Prop ID: Photographs in Captain Katanga's cabin

[Oildale Jones]

On one of my innumerable viewings of Raiders, I happened to notice the group of pictures on the wall of Captain Katanga’s cabin on the Bantu Wind, and started searching for the largest (and potentially easiest identifiable) photo, which appeared to be a Polynesian woman. I tried Google Image Search and came up with a lot of similar pictures of different women (and men), but not the exact picture. I tried searching with various keywords and still came up short, so I put it on the back burner.



This past weekend I was inspired to try again. After lightening the picture, I struck gold.


Censored so as not to upset any delicate sensibilities.

The picture, taken by Josiah Martin and titled “A Woman of Fiji,” is page 3 of the book “The Living Races of Mankind” by Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, and John Walter Gregory, published in 1902. The Living Races of Mankind - Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, John Walter Gregory - Google Books

There’s another photo of the woman, Diana, in the George Eastman House archive: George Eastman House Josiah Martin Series



The picture directly above it is called “Three Samoan Belles” by Thomas Andrew and is taken from p. 16 of the same book.



The Living Races of Mankind - Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, John Walter Gregory - Google Books

I surmise (because I haven’t seen or read anything about it) that there was an alternate version where Indy didn't fall asleep. Note that Marion's nightgown is draped over the lamp and several of the pictures are out of place (pushed behind the center photo), probably from when she (or Indy) tossed the gown aside.



There appear to be seven pictures in total. I haven’t had any luck with the other five, but I’m sure at least one of pictures is of Marlene Dietrich.

[HENRY JONES JR.]

This is one of the main reasons I wanted to join this site. The members. You do what is interesting to me. The members here like to do detective work, and dig in to get to the bottom of mysterys. I thought I knew all there is to know about INDIANA JONES, boy am I humbled. I learn all the time here. Members here like the details. So do I!

The members here keep me interested!

GREAT JOB!!

[adirondack jones]

I agree. It's pretty amazing

[crismans]

Great detective work! And I agree that about the possible alternate ending. I always thought it a bit weird that she stripped down and climbed into bed with Indy while he was asleep. Certainly possible, but seems like she would get something to sleep in. Maybe I'm just a prude though.

[neutronbomb]

Really, really cool. Great work Oildale. It'll be fun to try and get the book, maybe blow up the photo and frame it or something.

[Oildale Jones]

I found a listing online for a company that sells the print, but they're in England. I figure you could probably check the book out from a decent library. And there are also copies available on Amazon and eBay, although they can be pricey for just a couple of pictures.

[PLATON]

amazing!

[HENRY JONES JR.]

Amazing is right! Man, I love it here! fantasic work in finding this, I mean...who else has done this? Very original!

[Oildale Jones]

Fans track down props all the time. Maybe not such obscure props, but I think all the little background details are what really sells the "reality" of Raiders.

[HENRY JONES JR.]

On one of my innumerable viewings of Raiders, I happened to notice the group of pictures on the wall of Captain Katanga’s cabin on the Bantu Wind, and started searching for the largest (and potentially easiest identifiable) photo, which appeared to be a Polynesian woman. I tried Google Image Search and came up with a lot of similar pictures of different women (and men), but not the exact picture. I tried searching with various keywords and still came up short, so I put it on the back burner.



This past weekend I was inspired to try again. After lightening the picture, I struck gold.


Censored so as not to upset any delicate sensibilities.

The picture, taken by Josiah Martin and titled “A Woman of Fiji,” is page 3 of the book “The Living Races of Mankind” by Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, and John Walter Gregory, published in 1902. The Living Races of Mankind - Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, John Walter Gregory - Google Books

There’s another photo of the woman, Diana, in the George Eastman House archive: George Eastman House Josiah Martin Series



The picture directly above it is called “Three Samoan Belles” by Thomas Andrew and is taken from p. 16 of the same book.



The Living Races of Mankind - Richard Lydekker, Henry Neville Hutchinson, John Walter Gregory - Google Books

I surmise (because I haven’t seen or read anything about it) that there was an alternate version where Indy didn't fall asleep. Note that Marion's nightgown is draped over the lamp and several of the pictures are out of place (pushed behind the center photo), probably from when she (or Indy) tossed the gown aside.



There appear to be seven pictures in total. I haven’t had any luck with the other five, but I’m sure at least one of pictures is of Marlene Dietrich.

Great detective work! And I agree that about the possible alternate ending. I always thought it a bit weird that she stripped down and climbed into bed with Indy while he was asleep. Certainly possible, but seems like she would get something to sleep in. Maybe I'm just a prude though.

Your BOTH right about a possible alternate ending to that scene! In the J.W. Rinzler written book about the making of Indiana Jones films, it is written...."On stage 5 Ford and Allen played out their action in the BANTU WIND cabin during the 12th day of August. Most likely the result of their rehersals, new pages were inserted into the shooting script for what was a difficult scene. The revised dialog was shorter, with Ford's improvised line, "It's not the years honey, it's the mileage" added for Indy. Whereas the scene would end with Jones nodding off, in the script his "sleeping" was a ruse - the scene originally ended with Jones pulling Marion on top of him."


So, if someone can locate an early draft of the script, there may be plenty of Alternate things, or scenes that were cut out! The book mentions that lots of things were replaced, added, and rewritten throught the films.

You guys were right!