In the end, Sean Young got her masterpiece with Ford just a year later with Blade Runner and Selleck is forever immortalised as Magnum PI so no one really lost out here.
Sure Tom Selleck still had a good acting career, but it's nothing in comparison the a movie career that Harrison Ford had. So he kind of lost a bigger, more prestigious role.
@@canuck21 I see your point, but we're assuming a) Raiders would still be a hit with Selleck and b) he would have translated that to success elsewhere. Looking at the Bond series for example, we've got six decades of 20-30 hit movies from six or so actors. Not all of them made it big outside the franchise.
She either saves or makes every film she was in better. In Animal House she grounded the madness in reality, which only made the gonzo comedy more hilarious, in Indiana Jones she made Ford's somewhat stiff portrayal more lovable and human and we really rooted for him from that point on. And in the film Scrooge, she is the only person who is doing any real acting, every other character is simply a caricature.
*KAREN ALLEN , NEVER GETS ENOUGH CREDIT , FOR BEING AN EXTREMELY DAMN GOOD ACTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* *ESPECIALLY! , IN THE MAGNIFICENTLY GREAT MOVIE ``STARMAN`` !!!!!!!!!!!!!* *AND THAT MOVIE ITSELF! ``STARMAN`` , NEVER GETS ENOUGH CREDIT! FOR BEING A TREMENDOUSLY DAMN GOOD! MAGNIFICENT! CLASSIC! EPIC! MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* *I NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT! WHY THAT MOVIE DID NOT DEVELOP A "CULT FOLLOWING" , LIKE OTHER SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* *AND WHY THEY NEVER MADE A SEQUEL TO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
This movie really did nothing for her career. She was an extraneous character. The possible “love interest”. And once the movie was over her character might as well have died. Never saw her again.
I watched this movie for the thousandth time last night, and it never gets old. After over 40.yrs., it's still just as much fun as it was when it first came out
Karen Allen & Harrison Ford, perfect point in their lives, perfect film makers, perfect roles, perfect casting, one of the most memorable action films of my lifetime. The first 5 minutes of the film sets the stage and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout it's entirety. Great film making all around. Today is my 69th birthday and I can't imagine anyone else in those roles but it's interesting to hear alternative thoughts.
Happy Birthday!. I completely agree - it's hard to fault the film anywhere, and to top it all off, we have a tremendous John Williams score. It just doesn't get any better than that. Another iconic movie theme. Like you, I can't imagine anyone else in those roles, and for me, if they're ever going to try and do another Indiana Jones movie after this one (Dial of Destiny), the main role has have Harrison Fords face and voice and his same motion, especially when punching - they can CGI the hell out of it as far as I'm concerned because I just want to see Indy again and it can't be anyone else. Otherwise they'll have to stop with this last movie because I won't be interested in anyone else as Jones.
@@alienlife7754 To be fair, they dumped characters like WIlly and Short Round from the prequel Temple of Doom, and like all actors she could find acting work in other movies afterwards, just like Ford did.
@@garyl5128 are you guys on drugs or just stupid, they brought Marion Ravenwood back to Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal, did you idiots ever hear or see that movie it exists along Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones and the last crusade, along with the horrible fifth movie than making now, you guys are such clueless clowns 🤡 yeah I guess Harrison Ford Indiana Jones never came back he wasn't in the fourth movie with Karen Allen Marion ravenwood oh way they both came back to Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal skull it's just reality. Why don't you go check out the movie and reality, or just keep talking out of your dumbass
@@alienlife7754 you just keep saying the same idiotic and inaccurate thing over again, Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood was back the Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal, and guess what marion gave birth to Indiana Jones's son and guess what marion also married Indiana Jones, yet you say Marion might as well have died ok that makes zero sense being that Marian is so Superior valuable to the plot and story, in raiders of the Lost ark let alone Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal, that's like saying Indiana Jones might as well have died at the end of raiders of the Lost, denying this reality is as pointless as your existence, it's like denying Indiana Jones was ever brought back after raiders of the Lost ark, Indiana Jones never came back either then I guess, according to you your such a clown 🤡
Cynical, modern humor, you mean. Selleck played Magnum with a different kind of goofy humor. I don't see that here, though. Tom might have portrayed Indy as a more typical one-dimensional 1930s hero.
If Selleck could go back in time and play the part with his more reserved "Blue Bloods" persona, that would be closer to what Ford did. Ford was cooler and could resist the smile, to good effect.
i love Tom, Magnum was awesome, but he doesn't give off that "I'm making this up as I go" vibe that Ford did (and said in Raiders). That's been one of the cornerstones of Indy, no plan - just go.
