MovieChat Forums > Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Discussion > Donovan.

Donovan.

posted 3 years ago by Obifuntoknowme (1149)
2 replies | jump to latest

Love this film. Since seeing it on the big screen in ‘89 and every time since I have always wondered the same thing - when Donovan drinks from the cup at the end, I would’ve thought he’d of had the good sense to have ‘tested’ his cup choice on Indy first. He rushes in and chooses a cup and immediately drinks from it. In fact he doesn’t even make the choice, Elsa makes it for him and Donovan doesn’t even question it. Why was he so hasty? Was it greed, was it his lust for power? I’ve always thought he should’ve gotten Indy (under gunpoint) to try the cup for him first, if it turned out to be the correct cup then yes Indy would’ve been immortal but Donovan could’ve easily had him bumped off the second he stepped over the seal.

Thoughts?

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

That would have been the smarter move, but I didn't particularly see it to be too out of character. Personally, I think it was a poor choice from a mix of the following:

-Greed (me, and only me, will have this power)
-total trust in Elsa
-lack of fear

He didn't come up with a cautious choice because he didn't seem to be scared at all about the possibility of picking the wrong cup. I think he was caught up in his own excitement.

Also, the knight didn't tell them about the seal until after Indy drank the correct cup.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18430) 3 years ago

Greed and ignorance. Bad combination.