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One sheet original movie poster for the action-adventure film
Raiders of the Lost Ark. Released on June 12, 1981, it is the first entry in the hugely successful Indiana Jones franchise.
Key Information
Release Date: June 12, 1981
Director: Steven Spielberg
Story by: George Lucas and Philip Kaufman
Starring: Harrison Ford as the titular character, Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, and Paul Freeman as rival archaeologist René Belloq
Plot Summary
The film is set in 1936 and follows archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones as he is recruited by the U.S. government to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. Adolf Hitler believes the Ark's supernatural power will make his army invincible.
Jones travels the world, from the jungles of South America to the streets of Cairo, facing numerous obstacles, including booby traps, his fear of snakes, and the Nazis. With the help of his former flame Marion Ravenwood and his friend Sallah, he locates the Ark in the Well of Souls in Egypt.
The Nazis seize the Ark and capture Indy and Marion. When the rival archaeologist Belloq opens the Ark to test its power, spirits, flames, and bolts of energy are released, gruesomely killing all the Nazis present. Jones and Marion survive by closing their eyes and not looking at the unleashed power. The film ends with the U.S. government storing the powerful artifact in a massive, nondescript warehouse.
The iconic artwork for the original U.S. theatrical poster of
Raiders of the Lost Ark was created by American artist and illustrator Richard Amsel.
Richard Amsel's Artwork
Amsel's style was known for its "crisp" look, often achieved using a combination of colored pencil, watercolor, and acrylic paints.
The original painting for this specific poster is part of the private collection of director Steven Spielberg.
Amsel also designed a second, more action-oriented poster for the film's 1982 re-release, after seeing the movie and being able to incorporate more narrative elements.
The legendary artist Drew Struzan created an alternative poster for the film's international release, which is also well-known but different in style from the one pictured. |
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