When the New York Philharmonic honored the work of the film composer John Williams this past spring, the director Steven Spielberg introduced a clip of the opening scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark — without the music. The effect, he noted apologetically, was like something out of the French new wave.
The clip was played again, this time with the orchestra joining in. Like magic, the adventuresome spirit of the movie was restored.
On June 30, the rugged archaeologist at the heart of that film (played by Harrison Ford) will return for the fifth entry in the franchise, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He’ll be accompanied, as ever, by Williams’s indispensable music.
The composer, who turned 91 this year, had said it would be his final film score. Speaking during a video call more recently, he walked back his retirement plans. “If they do an ‘Indiana Jones 6,’ I’m on board.”
Ahead of the new film’s opening, Williams shared his thoughts — with contributions from others closely connected to this work — on milestone moments in an extraordinary career.