12. Indy Knocks Out An Arab Guard - Raiders Of The Lost Ark
This deleted moment is an example of something curious occurring in the background of an existing scene that can be explained by said deleted scene. That's to say, when Indy and Marion escape from the Well of the Souls in the final cut of Raiders, they push a large stone out from its place in the wall to create an exit. As they clamber out into the daylight, sitting - and seemingly sleeping - next to their makeshift exit is a small Arab man. It's something you notice, but there's nothing all that alarming about it. It turns out, though, that this Arab man isn't sleeping at all - he's unconscious. And that's because - in this little deleted moment - Indy emerges from the Well of the Souls to find himself positioned face to face with this little guy. Thus, in true Indy fashion, he proceeds to knock him out with a quick punch to the chops. Why was it removed, then? Well, it probably seemed like an unnecessary embellishment at the time - especially since the iconic plane fight sequence was coming up next.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
