George Lucas: The Idea For RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

George Lucas discusses how he told his idea for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK to Steven Spielberg.

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[SLPIFan]

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

[garitadeldiablo]

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

[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

[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

[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 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

[johann2779]

steven spielberg made indiana jones for what it was!

[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.

[Armageddon2077]

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

[8825TWO]

@JeffDavadPhotog Thanks for that bit of history.