Raiders of the Lost Ark

Continuity mistake: The distance between Otto and the Nepalese changes between shots, just as Toht begins saying "Surely he told you..."

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Raiders of the Lost Ark mistake picture

Visible crew/equipment: During Marion and Belloq's beverage contest, a round klieg lamp's blue light stands behind Belloq, which sometimes changes its intensity. Also, when Marion grabs the knife, behind her a moving light can be seen (like a helicopter's light), which disappears a few seconds later. This light also appears for a few seconds when Toht frees Marion's arm.

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Plot hole: On the dock at Geheimhaven, when the soldier discovers Indy, he stands up, coming fully into view. However, no-one sees him kicking and knocking out the soldier who discovered him (the Nazis on the dock and on the submarine are looking in Indy's direction). (01:39:50)

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Audio problem: After Dietrich says "And Gobler, I want plenty of protection", a German voice can be heard saying "Jawohl, Herr Oberst", just before the tower behind Belloq explodes. This voice sounds extremely close to the three villains, although neither of them have spoken, and there are no more people next to Dietrich.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark mistake picture

Continuity mistake: After the kliegs behind Dietrich, Belloq, and Toht explode, the Ark's energy begins to destroy the soldiers' guns and the kliegs next to them. In some shots, the kliegs on the altar are still working.

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Character mistake: In the original Latin Spanish dubbing, Dietrich calls Gobler "Glober" while walking next to the destroyed Flying Wing.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark mistake picture

Continuity mistake: Just before Belloq says "It's beautiful!", there is a black machine (which is not the German camera or the generator) in the bottom middle of the screen, just below the approaching ghost. It is also visible when the Angel of Death is revealed. This machine disappears when the Ark begins to kill the soldiers.

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Continuity mistake: When the camera shows the back of the truck, there are two soldiers on each side of the truck, plus the sergeant inside it. As there were seven soldiers and one of them fell off the truck - there's a missing soldier in the scene. (01:25:50)

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Raiders of the Lost Ark mistake picture

Continuity mistake: When the Nazis are aboard the Bantu Wind, in the full scene of the ship deck, Toht stands behind Belloq. But, after Marion tries to hit Dietrich, the camera focuses on Belloq, then on Dietrich again. Toht is not seen anymore on the deck.

Continuity mistake: When the Nazis are loading the Ark in the truck, you can spot Toht next to the left side of the truck, watching the scene. A few seconds later, he walks out of scene, apparently going to the car. However, when Belloq and Dietrich walk to the car and Belloq shouts "Let's go!", Toht has disappeared. (01:21:45)

Continuity mistake: When Dietrich, Gobler, and Belloq arrive next to the destroyed Flying Wing, Gobler is on the left of Dietrich and Belloq on the right. In the next shot, they have switched places. (01:20:58)

Other mistake: In the opening scene Indiana is with horses and scouts. A few minutes later he is running for his life and in a few moments he's at a waiting plane. Why does he need scouts and horses for the cave is in walking distance from the plane and how did the scouts and horses get there?

Character mistake: Watch the extras playing the Cairo civilians walking around just before the big swordsman reveals himself to Indy. Several of them are just aimlessly walking back and forth as if they have no idea where to go.

jbrbbt

Continuity mistake: At the market in Cairo just after one of the guys tries to kill Indy with a sword and misses, the shadow from the wall changes between shots.

oswal13

Continuity mistake: When Indiana is fighting the bad guys at the market in Cairo, one of them kills another one with a sword instead of Indy - their position changes between shots.

oswal13

Continuity mistake: Belloq grabs the idol from below its ear. When the angle changes he is holding it by the idol's temple.

Sacha

Continuity mistake: When the guy at the start who betrayed Indy is shown stabbed by many spears, in the shot when Indy says "adios", he stays with him the entire shot. However, in the next shot, he's far away from him.

MikeH

Continuity mistake: When seen from the outside the entry hole to the Map Room is quite vertical. The angle is different when seen from the inside. Further, the hole is so vertical that the sun wouldn't be high enough to shin through the hole at 9 am.

Jacob La Cour

Sallah: Indy, why does the floor move?
Indiana: Give me your torch. [He drops it in and sees why.] Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?
Sallah: Asps. Very dangerous. You go first.

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Trivia: When a Nazi falls from the back of the truck carrying the Ark, a "Wilhelm scream" can be heard.

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Question: After the scene where Indy first goes onto the German U-boat, he runs around apparently looking for something, then the scene changes to the inside of the sub where you can hear that the order has been given to dive. Was there an actual scene cut out of the film where Indy lashes himself to the periscope? (When Raiders first came out in Aus, I vividly remember seeing it with this scene.)

Answer: The scene you describe was indeed filmed. It was cut out of the US release of the film although I cannot speak for the Australian version. The scene also appears in the Marvel Comics adaptation. http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders/deleted_scenes.php has a list of this and the other deleted scenes.

Phil C.

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