The classic movie Harrison Ford wishes he’d starred in: “I think it was that rare film”
If you were scouring Tinseltown for perhaps the most iconic actor of the 20th century, then there are more than a few candidates. Marlon Brando’s position as one of the most influential is certainly secured; likewise, Meryl Streep has rarely put a foot wrong in her career. Robert De Niro is perhaps one of the most legendary performers of a generation, and Al Pacino has equalled such acclaim. But perhaps the most iconic, in every sense of the word, is Harrison Ford.
Is Ford as good an actor as the names mentioned above? Arguably not. He has enjoyed some star turns, but his performances tend to rely on his unstoppable charisma rather than his ability to reach deep into the human condition to bring a cathartic moment out on screen. But, Ford is iconic for the roles he has taken on.
To be cast as the enviable Han Solo is perhaps as legendary as one actor might hope to be in a whole career. Solo’s position as everybody’s favourite space smooth talker is immovable and, because of it, Ford will go down in cinematic history. But, it’s not the only legendary role under Ford’s name on his resume. Add to that his position as Deckard in the unimaginably chic Blade Runner, and you have the ultimate sci-fi hero. To increase that claim, Ford is also the face of Indiana Jones from the fabled series that made hats and whips cool again.
With such a strong filmography, you might think that Ford is happy with his lot. And there’s a good chance he is. After all, he is widely known as one of the more relaxed members of the Hollywood fraternity, seemingly unbothered by his position or the desire to create more and more interesting movies. However, he is a professional performer and so certainly has his preferences.
When asked by The Tuffs for the one movie role he wished he could have performed in, he was quick to answer with 1962’s To Kill A Mockingbird. A deeply political picture based on the racial tensions of a community, the Robert Mulligan-directed movie is a beguiling tale of injustice. Few films dare to hold such grace under pressure, and this is perhaps personified by the excellent performance of Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch.
One can assume Ford would have loved to be cast in this role if only he were old enough to have got the gig. Of course, it would be some years before Ford dropped his carpentry gig to become an actor full-time. But had he been around, he was keen to perform in the film because “It was that rare film that confronted a social issue and was successful in changing the way people think, [the way people] thought.”
Despite what one might think, movie stars are artists first and foremost, and even relaxed starsd like Ford have spent their lives dreaming of how they might have made a picture pop or sparkle in a new way. However, few stars can do so from a truly untouchable pedestal.
