An MTV.com observer at today's Paramount panel at Comic-Con reports that Karen Allen appeared on a video feed earlier this afternoon to confirm that she'll have some kind of supporting or cameo role in Indiana Jones IV.

Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf and Ray Winstone "were all appearing via satellite when Spielberg left the scene for a moment to [grab] another director's chair. He came back with a chair with Marion Ravenwood written on it, and of course the crowd went bananas" -- bananas? -- "and then out came Allen to talk briefly about her return to the series."
One of my most excruciating movie-watching memories of all time is listening to Allen go "Indiiieee!" in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I saw that movie three or four times during the summer of '81 (loved it) but Allen's distress squeal made the second, third and fourth viewings something of a mixed bag.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 26, 2007 at 6:09 PM
comment #1
Dan Revill
says ...
Definitely cool news.
Posted by Dan Revill
at July 26, 2007 6:24 PM
comment #2
jeffmcm
says ...
When Allen screams, do you bury your head in your hands and start muttering to yourself? Maybe a little slow rocking back and forth in your seat?
Posted by jeffmcm
at July 26, 2007 6:30 PM
comment #3
Josh Massey
says ...
It's nothing compared to Capshaw...
Posted by Josh Massey
at July 26, 2007 6:38 PM
comment #4
Walter Sobchak
says ...
Jeff.... you inserted an italicised "bananas" in that report. Are you somehow saying that the crowd was wrong to go bananas? Or that they didn't go bananas?
Your editorialising besmirches the character of every person who has ever gone bananas at a nerd convention, er, comic book convention.
Posted by Walter Sobchak
at July 26, 2007 6:51 PM
comment #5
erniesouchak
says ...
I'm with Josh Massey. Capshaw was 10,000 times worse. I was glad to see Allen pop up in "In the Bedroom" (Todd Field seems to have a gift for digging up good, long-forgotten-about actors.) and she might be the one and only reason I'd have an ounce of curiosity about "Indy 4."
Posted by erniesouchak
at July 26, 2007 7:06 PM
comment #6
thevisceral
says ...
That picture's a Caption This contest waiting to happen.
Posted by thevisceral
at July 26, 2007 7:13 PM
comment #7
Wrecktum
says ...
Did Karen Allen's "Indy" give Wells a migraine?
Posted by Wrecktum
at July 26, 2007 8:19 PM
comment #8
christian
says ...
good for her. she was a great presence in Raiders and what i remember most is her awesome scene in the bar, and her in a white dress machine gunning nazis. i also liked her in SHOOT THE MOON.
Posted by christian
at July 26, 2007 8:24 PM
comment #9
actionman
says ...
there was a great response from the crowd when Allen came out, but we all went bananas over the IRON MAN footage. movie looks awesome, can't wait to see that next May. Favreau looks like he's made a blast of a comic book movie, relying on a lot of real, physical effects. Robert Downey Jr. looks like he had a ton of fun in the role. And the footage of Iron Man flying next to the fighter jets looks more impressive than ANYTHING in Superman Returns.
Posted by actionman
at July 26, 2007 8:56 PM
comment #10
cinefan
says ...
I love both Allen's Marion Ravenwood and her cries of "Indy" in Raiders. The latter always remind me of two of my favorite sequences in the film, the great Basket Chase sequence through the streets of Cairo and Indy's confrontation with poisonous snakes in the Well of the Souls.
Posted by cinefan
at July 26, 2007 8:57 PM
comment #11
Walter Sobchak
says ...
You knew that the pit that Indy falls into and faces dozens of angry snakes was called the "Well of the Souls"?
You truly are a "cine-fan".
Posted by Walter Sobchak
at July 26, 2007 9:41 PM
comment #12
Silverscreenvideos
says ...
Gee, I wonder who Shia LaBoeuf's mother is going to turn out to be?
Posted by Silverscreenvideos
at July 26, 2007 9:48 PM
comment #13
corey3rd
says ...
Is it true that Indy uses a Scoot-Around during his fight scenes?
Posted by corey3rd
at July 26, 2007 9:54 PM
comment #14
bagelfilm
says ...
I just love Karen Allen. Anyone remember "Until September", my favourite guilty pleasure...?
Posted by bagelfilm
at July 26, 2007 10:19 PM
comment #15
Wrecktum
says ...
"You knew that the pit that Indy falls into and faces dozens of angry snakes was called the 'Well of the Souls'?"
Doesn't everyone? I ask in all sincerity.
