Harrison Fordhas worked in the film industry for 60 years, with his first on-screen appearance as an uncredited bellhop occurring in the 1966 film,Dead Heat on a Merry Go Round. After early supporting roles in films likeAmerican Graffiti,he quickly rose to leading man status. Once Ford stepped into the role of the rugged space smuggler Han Solo inGeorge Lucas' 1977 space opera,Star Wars, Hollywood began to view him as a bona fide bankable star.
Throughout his career, Ford has played a variety of everyman roles. Though he has often been painted as the strong silent type, his occasional venture into romantic comedies demonstrated a genuine comedic impulse. Roles like Jack Trainer inWorking Girland Linus Larrabee in the 1995 remake of the classic 1954Audrey Hepburnfilm,Sabrina, proved that Ford was capable of portraying tenderness beneath his typically gruff masculine facade.The actor even toldVanity Fairthat he considers every film he has made “a comedy,” in that he admits he likes to find each character’s sense of humor, since “everybody has one.” Ford’s earnest intensity and deadpan delivery translates into whichever role he takes, dramatic or comedic, which helped him establish such longevity in the entertainment industry. As someone who has dedicated himself to acting for over half a century,Ford has made several genuine cinematic masterpieces in his time, and the following are the top five.
5’The Fugitive' (1993)
Directed by Andrew Davis
The Fugitiveis a masterclass in taut storytelling and edge-of-your-seat pacing. Based onthe 1960s TV seriesof the same name, the 1993 film was directed byAndrew Davisfrom a screenplay developed byJeb StuartandDavid Twohy. Ford’s portrayal of Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago man whose wife (Sela Ward) is viciously murdered in their home and is subsequently framed for the crime,solidified his star status asa leading man capable of portraying significant depth.
Kimble’s journey as an escaped convict on the run is unique, in that his motivation isn’t to disappear without a trace, but rather, to prove his own innocence and bring his wife’s murderer to justice.Ford’s performance is grounded in the realism of the character’s situation, but whereas his career was built on cocksure characters who often brawl their way out of tough situations, Dr. Kimble with his Hippocratic oath is a different kind of performance nuance from Ford.Tommy Lee Jonesplays theiconic U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, whose hard-nosed approach to his job threatens to interrupt Kimble’s quest at every turn. The cat-and-mouse game between the escaped innocent man and the intrepid investigatorkeeps this masterpiece action-thriller at an intense pace from start to finish.
The Fugitive
Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.
4’Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back' (1980)
Directed by Irvin Kershner
Han Solo,the cocky and independent smugglerfrom the Star Wars universe, was a foundational character in Ford’s career.The success of theStar Warsfranchise introduced Ford’s wry everyman energy to a huge new audienceat an early stage in his career. Though Ford would go on to headline several iconic franchises,Star Warsremains a significant contribution to his career.
The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to George Lucas' original film andthe second movie in the original trilogy, foregrounds Han Solo as the romantic interest of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), whose Rebel Alliance is being tracked by Darth Vader (David ProwseandJames Earl Jones) following the destruction of the Death Star. After escaping the ice planet Hoth,the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive malfunctions, stranding Han, Leia, and the rest of the crew in an asteroid field as they hide from Vader’s probe droids. After a betrayal, the group is tracked down by their pursuer, who uses them to lure Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) into a trap, which culminates in one of the most iconic lightsaber battles in the saga.Ford solidified his charming and detached style as a romantic lead with the role of Han Solo, andthe sequelallowed Ford to explore more facets of the character.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
3’Witness' (1985)
Directed by Peter Weir
Witnesswas the first collaboration between Ford and directorPeter Weir, earning him anAcademy Awardnomination for Best Actor. The pair also collaborated the following year on the dark family dramaThe Mosquito Coast, with Ford playing a twisted inventor disillusioned with America whose ideals gradually warp his ambitions as his family follows him into a mad jungle dystopia. InWitness, Ford portrays Captain John Book, a detective tasked with protecting an Amish woman, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis), and her son Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas), who witnesses the murder of an undercover police officer. The range between the two characters in these Weir films indicatesthe director recognized Ford’s brilliant ability to breath life into characters witha wide range of conflicting motivations.
As John Book is forced to flee with Rachel and her son back to their Amish community in Pennsylvania, his position is reversed. Once tasked with protecting the Amish woman and her son, keeping them hidden amid a police corruption scandal,Book becomes the one in need of protection, as he is almost fatally wounded during the investigation. As Detective Book blends among the Amish, he is reminded of a sense of good-faith and community that he has lost among his police brethren. The target on his back only endangers Rachel and Samuel further, which only escalates when a forbidden romance between the detective and the Amish widow begins to flourish. The film is a masterpiece of narrative structure, withits compelling blend of cultural analysis and human connection in a masterful thriller plot.
While protecting an Amish boy - who is the sole witness to a brutal murder - and his mother, a detective is forced to seek refuge within their community when his own life is threatened.
2’Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Han Solo has a run for his money when it comes to Ford’s most beloved franchise character. Ford’s portrayal of Dr. Indiana Jones, globe-trotting adventurer and archaeologist, has emblazoned young imaginations for generations.Raiders of the Lost Arkwas directed bySteven Spielberg, with a screenplay that was based on a story byGeorge LucasandPhilip Kaufman. The film was the introduction to the character of Indiana Jones, andFord’s signature wry humor and gruff exterior fit well with the boisterous adventurer. One scene of the movie shows a more bookish side of the character, as the professor lectures a hall filled with enamored students. The balance between these qualities is a part of the character’s charm, as,unlike many action-adventure heroes of the day, Indiana is an adventurer whose intellect is often at the forefront.
Raiders of the Lost Arkis set in 1936, and the opening scene, golden idol and boulder chase included, introduces Jones to the audience at a breakneck pace. Returning to the United States after the theft of the golden idol, Jones is briefed on the presence of Nazi researchers in Egypt, with the professor deducing they are attempting to retrieve the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Jones goes in search of his one-time mentor, Abner Ravenwood, only to instead reunite with Ravenwood’s daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), who isarguably Jones' first, best, and last romantic interest. From the narrative pacing, to the practical effects, andthe hard-hitting stunt work, much of which Ford undertook himself,Raiders of the Lost Arkis a cinematic masterpiece and remains one of Ford’s best performances.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
1’Blade Runner' (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott
It’s hard to overstate the significance ofBlade Runner’scontribution to cinema and culture. Based on the world created byPhillip K. Dickin his 1968 novelDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,the filmwas directed byRidley Scottfroma screenplay written initially by Hampton Fancher.Blade Runnerexists in several different cuts that make drastic and significant changes to the narrative, with the “final cut” generally agreed to be the onemost closely aligned to Scott’s vision. The production and character design, meant to evoke a gritty technological future in 2019 Los Angeles, immediately draws viewers into the world of former police officer Rick Deckard (Ford),whose job as a “Blade Runner” was to track down and terminate bioengineered humanoidscalled “replicants.”
The film has a lasting legacy as an influence on the genres of science-fiction and cyberpunk. The narrative is masterfully coy, balancing queries about what separates humanity from artificial intelligence withneo-noir crime tropes. Rachael (Sean Young), a replicant who is convinced she is human, is disillusioned when Deckard reveals her memories were implanted in her by her creator.His growing interest in Rachael invites Deckard to question his own humanity, especially after she saves his life, despite his role in eradicating replicants like her. According to Scott, there areample hints in the filmthat reward an interrogation into Deckard’s humanity by the viewer as well. For its masterful narrative, its gritty production design, and its significant legacy,Blade Runnertops the list of masterpiece films starring Ford.
