MOVIE NEWS – Indiana Jones’ manicures are as weird as they are iconic. But why he chooses the whip over the firearm is one of the mysteries of his character.

Indiana Jones is a character who is as weird as he is iconic. Part of his style is his unconventional use of the whip as opposed to the pistol. Henry “Indiana” Jones (Harrison Ford) first appeared in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The archaeology professor turned action hero specialising in rare antiquities immediately captivated audiences.

His love of using the whip is established before Indiana Jones even appears on screen in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

From then on, the whip becomes an essential element of Indy’s character. However, despite the prevalence of his beloved whip in the films, it is not clear why he chooses the whip over the gun. Here is the real reason why Indy uses the whip instead of the gun in the movies. Also, how Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny continues Indy’s whip tradition.

In developing the character, George Lucas drew inspiration from several 1930s and 1940s matinee and cartoon series. These influenced many of Indy’s behaviours and approach to his adventures. Some theorise that Zorro may have influenced Indiana Jones’ whip use. The latter also used a whip in his appearances. However, it is not entirely clear whether it was Zorro’s use of the whip that directly influenced Lucas to equip Indy with a whip.

The actual inspiration for Indiana Jones’ use of the whip is not apparent. But the in-universe explanation for why Indy uses a whip is. Indy’s third adventure, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusader, begins with a flashback. In it, the teenage “Henry Jones Jr” is seen on a scouting trip. This flashback explains how Indy inherited many of his characteristics and mannerisms. Including but not limited to the scar on his chin and the famous hat. During a circus train chase, Indy falls into a wagon full of lions. Here he must use a bullwhip to keep the beast at bay. From then on, the bullwhip became part of Indy’s iconic repertoire.

As the last Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, revives the character’s quirks, including the fact that he uses a whip instead of a gun.

In the trailer for The Dial of Destiny, Indy faces off against the bad guys, and when he pulls out his whip, they all pull out their guns. This scene is not only a joke at Indy’s expense, but also a comic reversal of the memorable scene in The Lost Ark… where Indy finishes the sword duel with a gun. The caricature of Indiana Jones’ beloved whip, while also referencing his first film, is not only an amusing detail for fans, but also marks the closing of the circle.

Source: indianajones.fandom.com