 The
world of Indiana Jones would certainly be less identifiable
if it were not for the many props we see him associated
with. This section is devoted to the various items that
make the Indiana Jones franchise so intriguing.
The Hollywood classifaction of true "props,"
typically only covers items such as the Ark
of the Covenant, Artifacts,
Grail Diary, and Miscellaneous
objects. However, for our purposes, we have included sections
such as Boats, Costumes,
Planes, Vehicles,
and Weapons to give you
not only insight into the real-world production, but also,
a historical context.
The Prop world is a sub-culture
all it's own. During film production process, property
(prop) masters are called upon to construct these items.
Due to the necessity of production scheduling, continuity,
and unforseen occurences; multiple copies are generally
produced. The Indiana Jones Trilogy is a prime example
of this. For example, during the opening of Raiders of
the Lost Ark, we see Indy obtaining the idol. As a viewer,
you assume that there is only one idol. What isn't clear
is that Harrison Ford could have dropped it and
had the boulder run over it, or it could have possibly
been damaged during shipping to the shooting location
or while on the set. Any of these circumstances could
severely delay the filming process. Factors such as these
make prop making, not only a highly specified task, but
one that requires extras for everything.
Whereas volume is a necessity,
diversity is also equally important. Not all scenes are
of equal "visual" importance. When we see a
close up of the idol, it's necessary to use the best copy
available.  This
copy is referred to the "A" or
"Hero" version of the prop. The
"B" version is generally used
for sequences that require less camera attention and could
be subject to more wear and tear.
For these reasons, the "Hero"
props are less common, and naturally more appreciable
in value for collectors. We have researched and cataloged
both versions as well as possible.
If you have any requests,
additions, corrections, or questions--feel free to send
your input to Indiana Magnoli.
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