Mr. Sub

14 July, 2002
JamMovies
by Louis B. Hobson

NEW YORK -- Harrison Ford isn't asking for much.

He just wants to be the captain of his soul and the master of his destiny.

That's the reason he took an executive producer credit on the submarine drama K-19: The Widowmaker.

"I wanted to be involved in decision making and not just regarded as a movie star with an opinion," Ford explains.

Producers, directors and studios are familiar with Ford's opinions, especially as they translate into script changes.

Ford demanded so many changes and rewrites on The Sum Of All Fears that he and the film's producers eventually parted company. He was replaced by Ben Affleck.

"I haven't seen The Sum Of All Fears yet but I'm sure Ben Affleck did a fine job," is Ford's take on the the newest Jack Ryan spy thriller.

Ford's concerns about script details also made him turn down or back out of such recent films as Proof Of Life, The Perfect Storm, The Patriot and Traffic. But even in the beginning of his career, Ford had suggestions for his directors.

"I wanted Han Solo to die at the end of Return Of The Jedi -- I thought it would give more weight and resonance -- but George Lucas wasn't sympathetic to my suggestion. He didn't want Han killed by those teddy bear guys."

Ford is aware his hands-on approach has earned him a bit of a reputation.

"I've heard that some people think I'm grumpy. I don't think I'm grumpy. I have opinions based on my vision of where my films should go," he says. "I am a purposeful person. When I agree to make a film, it's a business deal. I'm coming to do a job, not just to be flattered, cajoled and used."

Kathryn Bigelow, who directed K-19: The Widowmaker, insists her star "deserves his producing credit. He was a real collaborator."

Set in the early 1960s during the Cold War,

K-19 is based on the true story of a Russian submarine whose nuclear reactor malfunctions, threatening a core meltdown.

From the beginning, Ford insisted everyone speak with Russian accents.

"I can tell you the powers that be weren't happy about the accent thing," he admits. But they eventually acquiesced.

"I wanted to consistently remind the audience that this is a Russian story and particularly wanted to remind them this is not a Harrison Ford movie," he says. "We kept the accent light so it wouldn't be hard to understand but would keep reminding people we're not Americans."

Then there was the question of Ford playing a basically unsympathetic character.

His Capt. Alexei Vostrikov is ordered to take command of the K-19 away from its much-beloved commander, Capt. Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson).

Vostrikov must prove the Russian nuclear submarines are superior to their American counterparts, but in his attempts to follow orders, he endangers the lives of his crew.

"From the moment I read the screenplay, I understood I would be playing a man who would not initially be sympathetic," says Ford, who was paid $25 million for the role.

"That may have bothered some studio heads somewhere, but it wasn't difficult for me. I enjoyed the challenge and the dramatic opportunity to demonstrate that these men all learn from each other and from their shared tragedy."

Ford says there is a misconception that he only plays heroes.

"I don't play heroes. I play men who have particular dilemmas. More often than not, when these dilemmas are dramatized, they come off as being heroic.

"The best you can say is that I play guys who behave well in difficult situations, and that's true of Vostrikov.

"I think it's important to reflect on history and the events that shaped it," he continues. "This very important event in Russian history was kept secret until after glasnost. The men were not recognized for their bravery, which is what we hope to do through the film."

Ford could soon be visiting a part of his own film history.

He has agreed to star in Indiana Jones 4.

Indy made his first appearance in Raiders Of The Lost Ark in 1981 and returned in 1984 for Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom and a third time in 1989 for Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.

"It still amazes me that we've strung

Indiana Jones out this long. I've agreed to do Indy 4 on the condition we get a really good script. If and when that happens, I'll get excited about reviving the character."

If Indiana Jones 4 begins filming in 2004, Ford will be 62.

"Indiana Jones has never been defined by his age. Personally, I don't think about aging. I think about how I feel on any given day, but, for me, that's not a question of age or aging."

Last August, Ford separated from his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison. Since then, he briefly dated actresses Minnie Driver and Lara Flynn Boyle before beginning his romance with Calista Flockhart.

"I keep my mouth shut about personal matters," he says. "I refuse to play the gossip game. It's never pleasant seeing one's life splashed across magazines.

Meanwhile, Ford begins work next month on a still-untitled buddy/cop movie for Bull Durham director Ron Shelton. His co-star in this one is Josh Hartnett.

In January, he will begin work on Walk Among Tombstones, a gritty drama about a former policeman who gets involved in a murder.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Harrison Ford Web is making such material available in an effort to promote research. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.