Fun Fact: magnum PI was actually a spin off of "the Rockford Files". Selleck played a young handsome P.I. that got under James Garner's skin on a special episode...
Harrison sure got lucky in the early years. First Star Wars were he was just there to read lines to the actors and George Lucas end up liking the tests and gave him the part. Then Indiana Jones because Tom Selleck was doing Magnum PI. And we are also lucky to get such a great actor doing those parts. :D
Interesting because originally they wanted Kurt Russell for Han Solo but I think he was committed to something else, so they gave it to Harrison Ford. I could DEFINITELY have seen Han Solo played by Kurt Russell. He had that spunk and panache as a rowdy smuggler, not unlike his role as Jack in Big Trouble In LIttle China. Also interesting because Ford got lucky again due to CBS locking Selleck into his Magnum P.I. contract. It's a really interesting turn of events, which makes you wonder how things could have turned out had Ford missed out on his two biggest franchise roles to date?
@@billywashere6965 No, I don't think they originally wanted Kurt Russell. I read many articles about the casting of the Star Wars trio and I never read anything about Kurt Russell winning the role. According to Al Pacino, he was offered the role believe it or not. Lucas never confirmed it.
@@canuck21 Actually George Lucas wanted Russell for either Luke or Han Solo, but wasn't entirely sure. But Lucas didn't get the choice because Russell picked another role instead. Kurt talked about it on the Opie and Norton show. There's a clip of him talking about it on RU-vid.
@@billywashere6965 I do see Kurt Russell as someone in-between a Luke Skywalker and a Han Solo. I also think that Carrie Fisher is a better match with Harrison Ford than Kurt Russell. Han Solo needed to be older and Kurt Russell still kinda has this boyish looks that would overlap with Mark Hamill.
Fun fact: Harrison Ford's parent's were going to name him Indiana, but they changed it to Harrison because they thought he might get made fun of in school if he was named after a character that didn't exist yet.
So grateful that in the end, it was Harrison Ford and Karen Allen who were cast, if anyone other than Harrison in the lead role, that film would not have continued with sequels, the first one Raiders is the best of them all.
Even as an obsessive Indy fan who, of course, thinks Ford was perfect - just based on the screen tests, I can see Selleck (without the mustache, of course) doing a fantastic job, as well. It still would have been a great film - but I'm not totally sure it would have been the hit that it was without Ford - and it likely wouldn't have been the *same* film in some ways. But Selleck would have been a great Indy, too.
@@CoolGobyFish Sure, but I think he had to keep it during the time he was filming Magnum. He did High Road to China and Runaway during that period and he has it in those.. I'm surprised they didn't make Harrison Ford grow one for the part.
If anything, Tom Selleck looks more era appropriate for the 1930s with his mustache. Reminiscent of big movie stars of the time like Clark Gable and Errol Flynn. Ford looks like the 80s.
Really interesting seeing the screen tests with Sean Young and Karen Allen and watch the very real differences in the energy and dynamism they brought to the character. I'm so glad Allen got the part. Marion was one of my role models as a girl - independent, intelligent and resilient. I don’t think Young would have had the same impact on me. And I never thought Selleck was half as sexy as Ford!
Selleck Was the perfect fit to play Indiana If Selleck would have put a clause on his magnum contract to do other stuff he would had sealed the deal with the part and based on the drawings he fit the bill. No doubt Harrison did a great job
I think Selleck fits the part of the "leading man" more then Ford, because of his physique and jawline, which I think is what Spielberg and Lucas were looking for. But Harrison Ford has a natural charm that is not based on "machismo" like Selleck, he brings a more romantic, vulnerable, soft-spoken side to his characters which I think it's what makes them iconic. Plus I think his physique fits more the Professor side, without looking out of place as an explorer. He looks strong, but not big, bulky and square like Selleck, which looks like he works out regularly.
@@jedi1967 No he was not. You can have an idea what kind of Indiana Jones had he played the part by looking at his audition and sorry, but I much prefer Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones.
George wanted Selleck. Spielberg always wanted Ford. I can't imagine anyone else than Harrison. I mean this isn't a character like any other he is Indiana Jones. Like the first day he was back in the role on Crystal Skull and put on the costume it was like he never left the role.
Karen Allen either saves or makes every film she was in better. In Animal House she grounded the madness in reality, which only made the gonzo comedy more hilarious, in Indiana Jones she made Ford's somewhat stiff portrayal more lovable and human and we really rooted for him from that point on. And in the film Scrooged, she is the only person who is doing any real acting, every other character is simply a caricature.
