Episode 4: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Having worked with both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, John Williams was definitely the go-to choice for the composer of the first Indiana Jones film. Yet again, Williams wrote an iconic score filled with epic adventure, emotional passion, and terrifying horror. In this episode, I discuss the main leitmotifs of the picture, particularly how the Ark of the Covenant theme contains some “devilish” harmonies. At the center of the score are the two standout action cues, “The Basket Chase” and “Desert Chase”, some of the best, most thrilling action music Williams ever wrote.