There's a moment in Raiders of the Lost Ark that's been talked about for decades - when Indiana Jones, faced with a sword-wielding attacker in a Cairo marketplace, simply pulls out his revolver and shoots him. It's anticlimactic, hilarious, and absolutely brilliant. But here's the thing: it was never supposed to happen that way.
Director Steven Spielberg had written an elaborate sword fight into the script. The sequence was supposed to be three-and-a-half pages long - a full choreographed duel showcasing Indiana Jones' skills with his bullwhip against the swordsman's scimitar. The crew even planned to film a gag where the swordsman accidentally cleaves through meat at a market stall. It was meant to be impressive, athletic, and a highlight of the film.
But then real life got in the way. Harrison Ford's illness played a large role in the Raiders of the Lost Ark's gun/swordfight scene, and not in the way most people think. The crew had been shooting in Tunisia in 130 degrees for six weeks and had three days left. Ford developed dysentery while filming in Morocco, and he was in no shape to perform an extended stunt sequence.
No one can say for sure who said Indy should shoot his assailant, though Ford is often credited with the idea. What we do know: by making use of Indy's gun, the scene was shot in just a couple of takes, putting the entire production two full days ahead of schedule - critical when the production was already struggling. The result? A moment that's become one of the funniest and most character-defining scenes in the entire franchise. It showed Indy wasn't interested in showy duels when his goal was rescuing Marion. He was practical, tired, and smart enough to know the fastest way was the best way.