George Lucas: The Idea For RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

[Retardretroguy]

What I get from that story is that Harlan Ellison wasn't kidding when he called these guys unoriginal.

Spielberg: I'd like to replicate something that's popular right now.

Lucas: I got something even more generic

[johann2779]

steven spielberg made indiana jones for what it was!

[Armageddon2077]

"Had this idea for 'Apocalypse Now'..." --- wait a minute, what?

[mocthezuma]

@Armageddon2077 My exact reaction! Checked IMDB, no mention of Lucas in the credits for Apocalypse Now, nor is the film listed on any of the lists on George Lucas' profile page. Maybe he got Apocalypse Now mixed up with some other movie.

[40Pacino]

@Armageddon2077 What I do know is that Lucas was one of the people who was considered to direct Apocalypse Now before Coppola came along, but I didn't read anything about it being his idea

[Armageddon2077]

@40Pacino I do know that the movie 'Apocalypse Now' is based on the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad; so what is Lucas saying is he claiming that he had the idea for adapting it or something? Also, I know that Lucas and Coppola were close friends in their youth - so is Lucas saying that he had some influence on the project? Granted Harrison "Han Solo" Ford is in the movie for like five seconds - maybe Lucas introduced him to Coppola...

[40Pacino]

@Armageddon2077 This is straight from imdb: Lucas' initial plan was to shoot the movie as a faux documentary on location in South Vietnam while the war was still in progress... By the time both men (Lucas and Coppola) were powerful enough to get the film made, Saigon had fallen and Lucas was busy making Star Wars (1977). Milius (who was going to write the script for the faux documentary) had no interest in directing the film. Lucas then told Coppola that he could direct it

[LDtheBrachio]

Yes! Indiana Jones is BETTER then a James Bond film (though i only seen parts of some) my fav Indy film is ''Crystal Skull'

[rbdzntsfrlk]

@LDtheBrachio ewwwwwwwww that was the worrrsstttt onneee everrrrr!!!! yuuuuucckkk!

[dgb751]

there was a time when the best movie to look forward to was james bond.

[JeffDavadPhotog]

Originally Lucas had acquired the rights to the book Heart of Darkness and was set to direct Apocalypse after THX-1138 but then got involved in American Graffiti so Apocalypse got "put on the shelf". During the making of Godfather 2 Coppola had asked Lucas again about directing Apocalypse but by this time Lucas was already involved in Star Wars so Coppola took on the project himself. Curiously enough Harrison Ford's character in Apocalypse is named Col. Lucas

[8825TWO]

@JeffDavadPhotog Thanks for that bit of history.

[Litshttam]

Apocalypse Now was Lucas' idea?

[SLPIFan]

Well I've got to agree with him, I think Indiana Jones is better than James Bond.

[sheemobile]

Raiders is awesome although the last crusade was my favorite.

[IvanDrago187]

Really liking all the George Lucas stuff... is there some sort of larger interview that these clips are coming from? I'd really like to see that.

[garitadeldiablo]

One of my all time favorite films. It's pure entertainment.