What is necessary to be Indiana Jones? Apparently, making a good cake.

Harry Hamlin, known for his role in Clash of the Titans (1981), recently shared an unusual anecdote about his failed audition for the iconic role of Indiana Jones in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed by Steven Spielberg. Despite being shortlisted, Hamlin did not manage to get the role, which was ultimately played by Harrison Ford.

A Casting of the Most Wacky Kind

In an interview with Page Six, Hamlin recounted the details of his audition, which took an unexpected turn. Spielberg and producer George Lucas attended the test, but their arrival was delayed due to a problem with Lucas’s flight. To make use of the time, Spielberg suggested that Hamlin and actress Stephanie Zimbalist, who was vying for the role of Marion, bake a chocolate cake in the studio kitchen.

The actor recalled that while they were in the kitchen, they tried to make the cake, which quickly turned into an awkward situation. During those 40 minutes, Hamlin took the opportunity to joke about how annoying Spielberg could be, a comment he believes contributed to his eventual disqualification from the casting. “I have never worked with Steven Spielberg, and I will never learn to make a cake,” Hamlin stated, who now sees this experience as a great regret in his career.

Finally, the director chose Ford and Karen Allen to bring Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood to life, respectively. Although it is not known if Ford and Allen also did a screen test, it is possible that the pair had more favorable chemistry with Spielberg. Hamlin’s lesson seems clear: the details in an audition can be as important as the talent itself.

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