#98

A Cairo swordsman (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

TV or Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Time of Death: June 12, 1981

Actor: Terry Richards

The story behind this death is as legendary as the scene itself. Harrison Ford was reportedly feeling sick on this day of shooting and did not want to go through the big sword fight that had been written. Ford went to Steven Spielberg and pitched an idea. The swordman would show up, spin his sword around, and Indy would take out his gun and shoot him. It is not only one of the best scenes of all-time, it told us so much about the character of Indiana Jones. We’ve seen lenghty sword fights before, but this left us with an impression unlike any other scene could.