Raiders of the Lost Ark: review INSIDE VIEW: Steven Spielberg on his 28 films Raiders of the Lost Ark was the biggest film at the box office in 1981, and the recipient of nine Oscar nominations in all, including Best Director. It won for Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects Editing. "We went on an adventure to make an adventure," Spielberg said in 2013 and part of the enduring appeal of the film - which was followed by 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - is the appeal of the charismatic hero figure. Jones is a brave and humourous hero but is allowed to show weakness and be afraid, making the character real. Who can forget the line: "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?," as he drops a torch into the Well of Souls, revealing a floor crawling with thousands of the poisonous creatures. Steven Spielberg's giant boulder was one of the dramatic scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark REX FEATURES The support cast around Ford is good, too, with René Belloq playing a rival French archaeologist, Denholm Elliott playing Indy's college colleague Marcus Brody; Ronald Lacey as Gestapo agent Arnold Toht; and Karen Allen as the fesity love interest Marion Ravenwood. The film also crackles with humour. In one memorable scene, Indy is challenged to fight by a Cairo swordsman (played by Terry Richards). The actor had spent months in training for what was due to be a lengthy sword-versus-bullwhip choreographed fight. But Ford, along with many of the crew, was suffering from stomach illness. He suggested to Spielberg that they cut the scene short,: in his words they should "just shoot the f----er." Spielberg agreed, resulting in the biggest laugh of the film. There is a charm and vitality to Raiders of the Ark, which Spielberg later admitted was "the first movie where I actually shot the movie without thinking." Indy, whip in hand, even says the line: "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go. A truly cracking film.