What I remember of Raiders, is a couple of months before it was released, the rumour was that it was going to star Alfred Molina, who was just becoming a star in his own right. That was the big teaser/rumour before the movie was released, about who was going to star in it.
@@DeanMk1 ...and Alfred Molina was NOT becoming a star in his own right at that point. Raiders was his first movie and before that only a couple of episodes in crap series + uncredited appearances. JPC just educating you. That's all. Chill.
Amazing how things work out! Ford and Allen are immortalized thanks to Raiders of the lost Ark! Selleck would have been great, Ford was better, and Young was pretty, and a good actress, but Karen Allen was the only woman for the part! In the end, everything worked out better than expected like Lucas said, and we are all left with a Movie Masterpiece, that will thrill audiences, long after we are all gone!
Not sure how you can say Ford was better than Selleck when Selleck never played the part. Obviously, Ford is the man, no doubt. His work speaks for itself. However, Selleck is no slouch and, according to everyone involved, was more Indy than Ford.
@@fearisthemind-killer I can definitely see that, too. Even from the screen test performance and with no background, set dressing, or extensive on-set coaching, Selleck nailed the role.
@@fearisthemind-killer According to everyone's involved Selleck was more Indy than Ford? I call bullshit. They never said that. They didn't even consider Harrison Ford at first because Lucas was adamant he didn't want Ford to be the actor that he keeps hiring. Tom Selleck was the best among the other actors who auditioned. Ford didn't even auditioned. Once Selleck was stuck with Magnum, P.I., they just gave it to Ford. You can have an idea who you'd prefer by comparing Tom Selleck's screen test (2:32) with the bar scene in Nepal from Raiders (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q4PlXSw0BQo.html forward to 2:34 if the link doesn't go directly there). In his audition, you can see Selleck is much more vibrant and direct in his approach whilst Harrison Ford gives a more subdued performance which gives Indiana Jones a much cooler demeanor. Ford's performance exudes a mix of confidence, unpredictability and vulnerability. A mixture that I think Selleck lacks. Ford is also more rugged yet still can look like a professor. Selleck is certainly manly but not quite as rugged. Frankly, I much prefer Harrison Ford's style for the character of Indiana Jones. I also find Ford better looking but that's just me. I know that many women think Tom Selleck was the handsomest man alive.
Have you actually seen these actors? Tom Selleck is a little bit whiny sometimes. In the same situation, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones would more likely just appear confused.
Tom also had some good movies... I love Quigley Down Under... There was the robot one with Gene Simmons... Runaways, I think... and the High Road to China was pretty good too... he was loveable in a big lug sorta way... but it takes a special man to be a pirate... right Mr. Depp?
God damn it, this is the greatest action movie ever, ever, ever made. I've seen it at least 100 times, maybe more. Right next to it, is T2 and Aliens. I mean .0000000001 points away.
Thankfully the final casting was with Harrison Ford, Tom Selleck just does not the same energy as Harrison. Raiders would have been a very different movie if Selleck had gotten the part. Karen Allen of all the women of the Indiana Jones movies is by far the best. They were great together, just the right kind of tension and ultimately connection.
Selleck was a more athletic, suave guy. But that doesn't quite work for Indy. Harrison Ford has never looked like an action hero; his movements are slow, and he fumbles a bit, but still seems like he can pull it off, and that's Indy; or the Indy he made, which turned out to be gold.
Of course Harrison Ford was perfect for the part, and he couldn't be topped. But I'm positive Selleck would have also been great - especially in the hands of Spielberg. I don't think he'd have gone on to be as highly regarded an actor as Ford is, but I do think there'd have been zero complaints, and plenty of smiles.
Not as great though. I'm comparing Tom Selleck's audition with the exact scene in the movie with Ford and I much prefer Harrison Ford's performance of Indiana Jones. He gives the character a cooler and more rugged demeanor.
Based on the screen tests, I think Selleck could have done a good job with it, and I can even see that the role may have been written for him. But Karen Allen was a million times better than Sean Young would have been. I’ve been in love with her ever since I saw that movie.
@@MrPHUCKYOURSELF those are so dope to see, like just really cool what ifs, but I think homeboy was just making a joke about George Lucas and those horrendous CG changes he made to the OG Star Wars trilogy
@@codyt821 the og Star Wars trilogy with added cgi is trash. Went from cool to corny. I’ll only watch my vhs tapes or dvds from 1997. I hate the reworked Star Wars and the prequels whack
I’ve seen this movie hundreds of times. It’s a masterpiece because of Ford and Allen. It would be interesting though to see Selleck and Young play the roles. I think it would be a different feel to the movie. Probably would still be good but stopping short of a masterpiece.
