“Raiders of the Lost Ark” will be featured at two events in downtown Oklahoma City this August in honor of the 35th anniversary of its release. The movie, starring Harrison Ford in a career-defining role, will be screened Aug. 3 at 9 p.m. as part of the SONIC Summer Movies Series at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Additionally, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) will screen a double feature of the documentary “Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation,” a fan film made in 1981 by three pre-teen boys, on Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
“Indiana Jones fans have a really incredible opportunity in Oklahoma City this August,” said Michael J. Anderson, Ph.D., director of curatorial affairs at OKCMOA. “Fans can first see ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ at the Myriad Gardens followed a couple days later by a fantastic documentary detailing the filming of one of the greatest fan films ever made. It’s an experience that is unique to our city and an unparalleled look at the film.”
“Our SONIC Summer Movies Series is a wonderful, family-friendly opportunity to see this acclaimed film,” said Leslie Spears, director of marketing and communications at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. “We will have food trucks and magician Steve Crawford performing an archeological magic show in addition to the film. We’re looking forward to an entire week of Indiana Jones here in OKC.”
Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was 1981’s top-grossing film and remains one of the highest grossing films ever made. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” also received nine Academy Award nominations.
The movie inspired three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi to film a faithful, shot-by-shot remake. Featuring interviews with John Rhys Davies (Sallah), Eli Roth, and the fan film’s cast and crew, the documentary “Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made” joins the once-junior filmmakers as they strive to complete the film adaptation that consumed their teenage years.
OKCMOA’s screening of “Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made” will be followed by a Skype Q&A with Chris Strompolos – who plays Indiana Jones in “The Adaptation” – as well as a complimentary presentation of Strompolos and his friends’ rousing feature-length adaptation, “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation.”
