If the purpose of the Mickey Mouse joke wasn’t to make the movie more appealing to preschoolers then why was it in the movie? Did Spielberg think adults would find that funny? I mean it’s easily the worst moment in the entire Indiana Jones Franchise and it just boggles my mind that no one seems to call Spielberg out for this like they do to Schumacher over the Bat Credit Card.
shareMickey Mouse was a popular character in cinemas in 1938. It's simply an old gag inserting a popular character establishing the time period. How is it childish or stupid? You also forget that this is a film for families so having a timely reference from the era that even modern kids would get isn't a bad thing.
shareRight but there is nothing about the joke that would appeal to adults, Mickey Mouse is strictly for children much like Barney the Purple Dinosaur and the Telletubbies. So why put it in there if the movie isn’t intended to be for preschoolers as so many people have told me.
shareIt's fascinating to read how stupid you are.
Mickey Mouse was universally known in the 1930s, and he still is. The guy could've said "then I am Charlie Chaplin", or "then I am Julius Caesar".
People from ALL ages know Mickey Mouse.
There is no joke in that line. It only served the purpose of telling Indy that he was exposed.
This is an interesting point I never considered before. Mickey Mouse really was all the rage back in the day. Viewed in that context, it seems a bit less jarring.
I also think it was the butler's way of letting Indy know he knew he was an not just an imposter, but an American one.
The whole scene was moronic since Indy just punches him out ten seconds later anyhow. They should have just show him kicking the door in.
They didn't think most viewers would understand the original Jesse Owens reference.
https://indianajones.fandom.com/wiki/Jesse_Owens
Jesse Owens was supposed to be mentioned in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with the Butler's original line before Jones knocks him out as "If you are a Scottish lord then I am Jesse Owens!" It was changed to Mickey Mouse because the filmmakers thought that many people would be unfamiliar with who Jesse Owens was. The line as originally intended is retained in the film's novelization.
And that just proves that Spielberg didn’t respect his audiences intelligence, I knew who Jesse Owens was ever since 3rd grade.
shareIt was a bit odd because the dubbing was so bad, but I've always enjoyed this film so I don't give it much thought.
Maybe take Henry's advice on this one...Indiana...let it go. ;)
Sorry I just can’t let it go, Last Crusade was worse than Raiders and Temple in pretty much every area, and the Mickey Mouse joke is the smelliest part of this dog turd.
shareThat's fine. And now think about an international release of the movie where the name has to be changed in every country to someone's name the local 3rd grades are familiar with...
shareExactly, Mickey has universal appeal that someone like Jesse Owens wouldn't in other parts of the world.
shareMickey does not have universal appeal, he appeals to preschoolers just like Barney which means Spielberg’s target audience was little children despite the first two movies being dark and mature and geared towards adults.
shareTemple of Doom was a headache inducing mess with kiddie friendly moments mixed in. More than The Last Crusade.
shareTemple of Doom while it wasn’t as good as Raiders was still a very good movie and was a complete thrill ride the entire second half. It also stood on its own and didn’t rely on cheap references to other people’s creative work. Last Crusade was a chore to sit through and it was a very pathetic attempt at cashing in on the success of James Bond only they turned it into a kiddie film unlike James Bond.
shareHello MCU497! Hope your day is going well 😊
This is off your subject but I enjoyed Last Crusade much, much more than Temple of Doom. But my reason is because of the "Short Round" character. To me he was as off-putting and annoying as Jar-Jar Binks.
Anyway, I think the Mickey Mouse appeal is much wider than you may realize. Especially back in that era. My thoughts are the same as previous poster's in that it was a reference that would have been appreciated by adults and children alike... Just as much as it is today.
Take care! 😊
Short Round was a great character, Marcus and Henry were more like Jar Jar Binks, heck their antics in the tank chase were pretty much identical to Jar Jar’s antics in the droid fight at the end.
The Mickey Mouse joke was childish and was clearly trying to dumb the movie down for preschoolers who were the main target audience.
I agree! I enjoyed it for it's action, Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw but that "Short Round" kid was just horrible and not neccessary.
shareShort Round was the one who saved the day by freeing Indy from the Black Sleep of the Kali Ma. OK maybe he screamed too much but he was at least better than Glover, Doody, Connery, Elliot, Rhys Davies, etc. from Last Crusade.
shareYou’re just the type of person who is not meant to get some stuff. Judging by your replies, anyway. No big deal.
