Indiana Jones: New Featurette Goes Behind the Scenes of the Franchise's Iconic Sound Effects

While the Indiana Jones series of films are beloved by fans for its characters, storylines, and [...]

By Patrick Cavanaugh

While the Indiana Jones series of films are beloved by fans for its characters, storylines, and action-packed adventures, just as iconic as any of those elements is the series' sound design. Whether it be the crack of Jones' whip or the crushing blows the archaeologist delivers his foes, fans can recognize the series' signature sounds as much as they know any other component of the franchise. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Paramount Pictures has released an all-new featurette that dives deep into how the series' famous sounds were crafted, thanks in large part to Ben Burtt and John Roesch. Check out the featurette above and grab the four-film Indiana Jones collection on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on June 8th.

Go behind-the-scenes with legendary sound designer Ben Burtt and John Roesch, one of the original Foley artists who worked on the film, as they recreate some of the iconic sounds that help make Raiders of the Lost Ark a true cinematic classic. To celebrate the film's 40th anniversary, Burtt and Roesch came together on the Foley stage at Skywalker Sound in Northern California and used some of the original props to demonstrate how they developed the distinctive face punches, sword swishes, snake slithers — why did it have to be snakes? — and more. You won't want to miss what Burtt used to create the sound of the Ark's lid being removed!

Called "the father of Skywalker Sound" by Steven Spielberg, Ben Burtt is an Academy Award-winning sound designer, as well as an accomplished filmmaker who has written, directed, and served as film editor on a vast array of projects. John Roesch is a professional Foley artist who has worked in the film business for over 40 years. With nearly 600 credits, Roesch has lent his skills to many of the biggest blockbusters of all time.

"The Indiana Jones four-movie collection includes a collectible booklet with behind-the-scenes images from all four films. Each film is presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc with original theatrical trailers and access to digital copies. The set also includes a Blu-ray with seven hours of previously released bonus content as detailed below:

  • On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark
    • From Jungle to Desert
    • From Adventure to Legend
  • Making the Films
    • The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981 documentary)
    • The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark
    • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (HD)
  • Behind the Scenes
  • The Stunts of Indiana Jones
  • The Sound of Indiana Jones
  • The Music of Indiana Jones
  • The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones
  • Raiders: The Melting Face!
  • Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies (with optional pop-ups)
  • Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations (with optional pop-ups)
  • Indy's Women: The American Film Institute Tribute
  • Indy's Friends and Enemies
  • Iconic Props (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
  • The Effects of Indy (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
  • Adventures in Post Production (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)

Grab your copy of the Indiana Jones four-movie collection on June 8th.

Will you be adding this set to your collection? Let us know in the comments below or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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