Indiana Jones is a fictional bullwhip-toting, fedora-wearing archaeologist with an overdeveloped ophidiophobia (fear of snakes). He first appeared in a series of films produced by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg in the 1980s.Jones was originally portrayed by Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Younger versions of the character were also played by River Phoenix (in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), and by Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flanery (in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles). An older version (93) of Jones, played by George Hall, also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
Indiana Jones is also the general name given to the series as a whole, which is comprised of three films, a TV series, various novels, comics, video games, and other media. A fourth film has also been announced for a likely 2007 release.
BiographyIndiana Jones was born Henry Jones Jr. to Scottish-born Professor of Medieval literature, Dr. Henry Jones Sr. (played by Lloyd Owen in the TV series and by Sean Connery in the films), and his wife Anna on July 1, 1899, in Princeton, New Jersey. "Junior" accompanied his father on his travels throughout Europe, where he learned to speak, read, and write 27 languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Vietnamese, Swahili, Latin and Chinese, as well as some Hindi, apart from English. Although his father called him "Junior," Henry Jr. adopted the name of his beloved dog Indiana for himself, insisting he be referred to as Indiana Jones. It is not known for sure when he first did this, except that he was referred to as Indiana during childhood by his peers.
In 1912, Indy was living in Utah and was a member of the Boy Scouts with the rank of Life Scout. It was here, while attempting to secure the Cross of Coronado from thieves, Indy first learned to use the bullwhip and received his trademark fedora. This was also the time when he first developed his aversion to snakes.
His father wanted Indiana to go to Princeton University. To escape this, he ran away from home by train. He ended up in Mexico and was kidnapped by Mexican revolutionaries. He joined this army of revolutionaries, playing a part in the Mexican Revolution in 1916, under Pancho Villa. It is here that he also met his friend Remy, a Belgian. With Remy, he left Mexico and eventually made his way to Africa at the beginning of World War I.
He and Remy intended to join the Belgian Army, but Jones' inability to read maps properly caused him to lose his intended unit, and he instead fought along side a team of old men under the British Army. Among missions (depicted in the television series), the team destroyed a giant cannon mounted on a train, and they kidnapped the (real-life) German military genius Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck in a balloon, but they were forced to release him.
Eventually Jones joined the Belgian army with Remy, Jones was commissioned as a lieutenant, and in 1916 and participated in the Western Front. He was taken prisoner by the Germans, escaped, encountered Mata Hari, worked as an intelligence officer, took ill, and was treated by Albert Schweitzer. Jones vied with Ernest Hemingway for the affections of a young nurse and worked as a translator for the Treaty of Versailles, seeing the war come to its conclusion but laying down the groundwork for a second conflict.
Sometime after the war, Jones returned to the United States, where he studied archaeology at the University of Chicago under Professor Abner Ravenwood. At the same time, he became romantically involved with the Professor's daughter Marion.
Dr. Jones abruptly left the Ravenwoods in 1926 and did not contact them for 10 years. He divided his time between teaching and archaeological expeditions, including a journey to China and India in 1935 where he faced the gangster Lao Che and the followers of the cult of Kali (Temple of Doom). In 1936, he was contacted by the United States government to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis (Raiders of the Lost Ark). He continued to take on infrequent missions for the government over the ensuing years. In 1938, Indy rescued his father from the Nazis and became embroiled in the search for the Holy Grail (Last Crusade). His life during the World War II is unknown, but in 1947 he was deceived by the recently born CIA to search the mechanism of the Babylonian Infernal Machine, in confrontation with a Soviet expedition.
When last seen in 1993, Jones was living in New York City with his daughter and her family. Sporting an eyepatch and cane, he was stopping anyone within earshot to regale them with tales of his exploits. He seems remarkably spry for a man in his 90s—whether that is because of his drinking from the Grail is unknown. It is yet to be chronicled as to what adventure led Indy to wear an eyepatch.
AppearancesSince his introduction in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, the character of Indiana Jones has become a cultural icon for adventure. His popularity has allowed him to make appearances in three more feature films, a three-season TV series, dozens of novels, comic books, and video games, and even had his own amusement park ride.
The television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, aired from 1992 to 1996, with the 17-year-old Indy played by Sean Patrick Flanery, 93-year-old Indy by George Hall, and 10-year-old Indy by Corey Carrier. This inspired a number of made-for-TV and made-for-video movies featuring Flanery as young Indy. One of the last Young Indiana Jones TV movies featured a cameo appearance by Harrison Ford, reprising the role of Indy as a man in his 50s. The show ran for 44 episodes, with each pairing of episodes forming a feature-length TV film.
The popular trilogy of theatrical films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, were made from 1981–1989, created by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg. The series starred Harrison Ford as Jones. The upcoming fourth Indiana Jones movie, once again to star Harrison Ford, has been in the planning stages for several years; it is in pre-production and is not expected to be released until February 2007 at the earliest. Jim Ward, Vice President of Lucasfilm, has said in a recent press conference that a new Indiana Jones video game is expected that same year, around the time of the movie.
