Histeria said:
cyclades said:
Similarly, why is Spalko a woman? What's the point from a story point of view? There's no sexual tension, and Marion never gets jealous. It could have been a man and the story wouldn't have changed at all.

You had me with all points until that one. Why should she not be a woman? Surely her gender is irrelevant in the role she plays?

I don't mean it to sound sexist, that wasn't my point. The point I was trying to make is that every aspect of a character is exploited for story purposes in really great movies. In This one it wasn't. She was asexual. She didn't show any interest in Indy, Mutt, hell she didn't even show any interest in Marion. I know in real life it doesn't matter, but in drama it can add depth. Take Belloq being smitten with Marion, or Elsa being with Indy and his Dad. These both added aspects of jealousy.

As Spalko was presented, it could have been a man playing the role and it wouldn't have mattered. The strengths of being a female were not exploited.