Indiana Jones and the Missed Opportunity: The Search for Marion Ravenwood
As I grew up wanting to become Indiana Jones one day, I was the ideal audience for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. And it’s no surprise that I loved this latest — and allegedly final — installment of the series. There was plenty of derring-do and hairbreadth escapes. Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought the right amount of pluck and spirit, the dialogue crackled, and her heisting Helena as well as pickpocket Teddy Kumar (Ethan Isidore) were worthy sidekicks. The film might have leaned a bit too much into Indy’s elderly malaise at times. But, when the dangers mounted and the iconic theme kicked in and Indy set out around the globe to find the Archimedes dial, I was along for the ride.
I just have one little quibble, and be warned, if you have not seen the film, this is a spoiler.
Where’s Marion in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny?
After months of speculation about whether or not Karen Allen would be returning to the series as Marion Ravenwood, who first appeared in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Arc then returned for 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, she arrives at the very end for what amounts to a 2-3 minute cameo, reenacting a bit from Raiders for the fans. And then the movie ends! I felt as ripped off as Indy did when René Belloq snatched the golden idol away from him at the beginning of Raiders!
To be fair, I am a lifelong charter member of the Indiana Jones Appreciation Society. When Raiders of the Lost Ark was released, I was six years old and utterly convinced it was the greatest film I would ever see. I had the action figures, the large action figure (tall enough to save my sister’s Barbie dolls from peril), comic books, soundtrack, novelization, and trading cards. Heck, I even put together a screen authentic Halloween costume that I wore year-round while “fighting Nazis” and falling out of trees in the backyard!
And I’m not one of those slightly obsessive online fans who demand their favorite characters and storylines remain museum pieces, never to change. I think Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was more fun than it had any right to be, and is long overdue for a reassessment. Sure, the CG monkeys could be removed. But thinking that Indy surviving a nuclear blast in a refrigerator is too unrealistic? Have you seen Temple of Doom, where he jumped out of a crashing plane in an inflatable raft?
Karen Allen is a skilled actor in this iconic role.
If you grew up loving Indiana Jones, you surely also loved Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. Indy had other love interests — brief flings like Temple of Doom's Willie Scott or The Last Crusade's Elsa Schneider — but Marion was the adventuress we all either wanted to become or fall in love with.
And it feels like we’ve seen all-too-little of Karen Allen in recent years.
The daughter of a university professor and an FBI agent (appropriately enough), she studied art and design before catching the acting bug and studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and performing with Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts.
She was 27 when she made her film debut in a low-budget comedy that you might have seen: National Lampoon’s Animal House. She had appeared in six films before her iconic role in Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. Allen brings to every role a warm and likeable presence, a deep believability, and a smile that lights up her expression like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky. We empathize with her as a grieving widow in Starman or the kindhearted ex-girlfriend of Bill Murray’s cold-hearted television exec in Scrooged. At 71, she’s an actress, textile artist, acting teacher, theatre director, and icon.
Yet Marion Ravenwood is her greatest role and the great love of Indiana Jones’s life. Able to throw a punch, drink anyone under the table, and hold her own with Indy, she’s the one love interest in the series who couldn’t quite give up on him, even at his worst. Plus, you know they had great sex. So, it’s baffling why the filmmakers relegated Marion to a walk-on appearance in this, the franchise's final bow.
The story begins with Indy alone in a cluttered apartment, soon to reveal his wife has filed for divorce. We later learn that Indy and Marion became estranged with the wartime death of their son, Mutt. Indy, it seems, was too emotionally closed off to console her. As the film proceeds, Indiana, Helena, and Teddy have their thrilling adventures, and he seemingly gets his mojo back, finding room in his heart for a couple of strays after his own heart. And then Marion shows up to reconcile with Indy, they recreate the great “Where does it hurt?” scene from Raiders, kiss, and the credits roll, while we presume they have great sex.
But, why only this?
Indiana Jones' farewell is lacking without a proper sendoff for Marion.
Indy and Marion’s estrangement might have added depth to the storyline, but certainly this could have been conveyed with a few scenes of dialogue. Or, even a few action scenes. After all, their first tête-a-tête in the series takes place in a bar fight, while the bar is on fire! Why should their last kiss take place in a dingy apartment kitchen? Certainly, the actors have aged in 15 years, but if Indiana Jones can still believably jump out of a Nazi plane, then so could Marion Ravenwood.
Imagine this: with Helena having also lost her father, the dynamic between her and Marion would have been completely engaging. As a fellow daughter of a deceased archaeologist, Marion could give Helena tips on how to chart her own course, keep Indy in line, and punch Nazis! Imagine Indy arguing with two fast-talking whip-smart ladies while dodging bullets and snapping eels. Heck, with these particular Nazis trying to turn back history, Helena and Marion could have had a conversation that would have passed the Bechdel Test. Even just a few lines of dialogue together would have been welcomed.
Then, as they always have in the past, Indiana and Marion could have salvaged their timeless love for one last time, while jumping out of planes and exploring ancient ruins. I mean, this is a couple that does things together! That would have been the perfect sendoff for two iconic characters reaching their golden years, and it would have paid tribute to Allen’s central role in the franchise.
What a missed opportunity! Allen has said she was “disappointed” by her limited screen time in the film, and so was this diehard fan. If 40 years of Nazi baddies couldn’t keep Indiana and Marion apart, lazy writing shouldn’t have either.