Theatrical filmsThe Temple of Doom (1984) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) The Last Crusade (1989) Indiana Jones 4 (2007) (categorized as "in production") (unproduced) Originally, George Lucas had signed a deal with Paramount Pictures for four theatrical sequels to Raiders of the Lost Ark. After the first three, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lucas announced he was finished with the theatrical films, leaving two of his promised sequels unmade. He now has announced his work on the third sequel, Indiana Jones IV. He now denies plans for a fourth sequel, claiming he never intended to do beyond three, but that the fourth film was "a brilliant idea he had." In saying he had a deal for four sequels, one could also speculate that he might not have counted The Temple of Doom as a sequel, and instead a prequel, which it was. This would leave room open for yet another sequel that is yet to be produced. Chapter 28: (unproduced) Based on the fact that The Temple of Doom could be counted as a prequel, rather than a sequel.
NovelsApart from novel adaptations of the movies, and several Young Indiana Jones episodes, there is also a series of original paperback novels about the adventures of Indiana Jones, and another series of novels about Young Indiana Jones for younger readers. In Germany, there was a series of adult novels by author Wolfgang Hohlbein, and in France a Young Indiana Jones series by Joseph Jacobs and Richard Beugne. These are only available in German and French respectively.
Young Indiana Jones Novels by Random HouseYoung Indiana Jones' Titanic Adventure - by Les Martin Young Indiana Jones and the Pirates Loot - by J. N. Fox Young Indiana Jones and the Lost Gold of Durango - by Megan Stine and H. William Stine Young Indiana Jones and the Plantation Treasure - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Tomb of Terror - by Les Martin Young Indiana Jones and the Princess of Peril - by Les Martin Young Indiana Jones and the Ghostly Riders - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Circle of Death - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Journey to the Underworld - by Megan Stine and H. William Stine Young Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Ruby Cross - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Gypsy Revenge - by Les Martin Young Indiana Jones and the Secret City - by Les Martin Young Indiana Jones and the Mountain of Fire - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Face of the Dragon - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones and the Eye of the Tiger - by William McCay Young Indiana Jones Novels by Ballantine BooksThe Mata Hari Affair - by James Luceno
Indiana Jones Adult Novels by Bantam BooksIndiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Unicorn's Legacy - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Seven Veils - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Genesis Deluge - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Interior World - by Rob MacGregor Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates - by Martin Caidin Indiana Jones and the White Witch - by Martin Caidin Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone - by Max McCoy Indiana Jones and the Dinosaur Eggs - by Max McCoy Indiana Jones and the Hollow Earth - by Max McCoy Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx - by Max McCoy German novels by Goldmann VerlagIndiana Jones und das Schiff der Götter (Indiana Jones And The Ship Of The Gods) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und die Gefiederte Schlange (Indiana Jones And The Feathered Snake) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das Gold von El Dorado (Indiana Jones And The Gold Of El Dorado) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das verschwundene Volk (Indiana Jones And The Vanished People) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das Schwert des Dschingis Khan (Indiana Jones And The Sword of Genghis Khan) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das Geheimnis der Osterinseln (Indiana Jones And The Secret Of Easter Island) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das Labyrinth des Horus (Indiana Jones And The Labyrinth Of Horus) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Indiana Jones und das Erbe von Avalon (Indiana Jones And The Legacy Of Avalon) - by Wolfgang Hohlbein Find Your Fate Adventure Books by Ballantine BooksIndiana Jones and the Curse of Horror Island - by R. L. Stine Indiana Jones and the Giants of the Silver Tower - by R. L. StineIndiana Jones and the Cult of the Mummy's Crypt - by R. L. Stine Indiana Jones and the Cup of the Vampire - by Andrew Helfer Indiana Jones and the Legion of Death - by Richard Wenk Indiana Jones and the Eye of the Fates - by Richard Wenk Indiana Jones and the Dragon of Vengeance - by Megan Stine Indiana Jones and the Lost Treasure of Sheba - by Rose Estes Indiana Jones and the Gold of Genghis Khan - by Ellen Weiss Indiana Jones and the Ape Slaves of Howling Island - by R. L. Stine
RidesIn 1995, Disneyland opened a ride called Indiana Jones Adventure, based on the franchise and set in the "Temple of the Forbidden Eye"; Tokyo Disne ySea has a similar attraction, set in the "Temple of the Crystal Skull". Disney-MGM Studios features a stunt show called "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular". Also, Disneyland Paris has a rollercoaster called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril".
PinballIndiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure (1993, Williams), designed by Mark Ritchie, is a widebody pinball game that features sound clips from all three theatrical films, and features 12 different stages (four stages each based on different scenes from the movies, including three video modes). If you complete all 12 stages, you will enter the game's "Wizard Mode", called Eternal Life.This was the first game to use Williams/Midway's DCS Sound System, with the music composed by Chris Granner
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