To say Harrison Ford was a big part of movies in the ‘80s is an understatement.
Whether he was Han Solo, Rick Deckard or Dr. Indiana Jones, he was one of my favourite actors.
Tonight we watched an episode of “Shrinking”, one of his latest TV projects.
It again reminded me that he is still not only one of my favourite actors, but why.
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Harrison Ford as Han Solo in "Return of the Jedi.". Source: https://www.imdb.com (May be subject to copyright) |
Harrison Ford may have been in “American Graffiti” before it, but his career really started with one movie – "Star Wars".
I may have been the only kid in existence who did not see “Star Wars” when it first came out in 1977. That was just part of living on a farm with no real access to a daily newspaper and three channels on TV.
However, the movie was such a hit, news reports started coming out how people were seeing it over and over, sometimes dozens and even hundreds of times.
Consequently, it was one of the very few movies that came back to the theatres in Lethbridge. By this point I had heard all about it, played with the trading cards, and even tried to reproduce the movie poster in Grade 3 art class.
So, when “Star Wars” was back at the Paramount Theatre my big sister, who had seen it when it first came out, took me to see it.
With all the special effects, light sabre duels and bantering robots, one thing stood out for me – Han Solo.
He was a freight runner who had run afoul of authorities and criminals, and seemed to just be a mercenary. Yet, after he decides to help Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi, we see he is much more than that.
It wasn’t just the wise cracking and the jokes, the banter with Chewbacca the Wookie, and the tough talk. It was the loyalty he had for Luke Skywalker, especially in the end when he came back to provide protection when Luke went in to destroy the Death Star.
It was Harrison Ford who brought that depth to the character of Han Solo, and left me asking one question: When do we get to see Han Solo again?
That would take another three years, but we would see Harrison Ford before that.
Interlude
He would appear in movies such as “Heroes”; “Force 10 from Navarone”; “Apocalypse Now”; “The Frisco Kid”; and “More American Graffiti”.
He would appear in movies such as “Heroes”; “Force 10 from Navarone”; “Apocalypse Now”; “The Frisco Kid”; and “More American Graffiti”.
It was always as a supporting actor or in a bit part, and that was how the 1970s ended.
In the ‘80s, his career would really take off as he reprised a familiar role, then avoided typecasting by taking on a number of different roles.
In the process, he created another iconic character.
On ice
Even though the decade was just a few months old, “Empire Strikes Back”, the sequel to “Star Wars” was one of the most anticipated movies of the decade. After Darth Vader went spinning off into space after the Death Star was destroyed, what was next for the Rebel Alliance? What was in store for our young hero Luke Skywalker and the princess he rescued?
Even though the decade was just a few months old, “Empire Strikes Back”, the sequel to “Star Wars” was one of the most anticipated movies of the decade. After Darth Vader went spinning off into space after the Death Star was destroyed, what was next for the Rebel Alliance? What was in store for our young hero Luke Skywalker and the princess he rescued?
Many of those questions were answered, but even more were posed in “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980.
Again, Harrison Ford shines as Han Solo. He is now an officer in the Rebel Alliance, and his first order of business is to save Luke Skywalker’s life on the icy plains of the ice planet Hoth. While Luke would then go off to meet his destiny, Han Solo would eventually meet up with, and be double-crossed by, his old associate Lando Calrissian. Since there was a bounty on Han Solo’s head for double crossing an intergalactic criminal, he was frozen solid and given to a bounty hunter to claim the reward.
One of the biggest questions from “The Empire Strikes Back” was, what will happen to Han Solo?
His performance was just amazing. There are also a few scenes that stand out.
In one, he is arguing with Leia when she exclaims, “I would rather kiss a wookie.”
“I can arrange that,” he responds.
In another, after his betrayal, he is tortured by the Empire. When he is dumped back in the holding cell, you can see the pain on his face. You can hear how bewildered and puzzled he is when he mutters, “They didn’t ask me any questions.”
The third is when he is being taken into the freezing chamber. As he is being lowered, Leia yells,”I love you.”