Ask yourself this: is there anything anyone could possibly say to get me to a) explain the joke to my satisfaction or b) help me to move on with my life?
If you and Spielberg sat in an ashram alone together for 6 months you’d come right out and post this same question, huh?
And that just proves that Spielberg didn’t respect his audiences intelligence, I knew who Jesse Owens was ever since 3rd grade.
wow , all that and yet you still cant understand the English language
I understand the English Language clearly, it seems you are having some difficulty however.
shareCan you name a more popular American figure during that time period? Babe Ruth? Joe Louis?
shareThat was my line of thought on it. It's because of how *American* Mickey Mouse is. Saying that Indy is so obviously American, that for him to claim whatever descent he did is absurd as that Euro Nazi butler to claim being American.
shareWent to a wedding at Disney World a few years ago, and the reception was held there also. In the middle of the reception, Mickey and Minnie Mouse showed up, and they were the hit of the party. Everyone, including adults, were laughing and having a good time as Mickey and Minnie danced with the wedding party.
I think you're underestimating Mickey's appeal to adults.
You have a very strange taste, this sounds like a very bizarre wedding. Did Barney show up as well?
shareActually, Barney's audience is preschoolers. And it's not just me. Mickey's demographic is much wider. Take a look at all the Mickey clothing in adult sizes. Also, the character is the primary symbol of Disney. He may not do anything for you, but he is enjoyed by many people, not just kids.
shareMickey Mouse’s target audience is pretty much just preschoolers, there aren’t too many mentally competent adults going nuts over Mickey Mouse. The joke was put in there to appeal to little children which was the movie’s target audience unlike the first two which had far more mature themes other than Mickey Mouse jokes.
share"Mickey Mouse’s target audience is pretty much just preschoolers"
Your entire premise is based on a misinformed opinion.
Mickey Mouse Women's Handbag: https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/127265001_disney-forever-mickey-mouse-womens-handbag-with-luggage.html
Mickey Mouse Women's Baseball Cap: https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-4235533/disneys-mickey-mouse-womens-baseball-cap.jsp
Mickey Mouse Big and Tall Tee: https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-4309281/big-tall-disney-mickey-mouse-vintage-grand-gesture-tee.jsp
Mickey Mouse Mug Warmer: https://www.qvc.com/qvc.product.K378217.html
Mickey Mouse Men's Shoes: https://evastee.com/product/disney-gift-mickey-mouse-low-top-canvas-shoes-hg
Mickey Mouse Wooden Pen Set: https://www.shopdisney.com/thru-the-years-mickey-mouse-pen-set-by-arribas-personalizable-409914860746.html
Mickey Mouse Romantic Music Box: https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/126653001_keepsake-music-box-thomas-kinkade-disney-the-magic.html
Mickey Mouse Women's Faux Fur Jacket: https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/130247001_disney-cozy--classic-womens-faux-suede-jacket-with.html
Mickey Mouse Adult's Varsity Jacket: https://www.shopdisney.com/mickey-mouse-and-pluto-varsity-jacket-for-adults-2025105880591M.html
Mickey Mouse Adult Watch: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-56109-Vintage-Mickey-Leather/dp/B004TOXP3W
Mickey Mouse Luggage: https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2567600/disneys-mickey-mouse-multi-spinner-luggage-by-american-tourister.jsp
None of that stuff is for children. And I could list thousands more.
You're really demonstrating how out of touch you are.
I’m not out of touch at all, that stuff may be for adults but clearly adults who have children who like Mickey Mouse. It’s just like how my brother got a “Daddy Shark” shirt because my niece is in love with Baby Shark. Your premise is nonsense.
shareSo now we're supposed to believe every adult who buys Mickey Mouse merchandise does so because they have children who like Mickey Mouse... because you personally know someone who bought for that reason?
Yeah, that's some sound logic right there. You're going to win over a lot of people with that argument.
