Temple of Doom opening dance number

I know Temple of Doom isn't everyone's favorite Indy film, but my God if you want a testament to the diverse talent of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, look at that opening credit sequence. That spectacularly lit, choreographed, and art-directed sequence is one of the most impressive musical numbers done on film in decades.

Here's a couple of filmmakers known for action/adventure/fantasy and they pulled off a Busby Berkley number that would have been impressive in the heyday of that kind of film in the 30s and 40s. And it's cool that it's in there because that's when the film is set.

I saw this sequence in letterbox the other day on cable and I had forgotten just how good it was.

That opening title sequence is better produced than some ENTIRE films!

 

That's the movie where they rip out hearts, right?

 

Heck the name of the club is "Club Obi Wan!" That in and of itself makes it better than most sequences in other films.

 

It's the Club Obi-Wan?

I never noticed that!

 

Yeah, that scene is great. But ToD has always been my favorite Indy film.

 

SuperNationJock,

Check out this Temple of Doom Photo.

 

A tremendous and well-done opening sequence.

Club Obi Wan.

 

Cool pic, Luke Clone, thanks!

 

Oh, and here is another SW related Indy picture from ROTLA

Artoo and Threepio in the Well of Souls

 

lol, Luke Clone, you RULE! Great pic!

 

You're welcome... I found them for another thread in the Classic Trilogy forum for a Star Wars trivia game so I figured they would be appropriate here as well.

 

I like TOD and that opening Cole Proter number is great. The whole opening sequence is great. I love the rolling gong with the chinese henchman shooting the tommy gun.

I want to hang out at Club Obi-Wan!

 

IMO, Temple of Doom had the coolest opening sequence in the series by far.

 

I agree with 15. TOD had the greatest of the opening sequences, but unfortunatley, the film went downhill from there....




Mace Windy,
instant poster, gust add wind!

 

Yea, the opening sequence elicits an "oooo weee" response but the rest of the film didn't hold up to it.

 

Definitely the coolest opening of the series.
Complete and total chaos. And then we find out that some automatic fire starter rock (no matches required) is missing and the town can't barbecue anymore. Tisk tisk. Club Obi Wan definitely was cool though.

 

That was the first time I heard the song "Anything Goes". I didn't even know it was in English until years later!

 

Heck the name of the club is "Club Obi Wan!"

My gosh....I had completely forgotten about that. How cool!

And I have always loved that opening sequence.....just because I thought it was fun.

 

For those who don't know,
ANYTHING GOES was an extremely popular
song in the 1930s by master songwriter
Cole Porter. It was a perfect choice to open the movie, because it set the tone of the film, Temple of Doom was crazier and more exaggerated than ROTLA. TOD was set in 1936. This is the exact kind of song Willie Scott would've wanted to sing.

LYRICS TO ANYTHING GOES, in English!
by Cole Porter:

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking.
But now, God knows,
Anything goes.
Good authors too who once knew better words
Now only use four-letter words
Writing prose.
Anything goes.

If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like,
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose.
When ev'ry night the set that's smart is in-
Truding in nudist parties in Studios.
Anything goes.

Refrain 2

When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her)
Can get Russian reds to "yes" her,
Then I suppose Anything goes.
When Rockefeller still can hoard en-
Ough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows,
Anything goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once had several chateaux.
When folks who still can ride in jitneys
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es,
Anything goes.

Refrain 3

If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Then Anna shows
Anything goes.
When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up-
On her toes,
Anything goes.
Just think of those shocks you've got
And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got
From that news you've got
And those pains you've got
(If any brains you've got)
From those little radios.
So Missus R., with all her trimmin's,
Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
'Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes

 

That's a very difficult song to sing. The tempo changes all over the place. It's good, but very very difficult.

 

"Oh, and here is another SW related Indy picture from ROTLA

Artoo and Threepio in the Well of Souls "


In that picture of the Well of Souls, Is that Jar Jar binks all the way to the right? (of course it isn't) but do you think Lucas could have paid homage to Speilberg for putting Artoo and 3P0 in that film? Looks very similar...