Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Steven Spielberg’s eye for visionary delight and imagination might even put Anne of Green Gables to shame. One of the director’s ambitious projects that saw the birth of the Indiana Jones franchise in 1981 with Harrison Ford at the helm would begin an adventure spanning over 40 years. And it was inRaiders of the Lost Arkthat the snarky, dry-witted Ford found himself coming face-to-face with death.
It was in the first film of the 5-film series that the leading actor was put in an uncomfortably risky position by the extremely ambitious director. And considering Ford’s experience working on visionary films (George Lucas’Star Wars), the actor jumped right into it. Although not without some apprehension, of course.
Also read:Harrison Ford Couldn’t Believe Steven Spielberg Made Him Carry an Obsolete Weapon in $2.2B Franchise: “Why am I carrying a…”
Steven Spielberg Introduces Harrison Ford to Indiana Jones
It was 1981 andSteven Spielberghad begun work on anIndiana Jonesfilm, the first of many more to come. TitledRaiders of the Lost Ark,Harrison Fordwas jumping from one global franchise to another and fortunately, he had no idea at the time that he would still be jumping across chasms, fighting Nazis in caves, and brandishing his whip across enemy territories even at 80 or most likely, Ford would have bailed right then.
Also read:“I don’t remember what people thought”:Indiana Jones 5Star Harrison Ford Not Sure if Fans LovedRaiders of the Lost Ark
However, Spielberg’s fame as the first director with such vision and the fact that his film was the first one ever to cross the $100 million mark at the box office made him and his story about the extraordinary archaeologist made for an attractive action movie plot with an intellectual treasure hunt mystery set in the era of the Great Wars. But the problem with such an ambitious story is that the scales of the stunts would be equally ambitious. One such stunt involved being chased by a gigantic 800 lb boulder through a cave.
Harrison Ford Went Toe to Toe With Death inIndiana Jones
In the first couple of weeks into principal photography onRaiders of the Lost Ark, Steven Spielberg recalled a particularly dangerous stunt that required Harrison Ford to be particularly present in front of the camera while being chased by a giant boulder. Made from wood, fiberglass, and plaster, the 12-foot boulder approximately weighed 300 to 800 lbs. The director, during an interview withAmerican Cinematographer, claimed:
“Harrison was not doubled in those scenes. Not only that but the sequence was shot in the second week of principal photography in London. I mean, the absolute worst time to eliminate your leading man is in the second week, but because the rock was more effective chasing Harrison with Harrison running toward [the] camera, it just didn’t work as well having him doubled… Harrison volunteered to do it himself… Harrison had to race the rock ten times.”
Also read:Fans Abandon Harrison Ford’s FinalIndiana JonesMovie as It Loses to a Horror Movie Despite a $300 Million Budget
The latest and last among the action-adventure films,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, has somewhat underperformed at the box office. StarringMads Mikkelsenand Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the Harrison Ford adventure marks one of the actor’s final action films.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyis currently playing in theatres.
Source:American Cinematographer
Diya Majumdar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2409
Diya Majumdar is a Senior Content Writer at FandomWire with over 2000 published articles on the website. Since 2022, she has been working as an entertainment journalist with a special focus on films and pop culture.Among the countless genres and themes of Hollywood, the ones that particularly favor Diya’s tastes include Game of Thrones, DC, and well-aged thrillers and classics.
More from Diya Majumdar
The Darkest Star Wars Movie Is Proof Robert Pattinson’s Batman Can Work in James Gunn’s DCU
Kevin Hart Is Trading Dwayne Johnson for Another WWE Star in New Netflix Film
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein First Look Photos Decoded: Is it the Darkest Netflix Film Yet?
Recommended
Gen V Season 2: Total Episodes and Finale Date Revealed
We Were Liars Season 1 Ending Explained: Who Does Cadence Accidentally Kill?
Seth Rogen Had to Apologize for Comparing Clint Eastwood’s Biggest Movie to Inglourious Basterds
New ‘Harry Potter’ BTS Image Reveals Nick Frost’s Shockingly Perfect Look as Hagrid
Upload Season 4: How Many Episodes Will the Final Season Have?
Japan’s 10 Most-Watched Anime of 2025: Naruto Not Even in Top 5
Harrison FordIndiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkSteven Spielberg