And then there's this: https://www.fastcompany.com/90324660/how-disney-grew-its-3-billion-mickey-mouse-business-by-selling-to-adults
It’s perhaps the most luxurious of the recent Mickey Mouse products designed for adults, but it’s just one of many that has flooded the market. Over the past few months, Opening Ceremony released a line of ethereal dresses and activewear featuring vintage Mickey Mouse prints. High-end milliner Gigi Burris created a $450 crystal-beaded fascinator featuring Mickey’s ears. L’Oréal and Maybelline created makeup sets with packaging covered in Mickey’s face. Kate Spade released a $198 tote featuring a Mickey comic strip. Uniqlo made dozens of graphic tees with Mickey in various poses. And not to miss out on the action, Apple launched $300 Beats headphones that paid homage to the Mouse.share
All of this prompts the question: Why would adults wear items splashed with the face of a smiling rodent in the first place? What accounts for the enduring appeal of this anthropomorphized mouse, while other popular characters, like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, or Anna from Frozen, hardly ever appear in adult products?
The answer to the question has everything to do with the fact that Disney carefully orchestrated Mickey Mouse’s transformation from a cartoon character to a symbol. Disney ensured that Mickey could morph into almost anything the consumer needed him to be, from an emblem of hope in wartimes to a happy reminder of childhood when adulthood became overwhelming.
As I just educated you on, sometimes parents will buy merchandise that reflects their children’s interests. You haven’t proven anything other than your own stupidity.
shareYour 'education' consisted only of a single anecdote, which you could've easily made up.
No comment on the evidence I posted, explaining why adults enjoy the character? As they pointed out, other cartoon characters popular with kids don't have anything near the same amount of adult merchandise. Which proves your 'education' is wrong.
Classic Ostrich Syndrome, keeping your head in the sand and ignoring all evidence contrary to your opinion.
I’m not making anything up, I am giving you objective facts.
You posted zero evidence, I conceded those things exist yet it’s obvious to anyone older than the movie’s target audience that adults are likely to buy things based off of entertainment their children like. Why does my brother have a “Daddy shark” T-shirt? Is it because he’s obsessed with Baby Shark?
You aren’t very smart are you? I bet you don’t have a lot of friends.
"You posted zero evidence"
All of this prompts the question: Why would adults wear items splashed with the face of a smiling rodent in the first place? What accounts for the enduring appeal of this anthropomorphized mouse, while other popular characters, like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, or Anna from Frozen, hardly ever appear in adult products?
The answer to the question has everything to do with the fact that Disney carefully orchestrated Mickey Mouse’s transformation from a cartoon character to a symbol. Disney ensured that Mickey could morph into almost anything the consumer needed him to be, from an emblem of hope in wartimes to a happy reminder of childhood when adulthood became overwhelming.
You are still posting nothing but irrelevant speculation and assumptions. They are not going to be accepted. You don’t seem to know what you’re talking about bout.
shareI'm going with psychosis.
shareIf you aren’t even going to answer the question in my OP then please stop trolling my thread. Thank you.
shareAs I've already shown, your question is based on a faulty premise. Everyone here is trying to explain it to you, but you refuse delivery of the facts.
And with that, I'm done here. Carry on with your baseless rant.
It’s a very legitimate premise and no one has been able to give me a coherent answer to my original question which further illustrates how horrible the Mickey Mouse jokes were.
shareYou have had dozens of coherent answers
shareI have not seen a single logical answer as to why a franchise would go from dark mature themes like black magic, child slavery, etc. to Mickey Mouse jokes. That doesn't make sense, again it would be just like if Batman made a Telletubbies reference to the Joker or if in the next James Bond movie they played Baby Shark during the car chase.
shareReminds me of a Cracked.com article about the realities of working at Disney World:
https://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1304-6-things-nobody-tells-you-about-working-at-disney-world.html
This one passage, from a former Mickey-costume-wearer, has stuck with me:
You'd be amazed at how happy just showing up as Mickey makes people. It's like being a rock star, with all the photos and autographs and adoration
You really do get to create a kind of magic for people
The day I die, I will remember what it was like to look out through Mickey's eyes. It sounds corny, but it's true.
"You'd be amazed at how happy just showing up as Mickey makes people. It's like being a rock star, with all the photos and autographs and adoration"
I was surprised as well. Before that experience, I would have thought Mickey and Minnie showing up at a wedding reception would be really hokey. But it was really enjoyable. As silly as it sounds, it was almost like celebrities were there (instead of two people in costume.) Hard to explain if you weren't there.
