Such a fun film. Such great story structure. A blast to analyze. Directed by Steven Spielberg, story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan.
Today I was thinking about one of the movie's great script transitions, our break from Act 1 to Act 2 and the setup of the film's main question.
We meet Indiana and Belloq, we see Indy teaching, meet Marcus, find out the Nazis want the Ark, pack our bags and talk about not believing in magic, get on a plane, get to Marion's, and unite with Marion.
At the end of all of it, we have set up our various bad guys and our hero team, set up the question of belief in magic, and set up the main question of the film regarding if the powerful tool of the Ark can be kept from the Nazis. The question of if Indy believes it is actually a powerful tool is to be dealt with later also.
Regardless, by about 33 minutes into a 115 minute film, roughly 29% through, we wrap up Marion's Bar and have transitioned into act two, ready now for Sallah's, "Danger," and Marion's possible death.
(One could view Marion's Bar as either the end of Act 1 or the start of Act 2. For some reason, I tend to lump these transitions into Act 1 often. Ask the filmmakers if you want concrete answers.)
Another interesting note. Indy and Marion have a bad past, they have conflict there, and this is good for the story, but we have to see them connect in some way, and if it isn't going to be personal or friendship or romance, then it needs to be some sort of survival connection, and this is quickly achieved when they have to fight together to get out of the burning bar alive. Well done. Unite them, but do not resolve the personal issues between them fully.
Be well.