Posted by Wrecktum
at July 26, 2007 11:25 PM
comment #16
Ogami Itto
says ...
I had the playset and all the action figures when I was a kid -- I was obsessed with that movie for years. I'm glad Spielberg tossed Karen Allen a bone; it'll be good to see her in an Indy movie again.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at July 27, 2007 12:12 AM
comment #17
cinefan
says ...
Not that I need to explain but the reason I know the pit is called Well of the Souls is because Raiders is my favorite Spielberg film and in my top five among all films (I can't count how many times I've seen it since I was a kid).
Posted by cinefan
at July 27, 2007 12:38 AM
comment #18
TheJeff
says ...
'Tis better to search for the Well of Souls than to search for the Soul of Wells.
Posted by TheJeff
at July 27, 2007 12:45 AM
comment #19
Alan Cerny
says ...
You only saw RAIDERS 4 times in 1981? Now your opinion really is suspect.
Posted by Alan Cerny
at July 27, 2007 4:03 AM
comment #20
Rich S.
says ...
Allen looks great in that picture. They never should have dropped Marion from the series. I was always disappointed when they went for the Bond "girl in every port" angle. I hope she has more than a cameo.
Posted by Rich S.
at July 27, 2007 4:07 AM
comment #21
BurmaShave
says ...
When I was 16, I had sex for the first time with a 17 year old girl one grade ahead of me. I'll never forget the way she squealed "I'm coming! Oh my God!" The times I've had sex since then have been decidedly a mixed bag.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 27, 2007 4:13 AM
comment #22
BurmaShave
says ...
When I first got my driver's license, I went for a leisurely drive on my own down to Mount Vernon. A car in the other lane suddenly swerved out of it to avoid some sort of debris in the road, and I had to slam on the breaks. I'll never forget the sound of the way they squealed SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH. Every time I've driven since then has been decidedly a mixed bag.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 27, 2007 4:16 AM
comment #23
BurmaShave
says ...
When I was a baby, I ate some canned pears. I'll never forget having to poop into my diaper. Every time I've eaten, or pooped, since then has been decidedly a mixed bag.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 27, 2007 4:18 AM
comment #24
BurmaShave
says ...
I am Jack's mixed bag.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 27, 2007 4:19 AM
comment #25
rr3333
says ...
At least Jeff isnt complaining about how heavy/thin/bloated/emaciated she may be.
Posted by rr3333
at July 27, 2007 5:26 AM
comment #26
Ian Sinclair
says ...
In England, at sixteen, we can drink alcohol and have sex, and we enjoy both in full measure. What we do not have is to feel the need to tell the world about it on a message board.
Posted by Ian Sinclair
at July 27, 2007 6:06 AM
comment #27
StewartforPresident
says ...
Ian, doesn't the first sentence you wrote completely contradict the second.
Posted by StewartforPresident
at July 27, 2007 6:45 AM
comment #28
Tim
says ...
Ernie: "she might be the one and only reason I'd have an ounce of curiosity about "Indy 4."
Wha??? Now we all love Karen Allen as Marion but she's the ONLY reason you MIGHT have curiosity? This may be the most pretentious comment ever written on a message board. It would be far too simpleton of you to say that you were interested in seeing Indy 4 for the sake of seeing Indy 4. No, you have to qualify your interest to keep your coolness points forever safe, under lock and key in the notion that no one will think less of you now that you're only deigning to see a film based on a small supporting turn by a forgotten actress.
That being said, my ounce of curiosity for Indy 4 is to see if Tony Schweikle still has juice as a location scout.
Posted by Tim
at July 27, 2007 9:07 AM
comment #29
bents75
says ...
When I first started reading this site I always thought the comments were as interesting as the posts themselves. But I'll never forget the idiocy and rampant ignorance that surrounded every comment posted by Burmashave. Everytime I've read comments since it's been a mixed bag.
Posted by bents75
at July 27, 2007 9:08 AM
comment #30
goodvibe61
says ...
One of the best boards ever!
I don't know which has been better today, the news that Allen's gonna be in the flick (she looks great in that pic by the way, you go girl!) or this board, which is pretty priceless if you ask me.
I have a sinking feeling though, that any and all future boards will decidedly be a mixed bag.
Posted by goodvibe61
at July 27, 2007 9:55 AM
comment #31
foxnewsisfake
says ...
This is great, great news.
Posted by foxnewsisfake
at July 27, 2007 9:59 AM
comment #32
Craig Kennedy
says ...
