Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was a financial hit, making over $330 million against a $28 million budget. Unfortunately, while the first was universally liked, the follow-up received mixed reviews, most criticizing the film’s darker tone. Over time, the film gained a newfound appreciation, but at the time, Steven Spielberg decided to go back to basics. He wanted something more lighthearted that harkened back to Raiders of the Lost Ark to end the planned trilogy. After reviewing numerous scripts, Spielberg and George Lucas hired Jeffrey Boam, who previously wrote The Lost Boys. In addition to Harrison Ford, Denholm Elliot, and John Rhys-Davies returning, Sean Connery joined the cast as Indy’s father. The movie was shot between May and September 1988 in Spain, West Germany, England, and the US for $48 million. Five years after the last installment, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hit theaters in May 1989.
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Synopsis
After retrieving Coronado’s prized crucifix, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) learns that his father disappeared while trying to find The Holy Grail. American businessman Walter Donovan (Julian Glover), who financed the expedition, asks Indy to find his father and the grail. Indy and Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot) meet art professor Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody), who worked with Indy’s father. Using his father’s diary, Indy finds a map of where the grail is hidden, which he gives Marcus for safekeeping. Meanwhile, Indy gets a tip that his father is being held captive in a castle in Austria by the Nazis. While he rescues his father, Henry Jones (Sean Connery), Indy learns that Elsa and Donovan are working with the Nazis. With some help from Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Indy and his father must find the grail before the Nazis do. Along the journey, Indiana learns to forgive his father and discover his faith.
Review
Coming off of the last film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a return to form for the series. Sure, it doesn’t quite get as dark as the first film, but it still has the same sense of fun. What also makes this film stand out is how Indy’s character is further developed, and we learn more about him. The movie opens with a flashback to Indy as a young man, played by the late River Phoenix. On top of being entertaining, the sequence helps to set up the film’s central conflict: Indy reconnecting with his father. Like before, Harrison Ford is still great as the professor/archaeologist Indiana Jones, who’s given much more humanity. The late Sean Connery is phenomenal as Indy’s father, playing off Harrison Ford’s sly wit with a gruff charm. The film’s best scenes are any of the moments they share together.
Denholm Elliot and John Rhys-Davies are welcome comebacks as their characters from Raiders, with both given more to do. Alison Doody has an excellent femme fatale quality, playing the first Indy girl who turns out to be a villain. Speaking of villains, Julian Glover is delightfully smug as the conniving businessman consumed by greed and desire for power. As with the other movies, the action sequences are spectacular, with the highlight being the scene with the WWI tank. This might be the funniest of the three films, punctuated by some great lines and physical comedy. Some audiences might be disappointed that this film plays things a bit too safe, but it works here. While lacking the edge of the first two films, it makes up for it with tons of heart. Overall, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade would’ve been a fitting end to the iconic series.
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