There is a monstrous cliché within the world of sound design. A sound effect so obviously absurd that it stands out like a sore thumb in nearly every movie… I am talking of course about the Wilhelm Scream. The wails of a man blown up to the absurdest of degrees cuts through any movie and kicks the audience out for a moment… except within a certain trilogy.
First things first, for those who don’t know the Wilhelm Scream, allow me to introduce you.
It originated in the movie Distant Drums in the 1950s and is most likely voiced by actor Sheb Wooley in that movie. Since then it has been used in nearly 400 movies and often is a very comedic and over the top choice. But the one place it seems to make sense is in the overly pulpy storytelling of the Indiana Jones trilogy.
And you have to give credit to Spielberg for crafting scenes that allow this sound to work, but also you have to give just as much credit to sound designer Ben Burtt who placed the sounds and mixed them in such a way that they blend in with the bombastic sounds occurring all around them, rather than standing out. It should come as no surprise as Ben Burtt is easily one of the most acclaimed sound designers in the business.
Burtt’s work with sound is as much a part of the world of Indiana Jones as is Spielberg’s camera work. It adds that extra pop that makes the punches sound harder, the vehicles roar faster, and the moments of silence just brilliantly hang over the audience. In the kind of pulp adventure storytelling that Indy fits into there is a need for a certain kind of sound, a larger-than-life sound if you will. Burtt created that and it showed, especially here where he won his fourth Academy Award for the craft.
Now why is this important? Because Burtt didn’t work on every Spielberg film. He only did this franchise and a few others. And that’s telling of Spielberg’s knowledge of the craft, because he knows who to employ for his crew just as much as he knows how to work with a cast. A movie is hundreds, if not thousands, of moving pieces and it is the director’s job to make those pieces come together. And it’s not as easy as you think. When the sound is off in a movie, it’s very apparent and distracting, just like when the camera moves out of place, or the costumes don’t match. The crew behind the cameras are just as important as what’s on the screen.
Spielberg’s brilliance as a director is not limited to his ability to tell a story well. It’s not limited to his ability to use a camera to capture images. It’s not limited to his ability to work with actors. What makes him truly brilliant is his ability to bring all the pieces together, both on screen and off of it, in a way that creates a cohesive final product and a memorable story all in one. And it’s clear from the way that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade works, that he’s very good at what he’s doing. In other words… he chooses wisely.
So, let’s break everything down.
All Spielberg movies will be judged based on the same five pieces of criteria.
Acting – Are the performances good and do they serve the story or are they distracting and awkward?
Story and Dialogue – Does the story being told make sense and is the use of dialogue allow it to succeed or does the story struggle and/or the dialogue drag it down
Shooting and Editing – How is the camera used, how are the shots arranged, what other elements are used to enhance the movie?
Design – How does the movie look? Does it help the movie or hurt the movie?
Iconic Moment – Spielberg has made several big iconic moments throughout cinema, what are they, how many of them are there, and which ones stand out the most?
All these criteria will be judged on a score of 10 for a total score of 50.
So here is my breakdown of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Acting – The cast in this one is sensational. Harrison Ford’s third take on the titular hero is without a doubt his best one as he blends humor, heroism, and heart all together seamlessly. Sir Sean Connery reminds us just why he is in fact Sir Sean Connery by creating an instantly iconic elder Dr. Jones and the pair just work so well together. Additionally the villains stand out just as much as before, and the supporting cast all make up a diverse and dynamic cast. (10/10)
Story and Dialogue – I think the story to find the grail is brilliant, and the last 30 minutes of the movie are especially exciting. And even though there is a small lull in the middle it’s not enough to stop it from claiming that perfect 10. (10/10)
Shooting and Editing – I think Spielberg really found his eye in this one, moments just feel bigger, there is a great bit of camera angle based comedy, and the way that Henry Sr. gets revealed slowly really makes the character a mystery to be unlocked along side all the others. Plus that freaking invisible bridge moment is just chef’s kiss (10/10)
Design – I obviously already gushed about the sound design for this one. But everything from the costumes, sets, props, and so much more is instantly iconic. The final chamber with the Holy Grail is marvelous to look at and everything feels like it goes together from start to finish. (10/10)
Iconic Moment – There’s the blimp/airplane escape, the rotating wall, the tomb of Sir Richard, but none of that even compares to the three trials and final moment with the grail where Julian Glover’s Walter Donovan “chooses poorly” and shrivels under his own contentious desires. (10/10)
Total Score: 50/50
Current Ranking:
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Duel
Empire of the Sun
The Color Purple
Twilight Zone: The Movie
The Sugarland Express
1941
And with that we conclude one of the greatest cinematic trilogies in film history. I know there’s one more Indiana Jones movie down the road but… let’s be honest no one is looking forward to that one at the moment. In the meantime we have just one more movie standing between us the impeccable run of hits in the 1990s that will take Spielberg from brilliant, to unforgettable.
But until then, thanks for taking the time to get Ploominated!
Ploominate 