Unbelievably, it’s 40 years since Raiders of ther Lost Ark, almost certainly the greatest action film to have ever hit the silver screen, first landed in cinemas, and to celebrate the Norman Rockwell Museum have organized and co-sponsored a screening of the film on 25th August which will be attended by one of its stars, Karen Allen.
Forty years after its debut, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is often described as among the greatest films in Hollywood’s history. Its dream team included director Steven Spielberg, veteran producer and special effects guru George Lucas, who conceived the story, as well as actors Harrison Ford as archaeology professor and adventure-seeker Indiana Jones and Karen Allen in her breakthrough role as Marion Ravenwood, Indiana’s former paramour and reignited love interest.
Allen is the guest of honor for the 8 p.m., 40th anniversary screening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” on Wednesday, Aug. 25, organized and co-sponsored by the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF), Berkshire Bank and Vermont-based publisher Old Mill Road Media. The al fresco screening of “Raiders” is a benefit for the museum and BIFF. Rain date is Thursday.
Other area connections abound: The film’s classic score is by John Williams, a major presence at Tanglewood this summer, and Rockwell’s art is prized, praised and collected by Spielberg and by Lucas, whose production company, Lucasfilm Ltd., financed “Raiders.”
Speaking with the Berkshire Eagle, Karen explained why she is so proud of the film and role of Marion Ravenwood.
“It’s a delightful film, I’m very proud of my role in it, and the role itself has moved forward in time. Young women come up to me often to say how much that character impacted their sense of themselves. There’s something about Marion’s character, she has this strong survivor way of moving through the film. She is not a ‘damsel in distress.’ ”
“The female character was given a lot of grit and strength, and resources to be a real partner to the hero. [Marion] negotiates on those terms. She says, ‘I’m not your girl Friday; I’m going to be right with you, 100 percent.’ I don’t think there were a lot of films of that era going in that direction at the time.”
As Allen explained, “I’m proud of being a part of the ‘Indiana Jones’ series. It was delightful to work with Spielberg, Lucas and Harrison Ford; It’s a privilege to have been involved in it.”