The scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where River Phoenix plays a young Indiana Jones is considered by many to be one of his finest acting performances. It’s impossible to deny the parallels between Phoenix and Harrison Ford, who played the adult Indiana Jones.
A fact that may not be widely known is that Ford personally assisted Phoenix in her preparation for the part. Ford told Phoenix how to dress to fit the character for a week. Phoenix never tried to imitate Ford verbatim, but their similarities are undeniable.
Ford Directs Phoenix: Getting the Moves Right
Steven Spielberg appreciated Phoenix’s unique appearance, including a pivotal scene where a young Indy separates his hair to learn he’s fallen into a lion’s lair during an astonishing train action. Phoenix’s portrayal of a young Indiana Jones is strikingly similar to Ford’s, and it’s clear that the two performers were inspired by one another.
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On the big screen, Phoenix perfectly captured the character’s swagger and loose, carefree attitude. Yet, Spielberg enlisted Ford’s assistance to ensure that Phoenix retained the nuanced details that constitute Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford had the chance to guide Phoenix for a week and ensure he acted and looked like the famed archaeologist.
Even among fans of the Indiana Jones movies, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is not considered the series’ top entry. The movie has one of the series’ most exciting and memorable openings. In their Boy Scout uniforms, Indiana and his companion Herman enter a band of tomb robbers attempting to steal the Cross of Coronado.
More and more of River Phoenix’s transition into a youthful Indiana Jones becomes obvious as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’s opening sequence continues. Phoenix’s performance displays the qualities that make Indiana Jones such a revered hero. The bullwhip, fedora, and scar on his chin all make Phoenix seem and act just like the classic hero.
River Phoenix’s Transformation into Indiana Jones
Intriguingly, Phoenix had already obtained some understanding of Ford’s mannerisms during the making of The Mosquito Coast, in which he played Ford’s son. Phoenix admitted in a making-of documentary for The Last Crusade that he regularly imitated Ford for laughs on production.
“I kind of had some insight on Harrison’s way about him, being that I worked with him on ‘The Mosquito Coast.’ And while doing ‘Mosquito Coast’ I kept a close eye on Harrison, and I noticed some of his traits, and when he would turn around I would sometimes mimic him and get a few laughs.”
While his death came much too soon, River Phoenix will be remembered for his acting and humanitarian work for many years. Phoenix, despite his youth, was a gifted and competent actor who infused each of his roles with a certain vitality. Phoenix’s performance as a teenage Indiana Jones was widely hailed as a career highlight for the actor and the franchise.
Source:YouTube
