The behind-the-scenes stories of Harrison Ford’s work in the Indiana Jones franchise prove his movie stardom beyond a doubt. The actor’s five-film run as the iconic adventurer lasted 42 years, wrapping up with a fitting end for the character in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While Ford has starred in several other iconic franchises, most notably as Han Solo in Star Wars and Reck Deckard in Blade Runner, his obvious passion for Indiana Jones far outpaces the others. The star’s passionate participation and inspired contributions made the franchise what it is.
The concept of the movie star seems to be dying off. While there are still iconic A-list actors from the ’80s and ’90s who can carry a film based on name value alone, their ranks are dwindling and there are relatively few new names ready to replace them. In such a climate, it’s worth looking back at the ways Ford has defined the movie star idea for decades. The idiosyncratic and fiercely independent actor carried innumerable films to box office success, while his powerful charisma and terse interview style made him an alluring enigma off-camera. The stories of Ford’s exploits while making the Indiana Jones movies only deepen his legend.
10 Ford Demanded The Right To Rewrite George Lucas’ Dialogue
Initially, George Lucas didn’t want to cast Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. The two had already worked together on American Graffiti and Star Wars, and Lucas feared appearing reliant on the actor. However, when Tom Selleck was obliged to drop out, the role was offered to Ford, who agreed to star in the film. However, the actor demanded the option to re-write his dialogue. The choice may have been partially motivated by Ford’s time on the set of Star Wars, where he continuously fought with Lucas over the quality of his dialogue. Ford famously (via Cinema Blend) told Lucas, “You can type this sh*t, but you sure can’t say it!”
9 Shooting The Swordsman In Raiders Of The Lost Ark Was Harrison Ford’s Idea
One of the most iconic moments in Raiders of the Lost Ark comes when Indiana Jones shoots the swordsman in the Cairo market. It’s a beat that expresses the wry humor of the Indiana Jones series and perfectly encapsulates the charm of the character. In the Raiders of the Lost Ark screenplay, the moment was a lengthy action setpiece where Indy fights off the swordsman with his bullwhip. However, many of the Raiders of the Lost Ark cast and crew, including Ford, were sick with dysentery at the time of filming. Instead of a lengthy fight, the actor suggested that Indy “just shoot the sucker,” and the rest is history.
8 Ford Was Run Over By A Plane In Raiders Of The Lost Ark (And Kept Going)
Harrison Ford took a lot of punishment over the course of the Indiana Jones series. The fight underneath the slowly rotating German plane is a great Raider of the Lost Ark setpiece, but the practical prop proved dangerous for Ford. While filming the fight, Ford’s leg was run over by the plane, and he tore his ACL. However, the aforementioned dysentery outbreak meant there was a shortage of stunt performers who could replace him, so, as the actor explains in the making-of featurette, “I just wrapped it up and put ice on it and carried on.”
7 Ford Taught Ke Huy Quan How To Swim On The Set Of Temple Of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom saw Harrison Ford’s second outing as Indiana Jones, this time accompanied by his young adventuring partner Short Round (Ke Huy Quan). It was Quan’s first screen role of any kind, and the actor recalls receiving acting coaching from Ford while making the film. What’s more, Harrison Ford even taught Ke Huy Quan how to swim during their off-hours at the hotel pool. The two built up a strong rapport that’s immediately apparent on screen, particularly in the improvised scene in which the two play cards.
6 Ford & Connery Went Pants-Free For One Of The Last Crusade’s Best Scenes
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade saw Harrison Ford teamed with another cinematic icon, Sean Connery, who played Indy’s father, despite being only 12 years older than Ford. However, their fraught father-son relationship is a highlight of the film. An argument scene in a zeppelin proves crucial for understanding Indy’s bond with his dad. However, one Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade fact that changes the scene is that Ford and Connery were both in a state of undress during filming. The zeppelin set was excessively hot, so Connery took his pants off, and Ford followed suit. Thankfully, Spielberg frames the two movie stars from the waist up.
5 Harrison Ford Fought To Use A Real Whip On The Set Of Crystal Skull
The relatively unpopular Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull faced criticism for its overreliance on CGI. However, while Steven Spielberg was embracing the technology, Harrison Ford was fighting to keep a hold of the film’s practical roots. One of the biggest sticking points for Ford was Indy’s whip. While the Paramount executives pushed for a CGI whip, the star insisted that it be real. Ford had trained extensively with stunt performer and cattle rancher Bronco McLaughlin to learn how to wield the whip correctly while on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
4 Harrison Ford Pushed For An Older Indy In Crystal Skull
Another fact of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is that Harrison Ford pushed for the focus on Indy’s advanced age. Not only did the actor refuse to dye his hair, he encouraged screenwriter David Koepp to write in more “old man Indy” jokes. The actor’s intention was to “reduce the American paranoia about aging” by continuing to show the exploits of the cinematic icon while admitting that he’s getting old. If anything, the acknowledgment of age only makes Indy and Ford’s spry physicality all the more impressive.
3 Harrison Ford Was There For Shia LaBeouf (In His Own Way)
While there were plenty of problems with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Shia LaBeouf was the face of the controversy. The actor, who plays Indy’s son, seemed to represent all the modern elements that get in the film’s way. LaBeouf clearly let the pressure get to him; he stated in an interview with the L.A. Times that he felt he had “dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished,” while also acknowledging wider problems with the film. However, Harrison Ford saw things differently, saying (via Uproxx):
“I think I told him he was a f**king idiot. As an actor, I think it’s my obligation to support the film without making a complete ass of myself. Shia is ambitious, attentive, and talented—and he’s learning how to deal with a situation which is very unique and difficult.”
2 Harrison Ford Helped Forge The Story Of The Indiana Jones Franchise
Of the many franchises Harrison Ford has appeared in throughout his career, Indiana Jones seems to be the one the actor cares for the most. Rather than passively review scripts, as he does with other franchises, the actor played a key role in the development of every Indiana Jones sequel. The actor once explained to the BBC that ideas for new installments always began with himself, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg. It’s clear that the Indiana Jones franchise would be very different today without the close collaboration and input of Ford.
1 Harrison Ford Did Most Of His Own Indiana Jones Stunts (Even In Dial Of Destiny)
Despite his announcement that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny would be his last outing as the adventurer owing to advancing age, Harrison Ford still insisted on doing many of his own stunts for the film, just as he had with every other Indiana Jones movie. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny became yet another Indiana Jones film to cause Ford serious injury after the actor damaged his shoulder punching Mads Mikkelsen’s character in a fight sequence. The injury is in company with Ford’s torn ACL on Raiders of the Lost Ark and a severe spinal disc herniation on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
