Continuity mistake: Dietrich asks, "If we refuse?" Next to him stand four soldiers in a row, looking at Indy. In the next shot, the soldier who was holding a rifle is gone, and the two with machine guns are now giving their backs to Dietrich. (01:42:52)
Continuity mistake: When Indy is entering Marhala Bar, Steve Hanson is right behind him, following Indy inside. In the next shot, Steve is suddenly standing next to Belloq (he seems to have arrived before Indy did). (00:43:08)
Continuity mistake: Between the shots of Indy dressing as a Nazi and Captain Mohler reporting to Belloq and Dietrich, the Wurrfler appears to have advanced several inches forward (taking as reference the background behind the submarine, Mohler's location, and the fact that Belloq turns his head to the left to look at the Captain).
Continuity mistake: As Dietrich, Toht, Belloq and Marion board the Wurrfler, a naval officer descends the ladder and turns, his back to the ladder. In the next shot, he is facing the ladder.
Continuity mistake: The Angel of Death, judging from the position of the lid of the Ark (the two angels can be seen below the ghost), is located just above Dietrich's head. However, Toht screams as if it were right in front of him and Dietrich as if it were in front of Belloq (judging by their looks).
Other mistake: In a shot of Belloq speaking to Indy in the Well of Souls, in some shots of the Desert Chase (such as when Belloq shouts Allah va!) and when the three villains enter the submarine with Marion, Wolf Kahler's double is seen, who has black hair. (01:10:43 - 01:24:42)
Continuity mistake: In the shot after Belloq's death, the generator and the rock Indy and Marion are on disappear.
Continuity mistake: As Dietrich and Gobler come into the tent, Toht's leather case can be seen already opened. In the next shot, the case is suddenly closed.
Audio problem: After Dietrich pours liquor for himself, he speaks to Belloq. One of the words of his phrase (probably monsieur or Belloq) was cut from the audio as Dietrich's lips still move but nothing can be heard.
Continuity mistake: When Marion arrives on the deck of the Bantu Wind, Dietrich turns to look at her. Katanga is in the background, behind the colonel. But, just before Marion hits Dietrich, Katanga appears on the opposite side from where he was and catches Marion. (01:36:00)
Continuity mistake: When the gunfight at The Raven begins, the Ratty Nepalese crawls next to two tables (one of them has the medallion and the log). He knocks down the one without the medallion, but in the next shot, the knocked down is the one that has the log and the medallion. (00:31:10)
Continuity mistake: Eaton and Musgrove are sitting, waiting for Indy to open the book. When Indy opens it, suddenly Musgrove is standing. (00:19:43)
Continuity mistake: When Indy abruptly brakes the truck and the Ark box slides backwards, the poles on either side of the box disappear for the rest of the chase.
Audio problem: Just before Belloq opens the staff car's door, Paul Freeman's voice can be heard saying "Let's get out of here" but Belloq's lips don't move.
Continuity mistake: When Marion gets off the submarine, there are two soldiers behind her. In the next shot, one of the soldiers has disappeared.
Continuity mistake: When the Wurffler arrives to Geheimhaven dock, six soldiers and an officer are running towards the submarine. In the next shot, the seven men have disappeared.
Visible crew/equipment: Just before the shooting starts at The Raven, you can see that Otto's shadow movements do not match the German's movements. Also, when Marion fights with Toht, behind her you can see the shadow of a man with short hair and no hat moving to the left (Indy still has his hat on during this scene).
Continuity mistake: On the blackboard, between the numbers 4 and 5, the word "and" is written. After the girl shows the "Love you", the word is replaced by a dot. (00:13:49)
Continuity mistake: Over Belloq's left shoulder and behind Toht, a soldier stands next to a klieg with a machine gun. In the next shot, the soldier's gun has disappeared. (01:44:25)
Continuity mistake: During the procession scene, in the shot before Toht takes off his hat, about twenty soldiers can be seen walking. After Indy leaves the procession and hides behind a box, in the next shot, there appear to be twice as many soldiers as in the first scene. Just before Indy shouts "Hello!", the quantity has returned to twenty.
Answer: I also remember this scene. After the ark is sealed, the camera performs a close up of the side of the crate. The stamp reads "Top Secret Army Intel 9906753 Do Not Open" This stamp is burned off just like the swastika is in the scene on the submarine, because in the eyes of God, no nation is holy or worthy enough to claim ownership of the ark. However, this final scene was cut (the burning of the stamp) from the film for a variety of unclear reasons. While it was in theaters, this scene was not included on the DVD version.
Add me to this. We saw the movie in a "pre release" version in Orlando Florida. No advance warning of the movie. We went to see another flick and at the end were "invited" to see this if we were willing to critique it afterwards. This scene was included. I also always wondered why the change.
I also remember seeing this mysterious 'burning' of the logo, most likely it was on a VHS copy of this movie. Yes, it did exist.
I saw it in former Czechoslovakia in the second half of 80's in cinema (west movies came to the east countries' cinemas years later). And I thought it was a great joke that burning out the swastika wasn't just because the Nazis are bad but because nobody is great enough to own the arc. Then after the Velvet revolution I saw the film again on TV (beginning of 90's) and said everyone around: watch it until the end, wait on the post-credit scene, there will be a surprise.
And there was a surprise. The scene was cut off! I was angry on the TV they didn't show the scene. I cannot be influenced by internet discussion or urban legend. The internet didn't exist yet.
I saw it in Portland, Oregon, and was so impressed with the message it carried, that I told friends and we went several times just to see it. Funny thing was when I mentioned it a few years ago, many people said I was a LIAR that it never happened. I could not convince anyone. It was removed because it wasn't Politically Correct. USA is a force for good, God would not burn off AMERICAN TEXT! BUT WE DID SEE IT. Thanks to our Australian eye witness, we know we did not imagine it.