It has been 42 years since Harrison Ford first played the intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones in the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Based on a character created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman and with the magic of Steven Spielberg at the helm, the film became a classic of adventure cinema and catapulted the American actor, who already he had starred in two installments of Star Wars as Han Solo. The adventures of Jones continued with two equally successful films in 1984 and 1989 and a fourth, released 15 years ago, which did not shine with the brilliance of the previous ones.
Now, an octogenarian Ford has embarked on a fifth venture, this time directed by James Mangold ( On a Tightrope, Logan, Le Mans ’66 ), which marks his final farewell to the charismatic savior of relics along with Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. The actor, who will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, was moved to tears at the Cannes Film Festival after receiving a warm six-minute standing ovation and an unexpected Palm d ‘ Gold of Honor for his career. On the occasion of the June 28 premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, La Vanguardia has taken advantage of the team’s promotional tour in Los Angeles to speak with Harrison Ford via video conference.
Fifteen years after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, what pushed you to want to make another film about Indy?
Well, I always wanted to complete his story, to play him at the end of his career, during the last years of his life. It’s been a long time since we last saw him on screen and a lot has changed. I have aged and so has my character. I wanted to show this new reality to tell another story about him. In the film he retires and we see him during the last day of his academic life, which has not exactly been inspiring for him. So we find him at a point in his existence where he’s down, something we haven’t seen before. Dramatically, it works very well because, at this point, we also know Phoebe as the character who really drives the plot. I guess his weakness has been the ravages of time.
The film has gone through several delays and setbacks. In what way was he involved in bringing it forward?
I was really the one who put the most pressure. We had a really good, emotional, complex script, dealing with the theme of time, that Jim and the Butterworth brothers had written. So all this was a great incentive to continue with the project and tell another important chapter of Indy’s life. I really wanted to embody him again, to return to action.
You have embodied other iconic film characters such as Han Solo in the Star Wars saga and Rick Deckard in Blade Runner. To what extent do you feel that Indiana Jones has been special in your career?
I feel particularly close to Indy. I’m not Indiana Jones, but he is at least partially me. I have given it my experience, understanding, my emotional reality… And it is something special for me, when I feel that I am able to convey a real emotional energy to the character. It is not only important to provide entertainment. The emotional context is essential and makes the audience want to know him and know more about him. I feel very fortunate to have played him all this time and to have the opportunity to do it one last time in a film that I think audiences will be excited about, because it’s a splendid ending.
What did you learn from it?
I am at the service of a group of people who tell stories. James Mangold is the main narrator in this film and I consider myself his assistant. I’ve learned a lot from Indy over forty years. I got to know him well, but above all I got to know my job a little more. The character means to me what it means to the audience, because that’s the service and that’s the contract between us. I am only obliged to give my best in the story I want to tell. And since it is received with warmth and generosity by the public, I take it as a personal compliment. It means a lot to me that people like what we’ve done.
Did you ever imagine how successful the saga would be?
No, because for me the important thing was to be able to work as an actor. I was never interested in fame or money. Not that I deny it, but what I feel really has value is to have been part of something that has given me a great experience. I would even say that I enjoy the work more now than before.
He is seen in excellent physical shape in the film. How did you prepare for the action scenes?
Well, the truth is that I take good care of myself. I usually ride a bike and play tennis. I’m glad it looks like I’ve done a lot of dangerous scenes. It is like a piece that goes on top of another piece and in the end everything fits together, like a puzzle. I will be 81 years old and age takes its toll, but I feel very happy that I was able to do all the difficult scenes that I was able to do.
The film tells us about the possibility of time travel. If you had the chance, where would you like to go or who would you like to meet?
I would like to go home and stay a good season with my wife and family. I’ve been traveling so much these days that I’m anxious to get home (laughs).
