The role of Indiana Jones’ father in The Last Crusade remains one of Sean Connery’s most popular roles. But filming wasn’t always easy. A member of the team said he feared for his life given the actor’s threats, which were put to the test in an iconic scene.
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As with any ultra-popular saga, it’s difficult to rank the best Indiana Jones. But you have to admit that the third work, The Last Crusade, has an element that makes it unique: Sean Connery. The role of Professor Henry Jones, the hero’s father, is undoubtedly one of the best at the end of his career. While he was used to playing leading roles as fearless leaders in James Bond, A Bridge Too Far, Highlander and The Incorruptibleshe acts against the purpose in this film. Indiana Jones describes him as “a bookworm, not a field man.” But just as the father can make the hero conform to a single look in the film, the actor can experience mood swings during filming. One of the team members said he suffered his wrath and was scared to death.
Sean Connery smoked in a tank
One of the most notable scenes in the film is the rescue of Professor Jones, by his son, an adventurer, as a prisoner of the Nazis in an assault tank. “This tank was an amazing piece of engineering because we built it from the ground up,” Hollywood special effects legend Mike Dawson told YouTube channel The Stuff Dream are made of. Its main task was to produce smoke. During the chase, Indiana Jones jams a tank cannon and the shot triggers an explosion that smokes out the machine. Today, such an effect would simply be created by water vapor. But in the late 1980s, special effects were a bit more artisanal and less concerned with the comfort of the actors.
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“I think he would have.”
“We used gasoline and gas back then,” Mike Dawson said. Enough to produce smoke that is much hotter and more irritating than the one we use today. After the recording, Sean Connery attacked the technician. “He told me in a Scottish accent – because he picked it up when he was angry -“If you ever bring that thing near me again, I’ll beat your ass…!’. It was almost as if Sean Connery, James Bond, was killing me.” Frightened, Mike Dawson fled. He says the actor has finally calmed down. But more than thirty years later, he is still convinced that Sean Connery “meant what he said” back then. I think he would have done that.”
Article written in collaboration with 6Médias.