2. Scary Coat Hanger Scene Was Ripped Off!
Ok, ok. So technically it isn't a rip off if the scene was originally found in a film previously directed by the same man. But even so, the now iconic scene of the Nazi Toht seemingly preparing for a torture session (but is in reality just setting up a coat hanger) was previously tested in another film. Back when Spielberg was working on his cult classic/box office flop 1941, he shot a scripted scene of actor Christopher Lee (also playing a Nazi in the film) about to interrogate Slim Pickens aboard a Japanese submarine. In the scene, Spielberg used the same coat hanger gag now found in Raiders however not to the same avail. Upon seeing the finished product, Spielberg deleted the scene from the final cut of the film because for whatever reason, the bit didn't work. Fast forward a few years to the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Something about that coat hanger idea must have really stuck with Spielberg because he tried the whole scene out again. This time around, the scene finally worked as we all know. Thankfully Spielberg never gave up on this classic scene which just goes to show you that he is one of the smartest directors of our time. If you want to check out the original scene from 1941, it can be found on the 1941 DVD.