IS IT BOLLOCKS?

Film Buff investigates the facts behind outlandish movie plots.

THIS MONTH RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

QIn Indy’s first adventure he swims out to a descending Nazi U-boat and stows away on it as it submerges. But would that be possible? Ja or nein?

ADAVID FARRIER

U-BOAT ARCHIVIST

Audiences assume that Indy finds a way inside the U-boat which would be possible as there were hand wheels on the outside of the hatch as well as inside – but he would be discovered by the crew inside if he opened it. The original script actually indicates that Indy merely clings to the periscope and the boat doesn’t full submerge for the journey to the secret island base. So is this bollocks? When submerging, the periscope would be fully retracted so he’d have to hold onto something else, plus he’d likely be seen by the crew who would use the periscope to get an overview before surfacing. Typically, when a boat submerged for transit it would not stay at periscope depth because it might be seen by an enemy aircraft from above (especially in the clear Mediterranean water) and it could also be accidentally rammed there. Moreover, when submerging the boat typically went below periscope depth to oscillate the boat and get residual air out the ballast tanks, so it’s most likely the journey they make would be submerged. Typical submerged speed was about 2-3 knots so he could probably hold on – but he’d need a lot of breath to do that underwater.

VERDICT BOLLOCKS Want us to investigate if a movie scenario is bollocks? Ask us at totalfilm@futurenet.com