Is it too late to pile on the 'Capshaw is worse than Allen' bandwagon? I don't have any bad memories of Allen or her scream. At all. Her character seemed to get weaker as the movie went along, but she could drink you under the table and she didn't take shit from anyone.
I've officially warmed up to the idea of another Indy movie. It could suck, but I'm hoping for the best.
Posted by Craig Kennedy
at July 27, 2007 10:02 AM
comment #33
Ogami Itto
says ...
"Ian, doesn't the first sentence you wrote completely contradict the second."
In his defense, he never said that they enjoy internal consistency in England; perhaps that's why he didn't feel the need to tell the world about it on a message board.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at July 27, 2007 10:35 AM
comment #34
Ogami Itto
says ...
"Is it too late to pile on the 'Capshaw is worse than Allen' bandwagon?"
It's never too late to pile on Capshaw for anything.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at July 27, 2007 10:36 AM
comment #35
nemo
says ...
Ray Winstone is going to be in this thing? Oh hell. I've never liked any of the Indiana Jones movies, and now I'll have to go see this damn thing.
Oh double hell. I just checked IMDB, and not only Ray Winstone is in it, but so are Cate Blanchett, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent. Now I'll really have to go see this double damn thing.
Posted by nemo
at July 27, 2007 10:53 AM
comment #36
nemo
says ...
Gee, with Ray Winstone and John Hurt in the cast, it's like a reunion for "The Proposition". They should have reassembled the entire cast of "The Proposition", with Guy Pearce and Danny Huston tormenting Indy.
Posted by nemo
at July 27, 2007 10:59 AM
comment #37
MAGGA
says ...
"Oh double hell. I just checked IMDB, and not only Ray Winstone is in it, but so are Cate Blanchett, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent. Now I'll really have to go see this double damn thing."
Poor thing having to watch another movie by the greatest living director.
Posted by MAGGA
at July 27, 2007 11:24 AM
comment #38
T. S. Idiot
says ...
Is the photo misleading, or does Spielberg have tiny fingers?
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at July 27, 2007 11:30 AM
comment #39
carla kolchak
says ...
In a film loaded with horrible elements, Capshaw's performance took the cake (IMO). However, Harrison Ford's shirtless scenes made up for it (also, IMO). Hubba hubba.
Posted by carla kolchak
at July 27, 2007 11:47 AM
comment #40
Ogami Itto
says ...
"Is the photo misleading, or does Spielberg have tiny fingers?"
Yeah, I noticed that too. He has midget fingers.
He also has very vein-y hands.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at July 27, 2007 1:45 PM
comment #41
Craig Kennedy
says ...
tiny, little...(gulp)...sausage fingers.
Also by the picture he appears to have an aversion to touching women. Tell me he's not saying "Eww, cooties!"
Posted by Craig Kennedy
at July 27, 2007 3:40 PM
comment #42
Edward
says ...
Have I mentioned I could care less if Indy 4 is even watchable, much less good? Lost Ark is a lot of fun, Temple has good moments, The third film was mediocre; the final scene in the cave laughably bad. IV is about money and not creativity.
Posted by Edward
at July 27, 2007 3:48 PM
comment #43
BurmaShave
says ...
Apparently in my speedball stupor I somehow crafted the world's worst catchphrase, and for that I apologize. Ian Sinclair, you're from England? I had no idea. Wasn't there a war once, and one of your leaders said something witty? I can never remember.
Also, Speilberg has tiny fingers but huge hands. They're the size of Karen Allen's head. They are, as Marv would say, "mits".
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 28, 2007 10:25 AM
comment #44
nemo
says ...
"Poor thing having to watch another movie by the greatest living director."
I didn't know Martin Scorcese was directing the new Indiana Jones movie!
Posted by nemo
at July 28, 2007 12:11 PM
comment #45
frankbooth
says ...
Burma,
It would appear that you are mocking the style of a certain someone's blog entries. This is a no-no, especially if you are drinking beer or wine. (Hard liquor is presumably okay.)
Show the proper respect! People who live and work in Hollywood have delicate sensibilities. They are better and more fragile than the rest of us, and are therefore above ridicule. If continue in this vein, you just might get yourself banned -- and rightly so.
(That being said, is "mixed bag" this year's "mezzo mezzo?")
Disclaimer: the above comments are not intended to be construed as a personal attack on any persons, places or institutions.
Posted by frankbooth
at July 28, 2007 3:20 PM