“I know," he responds.
Those are his last words in the movie.
What a way to an end an amazing performance.
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Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, here with Sean Connery as his father Henry. Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/mediaviewer/rm2794622208/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Harrison Ford did not waste any time in creating another iconic character.
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg between them had created the biggest movies in history to that point. Lucas was responsible for “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back” while Spielberg made “Jaws” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.
They both loved the Saturday afternoon serials they saw in the theatre growing up, and wanted to create and update them for the 1980s.
The result was the release of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981. The commercials even advertised the movie was from the creators of the four aforementioned movies.
At the centre of this adventure movie is archaeology professor, Dr. Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford.
From beginning to end, the action rarely slows down. Ford demonstrates his talents as an actor, portraying a man looking for the long lost Ark of the Covenant.
The movie begins with Jones gaining access to a sacred idol. He suspects it may be booby-trapped so, as he grabs the idol, he swaps it simultaneously with a bag of sand. He quickly discovers the weight isn’t quite the same. It triggers a giant boulder that chases Indy out of the tomb and would easily crush him if it caught him.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” rarely slows down, right down to the climactic scene where he and his companion Marion Ravenwood keep their eyes closed as the angel of death melts all the bad guys. It was a pretty scary scene, I remember that.
I also remember the night we went to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. My cousin Carl wanted to see “Clash of the Titans”, but we prevailed.
I think we made the right choice.
The other memory is collecting “Raiders of the Lost Ark” cards. The image I have in my mind is a head shot of Harrison Ford that just personifies the 1940s’ adventurer.
Shortly after, Harrison Ford would go from the past into the dystopic future.
Blade Runner
It was 1982 and I was home sick from school. The custom of the time was to camp out on the couch so we could watch TV while we convalesced. That day I watched “Canada AM” for the first time, and still recall hosts Norm Perry and Pamela Wallin with Sandy Rinaldo doing the news. One of the features was a review of a brand new movie just entering the theatres.
It was 1982 and I was home sick from school. The custom of the time was to camp out on the couch so we could watch TV while we convalesced. That day I watched “Canada AM” for the first time, and still recall hosts Norm Perry and Pamela Wallin with Sandy Rinaldo doing the news. One of the features was a review of a brand new movie just entering the theatres.
It was called “Blade Runner” and it starred Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a private detective in a Los Angeles of the future. In this L.A., it rains all the time, and there are rogue androids lurking that Deckard must track down.
I never did see “Blade Runner” in the theatre, nor even in the 1980s, but when I did get to see it I really appreciated it.
It was part of a film studies course in 1990, so we discussed the plot, the writing, and the performance of Harrison Ford. I thought he was awesome.
I even wrote a paper on “Blade Runner”, focusing on the lighting. We had watched it once in class, but I needed to see it again. One of the guys in my class, Mike Cohen, had lived in res and now lived over in Garneau. He invited me to come over Sunday night and watch it with him. That was an excellent move because we talked and analyzed as we watched. The paper was due the next day, so I went back to res and wrote it that night. When I got my paper back, our professor, Peter Clovin, wrote on my paper that I had a good eye for lighting detail. It just wasn’t enough for a mark beyond a seven on the nine-point scale.
Writing that paper, and seeing “Blade Runner” twice in a relatively short period of time, really made me appreciate Harrison Ford’s performance.
End of an era
It was the end of an era in 1983 with the release of “Return of the Jedi”, the third and final installment of the “Star Wars” trilogy.
It was the end of an era in 1983 with the release of “Return of the Jedi”, the third and final installment of the “Star Wars” trilogy.
Harrison Ford was back as Han Solo and he was one of the best parts of the show.
Initially, he is still frozen in a block when Luke Skywalker sees him. When Solo is revived, he asks Luke how things are going.
“Same as always,” Luke responds.
“That bad eh,” Han Solo says.
The freezing has rendered him temporarily blind, so he relies on the droids and Chewbacca to tell him what’s happening. When he hears Luke is a Jedi, he responds, “A Jedi. I leave for awhile and he gets delusions of grandeur.”
