In Indiana Jones 3, the brilliant archaeologist, played by Harrison Ford, embarks on a journey to bring his father back, who had disappeared during his search for the Holy Grail. The iconic Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie has stood the test of time and continues to woo new fans every year. However, some peculiar fans have spotted a second saw blade that appears during the First Grail challenge and are intrigued about its purpose in the movie.
Was There a Second Saw Blade in the First Grail Challenge in Indiana Jones 3?
The Grail challenges, as they are popularly known, are a trio of lethal tests that Indiana Jones must overcome to reach the Holy Grail. The first of them is the Breath of God, which involves dodging a gigantic swinging blade. While the initial blade is quite noticeable, glance again, and you’ll see a second, less conspicuous saw blade.
“Only the penitent man will pass…”
As the famous riddle goes, the key to surviving this challenge lies in humility, prompting Indy to kneel, hence avoiding the decapitating swing of the first blade. Viewers may recall that Indiana Jones only encounters one saw blade in his quest to reach the Holy Grail. However, a keen observer will notice that the scene from Indiana Jones 3 features a second saw blade embedded in the wall of the cave.
According to the original screenplay, the blade is designed as a “triple pendulum”, descending from the ceiling in a menacing arc, as opposed to the horizontal slice of a typical blade. The rationale behind the VFX team’s decision to transform this into a spinning blade at head height (and the subsequent addition of a secondary blade at floor level) remains somewhat elusive. It’s plausible that the original concept might not have clearly conveyed the reason why an adventurer couldn’t merely crawl underneath it. The official script of Indiana Jones 3 reads the scene as follows-
The cobwebs begin to move…
INDY: He kneels before God. (to himself; suddenly) Kneel!!
We hear the awful rush of air — WHOOSH! Because Indy is in the act of kneeling, only his hat is knocked off and his hair flies in his face.
Instinctively he ROLLS FORWARD on the ground out of harm’s way and looks up. From his new position he is able to see what is causing all the trouble: A RAZOR SHARP TRIPLE PENDULUM.
Indy gets cautiously to his feet. Now he sees the pendulum has been guarding a SMALL CORRIDOR which turns a corner to the left fifty yards ahead. Wooden wheels turn — the mechanism controlling the spinning blades. Indy loops a rope around the wheels, Jamming the mechanism and stopping the blades in mid-swipe.
The second blade is also not present in the Indiana Jones 3 graphic novel where we can see only a single pendulum swing by as Indiana Jones escapes its deadly touch.
Whether seen as a symbolic element or a practical security measure, the second saw blade in the First Grail challenge adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to an already captivating scene in Indiana Jones 3.
