It’s The 40th Anniversary Of Raiders Of The Lost Ark! And We’ve Got Videos To Celebrate!

It's the 40th Anniversary of Raiders Of The Lost Ark...and we're celebrating right here on the site!

The legendary movie was created by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg while on vacation with their families together.   Both directors had mega-hits with Star Wars and Jaws...and when George asked Steven what his next project was going to be, Spielberg said that he'd like to direct a James Bond film.

That's when Lucas said that he had something better.  Lucas shared with Spielberg that he had a character (who at the time was called Indiana Smith) that was like an American Bond...mixed with a little John Wayne.   Spielberg was very interested...and the process had begun.   The two film-makers then cast Harrison Ford (after Tom Selleck turned down the role because he was locked in to Magnum P.I.)...and history was made.

Lucas and Spielberg then added  acclaimed screen-writer Lawrence Kasdan (who had written The Empire Strikes Back)...and the dream team had been assembled.   Raiders was released to massive critical and audience praise...and remains one of the best movies in Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford's careers.   Enjoy a few documentaries about the picture, plus some clips of the movie below!   Congrats to Raiders Of The Lost Ark on forty amazing years!

- East Side Dave