How in the fuck did the British Empire let Nazi Germany do a significant archeological excavation in Egypt? Egypt in 1936 for an intents and purposes was still a British protectorate.
What's always bugged me about Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Thread starter YellowSnow
- Start date
How in the fuck did the British Empire let Nazi Germany do a significant archeological excavation in Egypt? Egypt in 1936 for an intents and purposes was still a British protectorate.
Great point
Chuck may be on to something though. Wasn't it undercover Nazis? They did control neighboring countries
I thought the headline meant you were going to ask how Indy jumped onto the U-Boat and made it all the way to the secret German lair when the U-Boat, you know, sails under water.
Gladstone
New Fish
Raiders is one of the few movies that is borderline flawless, but yes this is the one element of the film that is anachronistic lol. You can literally see the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK), which was not formed until 1941, running around in British-controlled Egypt. It's an L but doesn't really take anything away from the movie unless you're a stickler for historical accuracy. Gladiator is also incredible, the ending makes it look like the Empire became a Republic again after Commodus is killed 
Number1AtNumber2
New Fish
Have you ever thought about the fact that for all that effing around Indiana has no material impact on the outcome? If he weren't in the film, it would turn out exactly the same…the Nazis would have still found the ark, taken it to the island, opened it up and all died.
How in the fuck did the British Empire let Nazi Germany do a significant archeological excavation in Egypt? Egypt in 1936 for an intents and purposes was still a British protectorate.
Great point
Chuck may be on to something though. Wasn't it undercover Nazis? They did control neighboring countries
Not really. And in the film it's very much a significant German military presence.
As @Gladstone said - and I agree with him - it's a nearly flawless film. I can handle all the make believe, metaphysical stuff just fine.
But this historical anachronism of Germans in British Egypt has bugged me most of my adult life.
Without Indy, the ark would’ve stayed there. He got it back to Washington DC so he’s got that going for him.
This isn't entirely accurate though. Indy still found the Ark, not the Germans. Maybe they would have figured it out eventually.
Purple_Pills
New Fish
Disagree. How else did the ark end up in that American warehouse where other mysterious things are stored such as the missing Red Cross 9/11 donations.
Last edited:
How in the fuck did the British Empire let Nazi Germany do a significant archeological excavation in Egypt? Egypt in 1936 for an intents and purposes was still a British protectorate.
Great point
Chuck may be on to something though. Wasn't it undercover Nazis? They did control neighboring countries
Not really. And in the film it's very much a significant German military presence.
As @Gladstone said - and I agree with him - it's a nearly flawless film. I can handle all the make believe, metaphysical stuff just fine.
But this historical anachronism of Germans in British Egypt has bugged me most of my adult life.
My comment was purely in jest. It was funny in my mind, not so much on here.
Doog_de_Jour
New Fish
You silly boys, scratching your heads over historical details.
The big part of Raiders I never understood was how Belloq had the perfect dress for Marion in her *exact size* in the middle of the goddamn desert.
Or why pirates would have a sexy silk négligée in her *exact size*.
The big part of Raiders I never understood was how Belloq had the perfect dress for Marion in her *exact size* in the middle of the goddamn desert.
Or why pirates would have a sexy silk négligée in her *exact size*.
1to392831weretaken
New Fish
This was before the invention of fast food. All women were that size back then. Duh.
Doog_de_Jour
New Fish
Even height wise? I swear that these movie villains have a seamstress on staff 24/7.
That or they have a massive wardrobe of women’s attire on hand for every body type. Just because they’re villains doesn’t mean they’re into body shaming.
Doog_de_Jour
New Fish
This is my new headcanon.
Jeebus, @Doog_de_Jour you're sounding like a rube here.
With the right connections, even in that part of the world, they were not entirely uncivilized
Last edited:
Doog_de_Jour
New Fish
First off, hurtful.
Second of all, I know the scene dialogue very well and it wasn’t the fact that these dudes had these luxury items at the ready that bothered me, it was the fact that they both fit like a glove on Karen Allen’s body. I’m sure that stems from the fact that I’ve actually sewn garments myself and I know how difficult tailoring women’s clothes can be that makes this silly detail test my suspension of disbelief so much.
But then again, I also always keep a designer men’s suit with a freakishly long inseam in the pant leg and super slim arms in the suit jacket at the ready just incase a certain former UW crew member decides to grace my doorstep.
‘Cause I know how to size a man up.
