Kaleidoscope's newest review is on Flashback Cinema's presentation of Lucasfilm's 1981 "Raiders of the Lost Ark".  Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Wolf Kahler, Denholm Elliott, & Alfred Molina (essentially his 1st role of notice).  Rated 'PG', it has a running time of 1 hr., 55 min. 

Riding the crest of their success with "Jaws" & "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind" for Spielberg and "Star Wars' & "The Empire Strikes Back" for George Lucas, this film marks the realization of the genesis of an idea they both started working on in 1977 as Spielberg was finishing "Encounters".  Wanting to make a film like the Saturday adventure serials of their youth, they wanted to cast Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones.  Since he was contractually obligated to star in "Magnum P.I', CBS refused to let Selleck do the movie.  After an initial reluctance of Lucas's part, both men decided on Ford who was very anxious to be Indiana. 

"Raiders" is a true classic in every sense.  Spielberg's Oscar-nominated direction is assured & creative as he keeps the action in propulsive mode—starting with the opening sequence that has been copied numerous times.  Equally, Spielberg keeps the human element in focus in the scenes between Ford & Allen and Ford & Davies.  Lawrence Kasdan's script is a model of what a superb adventure film should be—alternating deftly between the human element & the thrilling action sequences.  Additionally, the screenplay has memorable quotes: 'Bad dates', 'Snakes!  Why did it have to be snakes?', 'Do we need the monkey?', and so many more.  John Williams Oscar-nominated score—what can one say about this iconic music that has not already been?  The main theme can be identified by almost anyone on the planet.  Douglas Slocombe's cinematography & long-time Spielberg collaborator Michael Kahn's editing almost become characters themselves—Slocombe's Oscar-nominated, majestic camerawork & Kahn's Oscar-winning, superb editing/cutting fully complement Spielberg's direction, creating the propulsion to which I alluded earlier.  Although filmed a decade before CGI, the visual & special effects by Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic deserved the Oscar that it won.  The film's 5th Oscar was won by Norman Reynold's exquisite & authentic production design.  All of this by these artisans occurred on a budget of—wait for it—$18-20 million! 

I give "Raiders of the Lost Ark 5 out of 5 nuggets.  If you have not seen it in a while, catch it on the big screen, if you can.