Why do you think the Mickey Mouse reference was intended to be a "joke"? The point was that the butler wasn't fooled by Indy's hat and ridiculous accent (the accent being more of a joke if it comes down to it).
Anyway, the butler needed to reference a ridiculous character (one he clearly couldn't be) that would have been very popular in the 30s, and more importantly, be familiar to audiences in the 80s as well.
Mickey Mouse was one that would be familiar to audiences of both eras. So Mickey Mouse would certainly work (the butler *couldn't* be Mickey), or he could have said Wizard of Oz instead. Other popular characters of the 30s that we know today? Charles Lindbergh or Babe Ruth would have worked as well.
But I suspect you knew all of this already and are just trolling. Either that, or you walked in on your mom getting doggied by a dude in a Mickey Mouse costume..
So that scene wasn’t intended to be funny? Is that what you’re saying? I agree it’s not funny but that is irrelevant to the directors intentions.
No ridiculous character was needed, the movie should have stood on its own and shouldn’t have needed to reference other works just like the first two.
Mickey Mouse would have appealed to 4 year olds, no different than the Telletubbies. Heck if this were made today the line would have been changed to Baby Shark and it would have been equally cringeworthy. Also this took place in 1938, Wizard of Oz came out in 1939, it would have been a plot hole.
My Mom is dead you scumbag.
"No ridiculous character was needed, the movie should have stood on its own and shouldn’t have needed to reference other works just like the first two."
The Last Crusade referenced also to Marx Brothers. So, Mickey Mouse and Marx Brothers were part of the Indiana Jones universe, no biggie. So was nazis and Adolf Hitler.
Exactly, Last Crusade seemed to focus more on references and call backs to other works rather than just telling a good story. It’s like Full House which is hell bent on referencing other shows every 30 seconds.
shareSo that scene wasn’t intended to be funny? Is that what you’re saying? I agree it’s not funny but that is irrelevant to the directors intentions.
My Mom is dead you scumbag.
Anyone who is even somewhat mentally competent realizes how that was so obviously meant to be funny, but I’m not saying it was successful.
Your last sentence is another example of baseless speculation that I’m not going to entertain, and the fact that you make jokes about having sex with dead bodies is pretty disturbing, seek help you loser.
Anyone who is even somewhat mentally competent realizes how that was so obviously meant to be funny, but I’m not saying it was successful.
... and the fact that you make jokes about having sex with dead bodies is pretty disturbing, seek help you loser.
So why was it necessary to talk about Mickey Mouse? Mickey Mouse had literally nothing to do with the scene. Also those accents were beyond cringeworthy, some of the worst acting I've ever seen
Your second paragraph is nothing more than a "yo mama" joke which went out of style back in 7th grade. Learn some new material you loser.
Raiders has a ton of references to the Bible.
Nothing wrong with references, if anything they make it more worldized.
That’s because the Bible was part of the plot, as far as I can tell Mickey Mouse had nothing to do with the plot of last crapade
shareTotally did: like Adolf Hitler (which we see later in the movie for great effect), Mickey Mouse was an international celebrity of that time. Nothing wrong with having someone name him in such a situation.
Look, you are the only one that thinks it's such a total misake.
If you want to argue, you could just say that in an action movie that wanted to keep a serious and sombre tone, naming Mickey Mouse would be a bad touch.
But LC is certainly not that movie, it's quite light hearted and family oriented.
Everything else you keep repeating here is exagerated crap.
There absolutely was something wrong with referencing Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse has nothing to do with the Holy Grail. Hitler however was part of the plot so therefore that was a false equivalence. And that’s the problem, the first two were not light hearted or family oriented , they were dark and gritty, Spielberg didn’t honor the previous two as he made a kiddie movie with Last Crusade and it didn’t work at all. It’s one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen and I have effectively explained why.
shareThis has to be the most odd & inconsequential thing I’ve heard someone complain about in a movie.
