Harrison Ford’s least favourite ‘Indiana Jones’ movie: “I didn’t like it as much”
Harrison Ford has played some truly iconic characters in his time. As well as the obvious answer of Han Solo in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, Ford has brought to life many classic cinematic figures. Rick Deckard in the two ‘Blade Runner’ films, Richard Kimble in The Fugitive, President James Marshall in Air Force One, and, more recently, his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. However, there’s one obvious entry into his career that simply has to be mentioned.
In 1981, Ford first donned the fedora and bullwhip of one of cinema’s greatest heroes – Indiana Jones. From battling Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark to travelling back in time in The Dial of Destiny, the adventures of Henry Jones Jr have captivated audiences for over four decades, making billions of dollars worldwide and giving people very dangerous ideas about how to survive a nuclear blast. Ford has been front and centre of every single one of these films, even returning to the character in his early 80s.
Even though Dial of Destiny was a bit of a flop, the legacy of the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise is so secure that no amount of bad films could tarnish it. Everybody has their favourite entry into the series, but what about the man who made it all happen? In conversation with the Chicago Tribune in 1989, just ahead of the release of The Last Crusade, Ford didn’t exactly confirm which of the five ‘Indy’ movies he preferred, but he certainly made it clear that he had mixed feelings about The Temple of Doom.
“I didn’t like it as much as the original,” he said. ”I think there were a few miscalculations in the recipe, and that it was too dark and too violent. I’m pleased to say that The Last Crusade is much more like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and so anyone who felt the second one was too strong should be assured that this one doesn’t play that way at all.”
One of the main criticisms levelled at The Temple of Doom, which came out in 1984, is its tone. Raiders of the Lost Ark plays out like a traditional family adventure story, save one horrifying moment right at the end. As for its immediate sequel, its setting and themes are much darker. The villains are a cult of heart-stealing, voodoo-practicing Thuggees, who kidnap local children and plunge them into pits of searing hot flames. The movie was so scary that it helped necessitate the invention of the PG-13 rating certificate in the US and is widely regarded as the worst of the original three ‘Indy’ movies.
Director Steven Spielberg switched things up dramatically for the third film, The Last Crusade. More emphasis was placed on humour, which is mostly channelled through the introduction of Sean Connery and Dr Jones’ bumbling father. The movie recaptured a lot of the magic of the original and is by far-and-away the most enjoyable ‘Indy’ flick to sit down and watch.
It might have been a little too scary for some tastes, but Temple of Doom is still an integral part of the ‘Indiana Jones’ legacy. This is the film that gave us Short Round, for crying out loud. Just imagine a world without Ke Huy Quan in it. Doesn’t bear thinking about.
