Harrison Ford is one of those people on the face of the earth who perhaps needs no introduction. The American actor, who has starred in countless films of various genres, is considered an icon of cinema and popular culture, and his name is recognized throughout the planet.
Without a doubt, the role that completely changed his career was the interpretation of Han Solo in the already legendary Star Wars saga, a performance that he repeated in four more installments: The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens and The rise of Skywalker.
(Also read: Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford lashes again at 80)
After his career took off, Ford proved to be a highly versatile actor. Other of his emblematic roles are that of Rick Deckard, in the science fiction classic Blade Runnerfrom 1982, and its sequel Blade Runner 2049from 2017, and that of Jack Ryan in the movies patriot game y Imminent dangerboth based on the best seller Tom Clancy’s namesakes.
But beyond Han Solo and all the roles he has played, for more than one generation Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones. The American franchise based on the adventures of Dr. Henry Walton, ‘Indiana’ Jones Jr., tells the wonderful stories of an archeology professor, a witty man with a great sense of humor and deep knowledge of ancient civilizations.
The saga began in 1981 with the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. In 1984 she fell in love with us the temple of doom and in 1989 surprised with the last crusade. In 2008 the fourth installment of the saga was released, The kingdom of the crystal skull.
While he was not Indiana Jones, the actor gave life to more than recognized characters in films such as the wanted, Air Force One (Presidential plane), presumed innocent y Executive Secretary (alongside Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver), and received his only Best Actor Academy Award nomination for playing a detective in the thriller Witness in danger.
Just last year, the producers decided to dust off the Indiana Jones character. It was learned that Ford, who is already 80 years old, would star in a fifth and final installment, the dial of fatewhich premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May of this year and hit theaters around the world this week.
Although the first four films were directed by Steven Spielberg, this latest installment has been directed by filmmaker James Mangold, also an American and known for directing films like Interrupted innocence, Identity y Ford V Ferrariwhich was nominated for an Oscar for best film.
The story of the archaeologist ‘Indy’ Jones marked more than one generation that began to be interested in adventure, hieroglyphs and history. Since his debut in 1981, the Indiana Jones franchise has become a part of popular culture. Forty-one years after its premiere, Ford once again dons the leather jacket of the most beloved archaeologist in history. We talked with the actor about what this new installment means:
What has ‘Indy’ taught you over the years?
That’s a very interesting question and I don’t think I have an interesting answer. I can confirm, however, that I have not learned anything about archeology, but I have learned how to use a whip (laughs).
And what have you learned by doing this saga?
I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. I’ve learned that if you start with a good story and treat it carefully, always respecting the story, respecting the audience, and being aware of the opportunity you have, the opportunity to tell people stories, you’re on the right track. If you understand all that, you’re halfway to making a good movie.
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I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of great movies over the years, so I’m very grateful to the people I’ve worked with.
And you have made good movies…
Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of great movies over the years, so I’m very grateful to the people I’ve worked with. The opportunities I’ve had in life have come from the success of those movies. Now that I think about it, going back to your previous question, there is something very important that I have learned, and that is how to take advantage of success.
What advice would you give Indiana Jones?
Let him stop while he’s winning!
If you could travel back in time, what time and place would you go to?
The way the world is, I think I’d go to Hawaii, any time in Hawaii, prehistory, last Wednesday, any time in Hawaii, as long as there are daisies (laughs).
How did you feel working on ‘Indiana Jones’ without Steven Spielberg directing?
Even though he wasn’t the director, Steven Spielberg had a huge influence on everything that happened in this movie. Beyond the fact that he was the executive producer, his spirit, his energy, his filmmaking style, all of that was part of this movie. I am and always will be very grateful for the entire experience I had with Steven.
Were they communicating while recording?
Clear! We talked all the time while we were developing the script and even when we were filming, James (Mangold) would talk to him at least once a week.
What can you tell us about working with James Mangold?
For this installment of Indiana Jones we had a different story and we needed a different director. James was the person. I believe, without fear of being wrong, that what we have done in the past has served us well. This is an ambitious story and everything I’ve gone through was decisive to be able to do it.
(Read also: First reviews of the new Indiana Jones movie: a lot of nostalgia and little spark)
From the woodwork to the red carpet
In the 1960s, Harrison Ford traveled to Los Angeles to look for a job in radio. He didn’t get what he was looking for, but decided to stay until he finally signed a contract for bit parts in movies.
But Ford was clear about what he wanted. Instead of accepting roles that didn’t suit him, he learned carpentry to earn a more stable income and support his family, giving him the ability to only accept roles that he liked. And as with all success stories it takes a person to shake hands and in Harrison Ford’s life it was a casting director named Fred Roos.
Mads Mikkelsen (Jürgen Voller, standing) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Helena, right), in one of the scenes from the film.
PHOTO: COURTESY DISNEY
Roos was impressed by Ford’s talent and began to rave about the actor with leading Hollywood directors. And when things were tough at the movies, he hired Ford as a carpenter.
Through Roos, Ford landed a role in American Graffiti (1973), but the big break came when Ford worked as a carpenter for a production company that included George Lucas, creator of the Indiana Jones character.
One morning, Lucas arrived at the production company to start an audition process for a movie called Star Wars. There was Ford working as a carpenter. Lucas and Ford struck up a conversation. Days later, Ford found the opportunity he had been looking for: he managed to get into the auditions. Lucas decided that the man he had found working in the carpentry shop must be Han Solo. The rest is history…
AUTHOR: URSULA LEVY
FOR THE TIME
On Twitter: @Uschimusic