Oh no...there have been much worse. But it does seem like some of the people using this site come here just to argue. Not to debate mind you, but just argue. That, I will never understand 🤷♀️
Have a great weekend! 😊
What’s odd is that people are actually literally defending Mickey Mouse jokes in an Indiana Jones movie.
shareI just can’t understand why a single reference like “If you are Scottish Lord, then I am Micky Mouse” in a film that’s supposed to be set in 1938 (which was around the height of Micky Mouses popularity) would be such an issue with someone. It was just to show that the butler guy wasn’t falling for Indiana’s bullshit.
I never liked Micky Mouse either. It’s just an odd thing to be hung up on.
I’ve explained why it’s bad on this thread. It was a joke intended for 4 year olds who were not the target audience of the first two. Again in the dark Knight if Batman had told the Joker in his batvoice: “if you’re an agent of chaos then I’m a telletubbie” you would have a problem with it
Heck maybe we should have Baby Shark references in No Time To Die
IT WASNT A JOKE
Why do you keep calling it a joke?
IT WASNT A JOKE Why do you keep calling it a joke?
Why the philistine attitude? Movies were taking the world by storm in that era and Mickey Mouse was most famous of the animated characters. No one said he had to appeal only to kids and if you don't know what your kids are in to then you're a shit patent. Lighten up and get a sense of humour.
shareWhy should I “get a sense of humor” when it wasn’t funny? You would be complaining just as much as I am if Christopher Nolan had put a Telletubbies joke in The Dark Knight. If Batman had told The Joker “If you’re ahead of the curve then I’m a telletubbie” you know the internet would be up in arms over that horrendous dialogue.
share>Why should I “get a sense of humor” when it wasn’t funny?
The movie came out in '89. if you haven't gotten a sense of humour in over 3 decades then you never will.
>You would be complaining just as much as I am if Christopher Nolan had put a Telletubbies joke in The Dark Knight.
The teletubbies have nothing to do with the Dark Knight while Micky Mouse has everything to do with 1939.
>If Batman had told The Joker “If you’re ahead of the curve then I’m a telletubbie” you know the internet would be up in arms over that horrendous dialogue.
Which is ironic, because 30 years after the movie came out the only person up in arms about the Micky Mouse joke is you.
"The movie came out in '89. if you haven't gotten a sense of humour in over 3 decades then you never will."
Why should I find things funny that aren't funny but instead are childish and juvenile?
"The teletubbies have nothing to do with the Dark Knight while Micky Mouse has everything to do with 1939."
Telletubbies were around in 2008, they have just as much to do with The Dark Knight as Mickey Mouse does with Indiana Jones, which is nothing.
"Which is ironic, because 30 years after the movie came out the only person up in arms about the Micky Mouse joke is you."
Another appeal to popularity and a logical fallacy.
Get a fucken hobby cunt.
shareIf the purpose of the Mickey Mouse joke wasn’t to make the movie more appealing to preschoolers then why was it in the movie
1. It wasnt a joke
2. that wasnt its purpose
Did Spielberg think adults would find that funny?
3. No , as mentioned it wasnt a joke
it’s easily the worst moment in the entire Indiana Jones Franchise
4. Not by a long shot
it just boggles my mind
5. It may boggle your mind as you seem to be incapable of comprehending the language construct Connery used and are unaware of Mickey Mouse's place in 20th century culture
no one seems to call Spielberg out for this
6. Thats because you're the only one having this delusion -that alone should be the evidence you need.
I have never seen so much wrong/crazy in one short post,
But i suppose the countless other posts where argue this insane nitpick heighten it somewhat.
1. It clearly was the joke
2. That clearly was the purpose, you were supposed to find it funny
3. It was a joke
4. It is definitely the worst Indiana Jones moment ever, yes it is worse than Shia LeBeauf swinging through vines with monkeys.
5. I understand perfectly how Mickey Mouse fits into 20th century culture, what hasn't been explained at all is how Mickey Mouse jokes fit into the Indiana Jones franchise
6. It's not a delusion, it's a very accurate and objective critique of a bad scene in a bad movie.
Last crusade is the 2nd best indy movie, no question about that
shareLast Crusade is by far my least favorite Indy movie, no question about that.
shareHell, then promise to never watch it again and try to get a life, you loser. I bet the last party you were invited to was your 6th birthday.
shareAnd apply that to yourself next time you post an unfavorable opinion of a movie, numb nuts.
Seriously that is what this forum is for, discussing movies, you are on here just as much as I am.