A New Hero Is Born: John Williams’ ‘Raiders of the Lost Arc’

Written By Noah Marconi

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.

A New Hero Is Born: John Williams' 'Raiders of the Lost Arc'

Composer: John Williams
Orchestrators: John Williams, Herbert W. Spencer, Albert Woodbury

Soundtrack Albums

Noah Marconi
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Bugs, Cults, and Blood: John Williams’ ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple Doom’
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Into the Jungle: John Williams’ ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’