Dr. Indiana Jones and his father, Dr. Henry Jones, start on a quest to find the Holy Grail, to prove it exists and place it in a museum. The Nazis, in particular, a Dr. Elsa Schneider and her partner Donovan, are trying to find the Holy Grail as well, except they want it for selfish reasons (Everlasting life & Complete power over the world). Dr. Jones holds the secrets of the Grail's location and how to reach it in his diary, which he gives to Indiana for safety, but it is stolen by Elsa & Indiana sets out to reclaim his father's diary, and get to the Holy Grail before the Nazis.

Donovan, however, blackmails Indiana into getting the grail from out of behind a set of Booby traps, or tests, by shooting his father. The only thing that can save Dr. Jones, is water drunk from the Holy Grail.

Using the information in his father's diary, Indiana passes all the tests, and reaches a cave filled with goblets, and an old knight. Donovan and Elsa followed him. The knight explains to them that only one of the goblets is the Holy Grail, and they must choose. Donovan has Elsa choose for him, and pays for his price with his life, for it was the wrong goblet. Indiana chooses next, and chooses a dusty old goblet, that is very different to the rest of the goblets in the cave. He drinks from the fountain, and lives. He takes some water back to his father, who is healed from the bullet wound. But Elsa snatches the Grail away, and backs out of the temple, telling Indiana that its theirs, hers and his. Indiana warns Elsa that the knight in the cave had warned against taking the Grail from the temple, and crossing the seal, but Elsa doesn't listen, and the temple falls down around their ears. The climax of the film approaches, when Indiana tries to save Elsa, who falls to her death, and nearly falls in as well. But his father catches his hand, and starts pulling Indiana up. Indiana though, sees the Grail just below him, where it fell, and tries to reach it. When Indiana is wanting the Grail here, it is for selfish reasons, and Dr. Jones talks Indiana round, and they manage to escape from the temple.

Steven Spielburg was on of the first directors to experiment with plot structure, usually like this:

He was also one of the first to be successful.

Plot structure for Indiana Jones:

It hardly has any serene setting, and suspense plays a big part in this movie. Special effects give an extra edge, and over exaggeration gives the viewer good symbolism. There is Comedy in this film, as well as corny moments. All in all, it really shows the talent of Spielburg.

Next