Later, when he and Chewbacca are piloting a ship and trying to stay out of the clutches of the Empire, he tells Chewbacca, “Fly close, but not too close. I don’t know, fly casual.”
There are so many other moments where he is the comic relief, but Ford is more than that. By now, once recovered, he is one of the leaders of the rebellion. He plays a major role in repelling the Empire’s attack on Endor, and the ultimate defeat of the enemy.
Another highlight is when Princess Leia has a talk with him about Luke. He says he will be happy to disappear and let them be happy. She tries to tell him, then has to interrupt him, with the news Luke is her brother. He stops and they get together. He was classic as the jilted lover turned romantic lead.
And nothing tops his reunion with Princess Leia at the victory celebration at the end of the movie, after they had professed their love for each other.
Doomed
In 1984, Ford appeared in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, the much-anticipated sequel to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It is actually a prequel, set before the first movie.
In 1984, Ford appeared in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, the much-anticipated sequel to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It is actually a prequel, set before the first movie.
I ended up seeing that movie a couple times in the theatre, but it really is the least favourite of the trilogy. It is full of wild special effects, action and adventure, but it really has no soul.
Harrison Ford turns in a solid performance, but Indiana Jones is not as likable or as engaging as in “Raiders”.
Harrison Ford had set a high standard by then.
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Harrison Ford as John Book in "Witness". Source: https://www.timeout.com/movies/witness (May be subject to copyright) |
Harrison Ford’s next movie was our first glimpse at how talented and versatile an actor he is. In “Witness”, released in 1985, Ford plays police detective John Book. A young Amish boy witnesses a murder, so Book initially investigates then, when it turns out to involve corrupt police, he hides out in their Amish community while offering them protection.
His performance earned him an Oscar nomination, and broke any mold or typecasting he may have fallen victim to.
I saw the movie when I rented it with my sister in the summer of 1986. I was staying with her while I went to driver’s education.
It remains one of my favourite movies.
Romantic lead
Ford would continue to branch out with “The Mosquito Coast” in 1986 and “Frantic” in 1988, two movies I have never seen.
Ford would continue to branch out with “The Mosquito Coast” in 1986 and “Frantic” in 1988, two movies I have never seen.
The next movie I saw Ford in was “Working Girl” in 1988. He is a man caught in a love triangle between Melanie Griffith, the working girl in the title, and her boss played by Sigourney Weaver.
Ford again branches out, this time into romantic comedy. Again he is excellent.
My fondest memory of this is going to see “Working Girl” during my Christmas break in 1988 with my Mom and my sister. It played at the brand new theatres in the new Park Place Mall in Lethbridge.
End of an era II
It was the end of another era in 1989 when Harrison Ford starred in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, the third and final installment of that trilogy.
It was the end of another era in 1989 when Harrison Ford starred in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, the third and final installment of that trilogy.
The franchise got its soul back. We got to see a young Indiana Jones, played by River Phoenix, and how he developed his fear of snakes. We also met Indy’s father played by Sean Connery.
Connery was a brilliant casting choice as the on-screen chemistry between him and Ford was immediate.
It was a great way to end the trilogy.
Parting thoughts
It is not surprising that Harrison Ford’s current output is so high, because it seems he has always been that way. In the 1980s, he had a movie come out every year except in 1987, but then had two releases in 1988.
It is not surprising that Harrison Ford’s current output is so high, because it seems he has always been that way. In the 1980s, he had a movie come out every year except in 1987, but then had two releases in 1988.
It is amazing there is not a single bad movie in the bunch. They are all good, and many are excellent.
That is not a coincidence, because Ford turned in solid performance after solid performance.
He has the ability to be engaging, charming, and disarming, but also angry, vengeful and lethal.
Moreover, he continued to put out great movies for the next 30 years. Now he is turning out excellent television shows.
For Harrison Ford, at the age of 81, there is no slowing down.
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