After the success of the Star Wars films, Lucasfilm cast Han Solo fame, Harrison Ford, as Indiana Jones in their movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film directed by Steven Spielberg was expected to bomb at the box office, but turned out to be the highest-grosser of 1981, earning $354 million worldwide. It also won five Oscars
The humor and action sequences along with the beautiful set design worked in favor of the film. The film became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring video games, comic books, and novels. But it also changed the course for another aspect of action-adventure films.
Harrison Ford’s Iconic Line Made A Lasting Impact On Hollywood
In a scene in the first film of the Indiana Jones franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is tending to his wounds with the help of the female lead, Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen. When Ford’s character is visibly struggling with the pain, Marion remarks that he’s not the man she knew from ten years ago.
In response, Indiana Jones pokes fun at his age, delivering the iconic line, “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage”. The line was revolutionary as older heroic characters rarely addressed their age-related issues in movies until then. Aging heroes were not new in cinema, as featured in James Bond movies and Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry.
However, these heroes were portrayed as symbols of male machismo and strength. Their age was usually concealed in their stylish looks and flawless action sequences. However, Indiana Jones offered a fresh take on such heroes. It’s interesting to note that Harrison Ford improvised the line during the shooting of the scene.
Harrison Ford’s Age Was A Matter Of Discussion During The Fifth Indiana Jones Film
When Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released this year, Harrison Ford was 80 years old. The film was announced back in 2016 when the Blade Runner actor was 73, and he was brutally trolled on social media about his age. Sarcastic comments about Ford’s age flooded social media platforms.
Among these were suggestions for the new movie’s name. Some popular ones were, ‘Indiana Jones and That Time His Computer Wouldn’t Start So He Called His Grandson’, ‘Indiana Jones and the Hip Replacement of Doom’, and ‘Indiana Jones and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’. However, the hate was unnecessary as the Jack Ryan actor continued to impress the audience with his charismatic style.
Despite Harrison Ford’s enduring charm, the film failed both critically and commercially upon its release resulting in the producers losing somewhere in the range of $100 million. The Indiana Jones franchise and the iconic line remain influential in mainstream cinema, inspiring older action heroes to own up to their age in modern films.
The Indiana Jones franchise is now available for streaming on Disney.
Source: The Looper
