National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released by Paramount Pictures in May 1984 as the prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas, it pushed the adventure serial format into darker, more intense territory, earning a PG rating that helped prompt the creation of the PG-13 classification. The film remains a landmark of 1980s blockbuster filmmaking and a defining chapter in the Indiana Jones series.

This cell captures Indiana Jones and Mola Ram in their climactic confrontation, with fire and flames visible in the background consistent with the rope bridge finale sequence. The three frames present identical compositions, making this a triplicate pull from the same shot — a natural artifact of 35mm printing that gives collectors a precise, unambiguous window into one of the film's most recognizable moments.