Just imagine if Tom Selleck would have gotten the role as Indiana Jones. It would have also led to Tom Selleck being Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, Tony Montana in Scarface, Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds, Marge in the Simpsons, Sarah Connor in the Terminator, Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, Forrest Gump, Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver,...
@@DaveyMulholland If Tom Selleck only got the chance to play Indy, it would have led to being a huge star in Hollywood, Oscar wins for Best Acting, Nobel Physics Prizes,...
They had the same boyishness. Selleck was bigger and a little more handsome, but he didn't have the darkness and edge Ford brought. Sill would like to have seen what he could have done with it, mustache or not.
I like both, and that's what makes this so crazy because in the same way that I like Harrison Ford as Han Solo, I also like that they wanted Kurt Russell for the role as well, and I absolutely could see Kurt Russell blowing the roof off of Han Solo in Star Wars. It would be awesome to see keep the Ford Indy flicks but also see Tom Selleck in Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as Kurt Russell in Star Wras as Han Solo.
I Love Harrison Ford. He IS Indiana Jones. Most times when I hear about an actor who almost got a role or was the first choice I can’t imagine it. Bing Crosby as Columbo comes to mind. But, I think Tom Selleck would have been a very good Indy. I still think Harrison Ford was the ideal choice. Tom would have been good though.
Karen Allen - no wonder I had such a crush on her. Absolutely gorgeous and full of fire. Wow - I've just realised. She set the template for my future wife, because that's how I'd describe her as well!
You can tell Karen was better as Marion than Sean Young. Sean was hotter then, but she wasn't Marion. Hot also implies crazy and narcissistic. Karen was beautiful.
I’m not sure how ROTLA would have turned out with Selleck, but he wouldn’t have been able to maintain his mustache. Anyone with facial hair in Lucas’ A New Hope ended up becoming part of the force: Obi-Wan, Biggs, Porkins... At least early on in his career, George seemed to prefer clean shaven heroes.
Karen Allen owned Tim Matheson in the screen test. You want your male lead to counter someone like Marion Ravenwood, not be overtaken....lol I don't see that happening with Tom Selleck. And, that definitely didn't happen with Harrison Ford.
Sean Young could play Marion, but Karen Allen *is* Marion! No disrespect to Sean, but Karen is effortless in that screen test. Selleck, sorry, but he's a bit stiff on those tests, and Matheson, well, he's not doing much either! Harrison was perfect in the role. Picture the scene on the boat with the mirror. Could any other two actors pull that off? Seen it so many times, and I still laugh every time! Like Karen, Harrison Ford *is* Indiana Jones. You feel you're right there with him in every scene, with every mistake his character makes putting him in more peril. Either grasping at roots that start to slip, or at a cobra ready to strike. That's why nobody else but Harrison could ever be Indy.
Tom would have reminded us of TV and movies were the big thing so Harrison seemed more down to earth which made the fantasy story more enjoyable and believable.
Bullshit. Harrison was great, but Selleck and Young would have been also, maybe even better. Raiders is legendary because of SPIELBERG being at the top of his game...
@@bOmBAsTiK Very true here. And seeing as how Lucas and Spielberg both thought Selleck would have elevated the film even further, I can't see how a prime Spielberg would have been wrong in that choice. In fact, I think it would have elevated the film even further. Plus, I think Selleck would have been a more standout hero in Temple of Doom than Ford, but I also think Ford put in probably his best performance in the series with The Last Crusade, which seemed written more around Ford's sensibilities, making it difficult for me to see Selleck in that role.
When Harrison Ford first walked in to audition with the hat on, the Indiana Jones theme automatically started playing in the background, and they knew he was the guy.
His mustache is his trademark and it's awesome, dare I say in the top 3 staches of all time. I think Selleck himself described it quite well why he wasn't being taken seriously. He said " It had been a problem for me being taken seriously. I'm 6-foot-4 and I came in during the era of leading men like Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino...anybody in the old leading man mold was all of a sudden not acceptable. That was the same reason I didn't do much TV. They said I was too tall or that I conflicted with the hero." Maybe that's true and it's part of the reason why he isn't as huge as Ford.
I just wish Lucas and Spielberg wouldn't be so hard on themselves about Temple of Doom. Come on guys, you know a lot people like it precisely because it is so messed up.
