Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around the pole to which Indy and Marion are tied, large clouds can be seen in the sky behind them. However, after a ghost circles Dietrich and passes in front of the camera, it can be seen in the background that the clouds behind Indy and Marion have disappeared.
Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around Dietrich, Belloq, and Toht, the Frenchman slowly looks up as the column of mist ascends upwards from the Ark, almost looking straight ahead. In the next shot, Belloq is looking down again; the shape of the mist has changed, and the column of mist is now moving to the right.
Visible crew/equipment: When Indiana frees Marion, locked in the cabin pilot of the Nazi plane just after one of the soldiers is killed by the blades, a set light is reflected on the plane's glass. (01:20:32)
Continuity mistake: When the Nazis board the Bantu Wind, there are some shots of the pipe Indy is hiding in. During these shots, there's a big grey pipe right behind Indy's pipe. However, in the rest of the Bantu Wind shots, this grey pipe is on the left of Indy's pipe, not directly behind it. (01:36:19 - 01:37:05)
Continuity mistake: While the Ark is killing the soldiers, the cameraman is hit twice, as the first hit is shown in the first wide shot of the dying soldiers and the second when the camera focuses on the cameraman. Also, during the second hit, a beam passes through the camera and strikes the cameraman in the face, although he remains standing. In the next shot, the cameraman's body is suddenly on the ground and the beam that had killed him disappears.
Continuity mistake: On the Bantu Wind, after Dietrich takes Marion from Katanga and begins to leave, the soldier next to the pipe where Indy hides throws his cigarette and leaves the scene. In the next shot, when Belloq stops Dietrich, the soldier is now back at his original position. (01:36:51)
Continuity mistake: After Toht's command, the Mongolian and the Nepalese grab Marion, then the former puts his hand on Marion's cheek. During this, the Nepalese faces Marion, whose mouth is open. In the next shot, the Nepalese is suddenly looking at Toht, Marion's mouth is suddenly closed, and the position of the Mongolian's head has changed. (00:30:28)
Continuity mistake: As the truck pulls up next to the Command Tent, four soldiers lift the Ark's box and a fifth soldier, positioned between the two wooden posts of the Ark's box and to Gobler's right, picks up the sticks that Indy and Sallah had used. In the next shot, that soldier is now to the left of Gobler and the Ark's box. (01:21:40)
Continuity mistake: When we first see Colonel Dietrich, he, Belloq and Gobler are crossing Tanis on foot. The scene cuts out when the three of them arrive next to some wagons. However, seven minutes later (in movie time) they are shown again in exactly the same position as they were in the first shot, continuing their actions. This is also seen in the two soldiers in the background on a hill and in a soldier on horseback going from left to right. Even Indy’s team is visible in the first shot, when he is supposed to be in another place only with Sallah. (00:50:09 - 00:57:00)
Continuity mistake: When the sergeant throws Indy out of the truck window, the adventurer grabs the Mercedes logo with his left hand. After two shots, he is to have let go. However, in the next shot, Indy is grabbing it again. (01:27:25)
Continuity mistake: As the Nazis are preparing to leave Tanis, a soldier fires a shot into the air, causing several Arabs to fall to the ground and land in the middle of a circle of soldiers. In the next shot, as Belloq heads for the car, all the downed Arabs, the sergeant and the circle of soldiers have disappeared, with only the soldiers who were loading the Ark onto the truck remaining. (01:26:55)
Continuity mistake: Just as Indy crashes Gobler's jeep for the second time, you can see that beside the desert road is a large forest. However, the jeep falls off a cliff that appears out of nowhere. (01:25:37)
Continuity mistake: When Indy throws Terry Leonard out of the truck, the forest they were driving through disappears. Then Indy closes the truck's door and the forest reappears. (01:24:22)
Continuity mistake: Dietrich and Gobler walk forward to stand next to Belloq while he's saying, "Once again, Jones..." In the next shot, Gobler has disappeared (this can be spotted by the distance between Belloq and Gobler's foot in the first shot). (01:10:57)
Character mistake: When Gobler informs Dietrich about the preparation of the Flying Wing, the former calls the Colonel "Herr Major." (01:16:25)
Continuity mistake: In Geheimhaven, Indy watches the submarine hidden behind some ropes. When Marion comes out of the submarine and the camera focuses on the back of Indy's head, the ropes disappear. (01:39:13)
Continuity mistake: As the sergeant climbs to the truck's roof, Belloq turns his head to watch the scene. In that shot, the staff car is passing next to a group of plants. In the next shot, almost all the plants have disappeared. (01:26:55)
Continuity mistake: When Indy runs over the sergeant, the background behind the truck changes between shots, going from the desert to a mountain. (01:28:45)
Plot hole: When the sergeant takes control of the truck, Dietrich directs him to approach to crush Indy between the staff car and the truck, which takes time and allows Indy to make his famous scene. However, Dietrich could easily have shot him and arrived in Cairo with the Ark in his possession. (01:27:40)
Suggested correction: Shooting means risking hitting the truck's engine, which means finding new transport for the ark. All of which takes time off their schedule. Bad guys are always on a schedule.
True.
