Feb 21, 2000
Variety
by Bill Higgins

AFI's Life Achievement Award presentation to Harrison Ford Feb. 17 at the Bev Hilton succeeded in the fund-raising department and with exciting clips and stellar participants, the annual telecast has a shot at improved ratings.

But the evening -- focusing as it did on his action roles -- wasn't the thorough look at Ford's acting career an award with AFI's pedigree suggests.

Opening remarks at the black-tie dinner came from AFI board of trustees chair Howard Stringer. AFI director Jean Firstenberg made the presentation of the Franklin Schaffner alumni medal to Terence Malick (accepted by George Stevens Jr.). The first to formally speak about Ford was George Lucas, who gave Ford his big break in "American Graffiti" and said the role "accomplished a great deal in Harrison's career -- it took him right back to being a carpenter."

Other speakers included Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Anne Heche, Mike Nichols, Anne Archer, Daryl Hannah, David Schwimmer, Brad Pitt and Carrie Fisher, who got a laugh when she began her remarks by saying, "Hi, my name is Carrie and I'm an alcoholic. Sorry, wrong meeting. Actually, maybe not."

One sign of Ford's popularity in the industry (and his box office clout) were the number of industry heavy-hitters in the room. Among them were UTA's Jim Berkus, Par's Sherry Lansing, MGM's Alex Yeminidijian, Sony's John Calley, Warner Bros.' Alan Horn, New Line's Mike DeLuca, Mo Ostin Jack Valenti, Frank Mancuso, Jerry Perenchio, Bob Daly, Terry Semel, Joe Roth, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Mark Canton. Ford said the "work you saw tonight was shaped by many hands, animated by many hearts."

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