion making their escape via a mine cart chase, again this idea would be reused in Temp[e of Doom.
• Toht portrayed by Ronald Lacey is called Belzig and he is killed alongside Gobler as their car goes off the cliff in the truck chase sequence.
• Dietrich portrayed by Wolf Kahler is called Shliemann and he is killed at the end of the mine cart chase.

This script remains in very good vintage condition exhibiting edge and corner wear from use and handling, some quite significant age related toning and minor discolouration is also present to the cover and edges of the script but this does not detract from what is a very rare example of early production material from this classic franchise.