Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
As we all know, the Arab Swordsman, also known as the Cairo Swordsman, is portrayed by Terry Richards in "Raiders in the Lost Ark" in a nonspeaking role, and, in that film, challenges Indiana Jones to a duel in Cairo during the archaeologist's frantic search for the kidnapped Marion Ravenwood. A busy Cairo marketplace suddenly parts as the black-robed man confronts Indy with an oversized scimitar.
Giving a small laugh, he begins displaying his skill with his weapon to intimidate the American. However, Indy decides he had no time for a protracted fight against the flamboyant swordsman and simply wipes the sweat from his brow, then shoots him with his revolver. The Cairo onlookers cheer this action and run off with his sword.
Fair enough.
Now, what if there really was a fight scene between Indiana Jones and the Arab Swordsman in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"? This is what I think would have been the beginning to the "lost" fight scene with the Arab Swordsman from "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
It is interesting to note that Steven Spielberg had initially planned a long choreographed swordfight for this scene. The scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark as shot for the film was dramatically shortened; the original script intended Indy to fight the swordsman with a lengthy choreography and usage of his whip. Instead, Harrison Ford supposedly said, "Why don't I just shoot the fucker?"
That fit in well with Indy's character, and was used in the film; in actual fact, Harrison's suggestion stemmed from the fact that he was very ill (he, along with most of the crew, were suffering from dysentery, and could not wear their trousers for more than a few minutes) at the time, and a long choreographed fight scene would have been torture in the blazing sun. Spielberg sympathized, and the final version of this part of the film, a comically anti-climactic scene, became part of cinema history.
As I also understand it, the scene where Indy faces two sword wielding Thuggie cult members in "The Temple of Doom" was written in because Ford wasn't able to do the long scene with the Arab Swordsman in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
Nonetheless, you can fight this character in the Cairo mission of "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". In that game, Indy can either kill the swordsman with the pistol (which will automatically kill him in one hit) like in the movie, or he can choose to fight him without the pistol, which will take longer but is still possible.
Enjoy this reconstruction anyway.
Film Footage © 1981 Paramount Pictures.
Footage From "Making Of ROFLA" © 1981 Lucasfilm.
P.S. I created this clip about 5 years ago at the time of this upload, and never managed to get around to uploading it until now. I used the footage from Raiders' original "Making Of" featurette to reconstruct what I believe would have been the beginning of the swordfight.
As we all know, the Arab Swordsman, also known as the Cairo Swordsman, is portrayed by Terry Richards in "Raiders in the Lost Ark" in a nonspeaking role, and, in that film, challenges Indiana Jones to a duel in Cairo during the archaeologist's frantic search for the kidnapped Marion Ravenwood. A busy Cairo marketplace suddenly parts as the black-robed man confronts Indy with an oversized scimitar.
Giving a small laugh, he begins displaying his skill with his weapon to intimidate the American. However, Indy decides he had no time for a protracted fight against the flamboyant swordsman and simply wipes the sweat from his brow, then shoots him with his revolver. The Cairo onlookers cheer this action and run off with his sword.
Fair enough.
Now, what if there really was a fight scene between Indiana Jones and the Arab Swordsman in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"? This is what I think would have been the beginning to the "lost" fight scene with the Arab Swordsman from "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
It is interesting to note that Steven Spielberg had initially planned a long choreographed swordfight for this scene. The scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark as shot for the film was dramatically shortened; the original script intended Indy to fight the swordsman with a lengthy choreography and usage of his whip. Instead, Harrison Ford supposedly said, "Why don't I just shoot the fucker?"
That fit in well with Indy's character, and was used in the film; in actual fact, Harrison's suggestion stemmed from the fact that he was very ill (he, along with most of the crew, were suffering from dysentery, and could not wear their trousers for more than a few minutes) at the time, and a long choreographed fight scene would have been torture in the blazing sun. Spielberg sympathized, and the final version of this part of the film, a comically anti-climactic scene, became part of cinema history.
As I also understand it, the scene where Indy faces two sword wielding Thuggie cult members in "The Temple of Doom" was written in because Ford wasn't able to do the long scene with the Arab Swordsman in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
Nonetheless, you can fight this character in the Cairo mission of "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". In that game, Indy can either kill the swordsman with the pistol (which will automatically kill him in one hit) like in the movie, or he can choose to fight him without the pistol, which will take longer but is still possible.
Enjoy this reconstruction anyway.
Film Footage © 1981 Paramount Pictures.
Footage From "Making Of ROFLA" © 1981 Lucasfilm.
P.S. I created this clip about 5 years ago at the time of this upload, and never managed to get around to uploading it until now. I used the footage from Raiders' original "Making Of" featurette to reconstruct what I believe would have been the beginning of the swordfight.
