As part of a new interview with Angelique Jackson for Variety.com, Harrison Ford has spoken about his roles in Shrinking, American Graffiti, Indiana Jones and Star Wars, his first Emmy nomination, and his relationship with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.
Let’s talk about “American Graffiti.” It’s a small role, but a breakout performance.
A lot of actors came out of that show, and I thought it was remarkable the way George [Lucas] used music in that film; it was a rare use of contemporary music. That movie was fun to make. It was made very, very cheaply. I do remember I was almost fired for taking two doughnuts instead of my deserved one.
That film was the beginning of a long friendship with George Lucas. What stood out when you first met him?
I didn’t think he could speak. He never spoke. I remember there was an interview for the part that I was eventually given, and he was the only guy in the room that didn’t talk. I later realized he didn’t like to talk very much, but he did when necessary.
You improvised Han Solo’s famous response, “I know,” after Leia tells him she loves him in “The Empire Strikes Back.” What’s the story behind the line?
I was supposed to say, “I love you too,” and I thought that was a little un-Han Solo-ish. I thought it was a little banal. So I said no, and [director] Irvin Kershner agreed with me. George, when he saw it, was not so sure, and made me sit next to him at the screening of the film the first time we ran it for an audience. They laughed, but it was a good laugh, so we kept it in. Thank you, George.
When did you know that Han Solo would be a character that would become something special? Was it once you got to the second film or the third film?
I didn’t really know whether there was going to be another film when we started, and because I didn’t know whether there would be another film — and because I only had the script from the first one to consider — I didn’t sign the sequel deal, which turned out to be to all of our advantage.
You, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill had a singular experience because of those films. What comes to mind when you think of them?
I had a special relationship with both of them. Carrie had a very inspired wit and very special manner. She’s also very smart, very funny. Both of them were dear friends — are dear friends.
You’ve played Indiana Jones five times now. What has getting the chance to complete his journey with “Dial of Destiny” meant to you?
Well, I wanted to see him as an older man facing the consequences of the life that he had lived. But I couldn’t imagine that we were going to end up doing five of them. I didn’t expect success. In the movie business, you always go in wanting to be successful, but you don’t always expect to be.
I did expect the first film would be wildly successful. I read it very quickly, one time. I’d been asked by George Lucas to go and meet Steven Spielberg, who I didn’t know, and he sent me a script to read. I thought it was great. And then I went to meet Steven, we spent about an hour together and suddenly I had a job.
Read the interview in full here.
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