He looks pretty good in that hat.
But he never did get the chance to do more than a screen test.
And so Harrison Ford donned the fedora, and made the role his own.
Is it really such a clone?
Along the way they argue and encounter many difficulties, including an unpleasant Afghan warlord played by Brian Blessed.
(What more does a film need?)
But whats really interesting about the film is what it doesnt have.
Heres a quick run-down, with spoilers, of what it doesnt do:
1.
What kind of hero doesnt get physical when necessary?
The answer is OMalley inHigh Road To China.
High Road To Chinahas aerial dogfights, bombs, explosions, but hardly any physical battles.
And yet they dont give him the opportunity to really prove his hero status.
Maybe its got something to do with point two…
2.
The heroine doesnt need saving
Marion Ravenwood is a great heroine.
And yet she still needs to be saved an awful lot.
She gets abducted, she gets tied up in tents, she gets dropped in holes.
Eve Tozer doesnt appear to have much of a vulnerable side.
Except she doesnt really need a pilot; shes a flying ace herself.
Its the plane she needs, and OMalley can come along just to show her the way.
She gets to wear the disguises and square up to the bad guys.
How dare a woman talk to him, a Warlord?
Well, this is no ordinary woman.
Eve is a character youll either love or hate.
The music isnt thrilling
Everyone can hum the music fromRaiders Of The Lost Ark.
Not many people can recall the music fromHigh Road To China.
It doesnt gear you up to take on the world.
It does fit perfectly with the flying scenes though.
If you like planes and John Barry, this film andOut Of Africaare most definitely for you.
The villain doesnt get his comeuppance
Robert Morleys villainous character is a nasty piece of work.
Raiders Of The Lost Arkgives us a much more satisfying ending.
The bad guys get their faces melted, or their heads explode.
It feels like it serves them right.
And, after their experiences, I believe them.
Instead theyre simply stuck there.
Indy and Marion have more of a resolution.
They have to rebuild an entire plane or learn the Chinese language.
Everyone knowsRaiders Of The Lost Arkis a great adventure film.
Its not surprising that it spawned more than a few imitators.
Must there always be a punch, a kiss, a quest?
What happens when we fiddle about with those expectations?
Can the result be enjoyable on its own terms?
