Indiana Jones' bull-whip played a significant role in all three Spielberg/Lucas adventure films, saving Jones' life on several occasions and becoming his trademark. Harrison Ford, fresh from the Star Wars adventures, wanted to avoid any elements in the role that might be similar to Han Solo, and comparing the two characters said, unlike Solo, Jones did not have any fancy gadgetry to hand...he's right out there with just his battered trilby and a bull-whip to keep the world at bay...