Continuity mistake: In the submarine dock of Geheimhaven, Captain Mohler is a man with dark hair in his mid or late thirties. But during the procession, he seems to be much older, with grey hair.
Visible crew/equipment: After Marion gets locked inside the flying wing's cockpit, she sees the truck with soldiers approaching. Marion then goes through the aircraft's passageway to the rear turret, and in the first shot facing Marion just as she begins to fire on the soldiers with the tail gunner's machine gun, the reflection of a crew member wearing a short-sleeved shirt is visible on the dome's glass, at the bottom left corner of the screen. (01:18:40)
Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around the pole to which Indy and Marion are tied, large clouds can be seen in the sky behind them. However, after a ghost circles Dietrich and passes in front of the camera, it can be seen in the background that the clouds behind Indy and Marion have disappeared.
Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around Dietrich, Belloq, and Toht, the Frenchman slowly looks up as the column of mist ascends upwards from the Ark, almost looking straight ahead. In the next shot, Belloq is looking down again; the shape of the mist has changed, and the column of mist is now moving to the right.
Continuity mistake: The distance between Otto and the Nepalese changes between shots, just as Toht begins saying "Surely he told you..."
Continuity mistake: While the Ark is killing the soldiers, the cameraman is hit twice, as the first hit is shown in the first wide shot of the dying soldiers and the second when the camera focuses on the cameraman. Also, during the second hit, a beam passes through the camera and strikes the cameraman in the face, although he remains standing. In the next shot, the cameraman's body is suddenly on the ground and the beam that had killed him disappears.
Continuity mistake: In the first scene of the procession, the Nazis are walking in a straight line along a path. In the next shot, they are now going around a curve.
Continuity mistake: In the Bantu Wind, the right arm of the soldier standing next to where Indy is hiding changes its position twice during Katanga's and Dietrich's speech. (01:36:18)
Continuity mistake: When the Nazis board the Bantu Wind, there are some shots of the pipe Indy is hiding in. During these shots, there's a big grey pipe right behind Indy's pipe. However, in the rest of the Bantu Wind shots, this grey pipe is on the left of Indy's pipe, not directly behind it. (01:36:19 - 01:37:05)
Continuity mistake: In Geheimhaven, Indy watches the submarine hidden behind some ropes. When Marion comes out of the submarine and the camera focuses on the back of Indy's head, the ropes disappear. (01:39:13)
Visible crew/equipment: When Indiana frees Marion, locked in the cabin pilot of the Nazi plane just after one of the soldiers is killed by the blades, a set light is reflected on the plane's glass. (01:20:32)
Continuity mistake: As the truck pulls up next to the Command Tent, four soldiers lift the Ark's box and a fifth soldier, positioned between the two wooden posts of the Ark's box and to Gobler's right, picks up the sticks that Indy and Sallah had used. In the next shot, that soldier is now to the left of Gobler and the Ark's box. (01:21:40)
Continuity mistake: On the Bantu Wind, after Dietrich takes Marion from Katanga and begins to leave, the soldier next to the pipe where Indy hides throws his cigarette and leaves the scene. In the next shot, when Belloq stops Dietrich, the soldier is now back at his original position. (01:36:51)
Continuity mistake: After Toht's command, the Mongolian and the Nepalese grab Marion, then the former puts his hand on Marion's cheek. During this, the Nepalese faces Marion, whose mouth is open. In the next shot, the Nepalese is suddenly looking at Toht, Marion's mouth is suddenly closed, and the position of the Mongolian's head has changed. (00:30:28)
Visible crew/equipment: As the bad guys are leaving the dig site for Cairo, there is a shot of the black vehicle (lead car) looking right at the driver. On the bottom of the shot is a shadow of film equipment that shouldn't be there. The shot lingers, so the shadow is very visible. (01:22:50)
Continuity mistake: When Marion arrives on the deck of the Bantu Wind, Dietrich turns to look at her. Katanga is in the background, behind the colonel. But, just before Marion hits Dietrich, Katanga appears on the opposite side from where he was and catches Marion. (01:36:00)
Continuity mistake: In the shot after Belloq's death, the generator and the rock Indy and Marion are on disappear.
Continuity mistake: While the Holy Fire is killing the soldiers, in a shot of two soldiers being hit by the light, the stone wall is missing in the background of the scene. (01:47:30)
Continuity mistake: As Dietrich and Gobler come into Belloq's tent, Toht's leather case can be seen already opened. In the next shot, the case is suddenly closed.
Continuity mistake: During the procession, after Indy hides behind the box, Captain Mohler and Arnold Toht can be seen walking behind the Ark and on the Ark's right, respectively. In the next shot, Mohler is walking in front of the Ark and Toht, on the Ark's left.
Answer: I also remember this scene. After the ark is sealed, the camera performs a close up of the side of the crate. The stamp reads "Top Secret Army Intel 9906753 Do Not Open" This stamp is burned off just like the swastika is in the scene on the submarine, because in the eyes of God, no nation is holy or worthy enough to claim ownership of the ark. However, this final scene was cut (the burning of the stamp) from the film for a variety of unclear reasons. While it was in theaters, this scene was not included on the DVD version.
Add me to this. We saw the movie in a "pre release" version in Orlando Florida. No advance warning of the movie. We went to see another flick and at the end were "invited" to see this if we were willing to critique it afterwards. This scene was included. I also always wondered why the change.
I also remember seeing this mysterious 'burning' of the logo, most likely it was on a VHS copy of this movie. Yes, it did exist.
I saw it in former Czechoslovakia in the second half of 80's in cinema (west movies came to the east countries' cinemas years later). And I thought it was a great joke that burning out the swastika wasn't just because the Nazis are bad but because nobody is great enough to own the arc. Then after the Velvet revolution I saw the film again on TV (beginning of 90's) and said everyone around: watch it until the end, wait on the post-credit scene, there will be a surprise.
And there was a surprise. The scene was cut off! I was angry on the TV they didn't show the scene. I cannot be influenced by internet discussion or urban legend. The internet didn't exist yet.
I saw it in Portland, Oregon, and was so impressed with the message it carried, that I told friends and we went several times just to see it. Funny thing was when I mentioned it a few years ago, many people said I was a LIAR that it never happened. I could not convince anyone. It was removed because it wasn't Politically Correct. USA is a force for good, God would not burn off AMERICAN TEXT! BUT WE DID SEE IT. Thanks to our Australian eye witness, we know we did not imagine it.