Action Figure Overview: Raiders of the Lost Ark - Cairo Swordsman (Kenner, 1982)

Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark: Cairo Swordsman (Kenner, 1982)

Cairo, 1936: Indiana Jones is having a bad day.  After being attacked by a bunch of Cairo street thugs and getting separated from his lady friend, Marion, the crowd in front of him opens and he finds himself face to face with a clearly skilled swordsman.  This potentially thrilling fight scene turns into a comedic moment of the film when, after a display of amazing swordsmanship, Indy dispatches this villain with a single shot from his revolver.  As most fans of the movie know, the scene was going to be a much more involved fight sequence and include some whip action, but actor Harrison Ford (and much of the crew) was suffering from dysentery.  As a result, his suggestion that he just shoot the guy was accepted.  Still, this character's 15 seconds of screen time was enough to earn him a slot in the first wave of four figures released in "The Adventures of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark" toy line!  As a side note, I'm pretty sure these figures hold the record for longest title of any toy line ever!

Indiana Jones uses his "Quick Draw Action" to get the drop on the Cairo Swordsman!

Raiders of the Lost Ark was the highest grossing film of 1981 and kids loved it!  Since Kenner's 3.75" Star Wars figures had sold so well, Kenner ended up with a license to produce action figures in the same scale to go along this movie as well.  Unfortunately for kids, they would have to wait until the following year for the figures to make it onto the shelves at their local stores.  That's a long time for a kid!  However, the movie was re-released in theaters a year later in the summer of 1982, so Indiana Jones was on their minds again anyway.

My original Cairo Swordsman figure and cardback from 1982

The first wave of four individually carded action figures included Indiana Jones, Toht, the Cairo Swordsman, and Marion Ravenwood.  There was also a second Indiana Jones action figure in a "Desert Disguise" that came with the Map Room adventure set.  Kenner had done so well with their "Mail-Away Exclusive" promotions for their Star Wars line that they also decided to release a mail-away exclusive action figure of Belloq in his ceremonial robe.  However, the regular Indiana Jones figure was really the main one that all of the kids wanted.  Marion was sent to stores in smaller quantities than the other three carded figures and became very difficult to find.  Indiana Jones sold well and left plenty of Cairo Swordsman and Toht figures hanging around in the stores.

"What kind of crazy mess have you gotten us into now, Mr. Jones?"
"Quit your yapping and let me think, Lou!"

The Cairo Swordsman is a cool figure.  Although his face doesn't exactly look like Terry Richards, the stuntman who played him in the movie, it's still a nice sculpt.  I don't think many kids really cared at all if the sculpt of the figure looked anything like the guy from the movie.  I mean, he was on the screen for less than 15 seconds, most of us probably didn't even remember what he looked like!  The figure in these photos was mine as a kid and he was briefly used as a chew-toy for my childhood dog, so his head looks even less like Terry Richards.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Cairo Swordsman (Kenner, 1982)

The Cairo Swordsman figure came with came with a cloth robe, a knife, and a sword.  It would have been easy for Kenner to mold the robe onto the figure as they did with many of their Star Wars figures, so it was a nice touch that they actually gave him a cloth robe!  The knife was a nice bonus too since he really only needed the sword.  The sword is what everyone remembers from the movie, but I always appreciate extra pieces like this when they're included.  I'm not surprised that most of the figures sold these days are missing the knife and sword, but it is surprising to me that so many of the figures are missing the robe.  I can understand taking the robe off of a vintage Jawa.  The figure under the robe was still really cool.  However, this dude doesn't look very awesome running around in his speedo!  It seems like most kids who took the robe off of this guy would have very quickly realized that was a bad idea and put it right back on him.  Maybe they were thrown away due to mold and mildew that took over when the figures were stored in basements and attics after their owners grew up...but before they decided their toys were still great!

The Cairo Swordsman: with and without his accessories

The first wave of figures was successful enough that a second wave was also released.  The second wave introduced four more carded figures: Sallah, Indiana Jones in German Uniform, the German Mechanic, Belloq dressed in a white shirt and pants, plus the "Monkey Man" street vendor who came with the "Streets of Cairo" playset, a German military truck, and an Arabian Horse.

The 8 single carded figures available in wave 2, plus the Mail-Away Belloq

Although this line of action figures is actually quite amazing and collectors pay big money for some of these figures today, it wasn't exactly a big hit at the time.  I've read a lot about how badly this line of toys sold and which figures were peg warmers, but the closest thing I have to proof about it's lack of success is the discounted price tags on the wave 2 cards that my figures came with when I bought them as a kid.  Personally, I thought they were great at the time and it never occurred to me that they were any less popular than other figures on the shelves.

Did you have of the Raiders of the Lost Ark action figures as a kid...or do you have them now?  If so, did you just have Indiana Jones or did you have several of the figures from this line?  Tell me below in the comments!

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