Harrison Ford is one of America’s most prolific and successful actors today. He started in theater and TV, nearly dropping out of acting for a career as a carpenter at one point. But things turned around when he was noticed by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas. With the later’s Star Wars, Harrison Ford became a well-known leading man, and his other Lucas-led franchise just happens to be a frock flick. So let’s run through Ford’s historical costume movie and TV roles, small to large. He’s still going!
Lt. Shaffer in A Time for Killing (1967)
Young Rancher, Cullen Tindall in The Virginian (1967)
Willie Bill Bearden in Journey to Shiloh (1968)
Carl in The Intruders (1970)
Hobey, Print in Gunsmoke (1972-73)
Bob Falfa in American Graffiti (1973)
Mr. Harrison in “Crossties,” Kung Fu (1974)
Mark Blackwood in Dynasty (1976)
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Barnsby in Force 10 From Navarone (1978)
David Halloran in Hanover Street (1979)
Colonel G. Lucas in Apocalypse Now (1979)
Tommy in The Frisco Kid (1979)
Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Indiana Jones in “Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues,” The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1993)
Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Woodrow Dolarhyde in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Branch Rickey in 42 (2013)
John Thornton in The Call of the Wild (2020)
Jacob Dutton in 1923 (2022-25)
Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
What’s your favorite of Harrison Ford’s historical costume role?
Most of the Indiana Jones franchise is pretty silly (explosions bore me), but Ford’s comic timing, especially with Connery, is just so good. His supporting role in the non-costume Apple series “Shrinking” is the best thing about it.
I can’t believe how many Westerns he’s been in, but it’s typical of the industry mid-century. Indy is my favorite, hands down. In my inner battle between theater and art, art won. I became an art historian and I did study archaeology, and the Indiana Jones films made it all seem so exciting, when the reality is that you spend far more time cooped up indoors on research or writing than in situ. My favorite archaeology professor used to discuss the disappointments as well as the ah ha moments, which are far fewer than in the films. Still, which profession wouldn’t love having Harrison Ford as their avatar? Especially when he cleans up so nicely in that white dinner jacket.
I love “The Temple of Doom”.
Indy 1 and 3, always. Ford and Connery together are just comedy gold!
Hannover Street is one my secret guilty pleasures
One of the more interesting Frock Flock might-have-been roles is Mr Harrison Ford in THE PATRIOT (2000): one can only wonder how different the film would have been with Mr Ford in the role Mr Mel Gibson played.
Also, Much Love to COWBOYS AND ALIENS, for it’s a fun B-Movie (Though one suspects it would have been a d—- good straight Western if it had gone in that direction).