An honorary Palme d’Or for Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, who received it at Cannes shortly before the world premiere of the film “Indiana Jones and the Call of Fate.”
“I am very touched by the difference,” said the 80-year-old American actor.
After receiving the award from the general delegate of the event, Thierry Frémaux, he was visibly moved.
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Honored
Festival organizers announced that the saga’s fifth episode would have its world premiere on the Croisette, that an “extraordinary tribute” would be paid to Ford, but gave no further details.
The interpreter, one of the most famous in Hollywood, gave life to many famous characters, from Han Solo in the “Star Wars” saga to “Blade Runner”. going through the intrepid adventurer, which dates back to 1981 and its first episode, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Last year, Tom Cruise was at Cannes to present “Top Gun: Maverick” and also received an honorary Palme d’Or before the screening.
Six things to know about Indiana Jones
Born on a hawaiian beach
It was “Star Wars” director George Lucas who had the initial idea for this archaeologist and adventurer, an insatiable seeker of relics and objects of great symbolism.
Inspired by countless B-movie heroes, the dream comes true on a Hawaiian beach vacation with Steven Spielberg.
“Jaws” filmmaker wanted to shoot James Bond, but Lucas replied: “I have something better!”
“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” was an immediate and worldwide success, followed by “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984).
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008).
In total, those four films took in close to $2 billion at the box office.
Explorers of machu picchu
With his three-day-old beard, his worn cap, a leather jacket that resists all strife. A cloth bag for holding the most precious treasures and a whip, symbolizing the image of Indiana Jones the Explorer.
Lucas and Spielberg took inspiration in particular from Hiram Bingham, the American archaeologist who discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu. But also from the “cowboy” movies of Tintin or Clint Eastwood.
The protagonist is called Henry, but everyone knows him as Indiana. Which was actually the name of Lucas’s dog. Which inspired the already prolific director to create the beloved Chewbacca from “Star Wars.”
Winks and Anachronisms
Allusions to the “Star Wars” saga in the Indiana Jones series are steady. In a famous scene from “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”, when Indiana is in the Well of Souls, droids appear between R2D2 and C3PO hieroglyphs. And the seaplane’s registration is OB-CPO, which points to Obi Wan and C3PO.
Over the years, fans have noticed other winks and anachronisms.
This is the case, for example, of the bazooka used by Indiana Jones, a weapon invented in 1936, the year the film is set, had not yet been invented.
And the same goes for a map that shows “Thailand”, a country that didn’t even exist yet. The colony was then called Siam.
Magnum, Sharon Stone
Spielberg wanted Harrison Ford to play Indiana, but Lucas was not convinced, as the public recognized the actor with the character Han Solo.
Both directors investigated Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Bill Murray, and finally Tom Selleck, who was little known at the time. But this actor was committed to “Magnum”. Spielberg finally convinces Lucas: Harrison Ford is the man.
Over a thousand actresses filed during the auditions for the role of Willie, Indiana’s adventurous girlfriend, Sharon Stone. Kate Capshaw got the role, which didn’t lead to a great film career. Spielberg married her in 1991.
“Cap”, from Indiana assistant to Oscar-winning actor
The case of Huy Quan, the Vietnamese-born actor, is the perfect example of the American dream.
A refugee of Vietnamese descent, at the age of 12 he was cast in the role of “Plug”, the adventurer’s assistant, in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”. His success is confirmed by another film, “The Goonies”.
But then comes a long journey through the desert, lasting decades, until the unexpected anointing comes in 2022, “everything at once everywhere”. With which he got the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Ovidiophobia
It turns out to be Indiana’s only weak spot: his phobia of snakes, better known as ophidiophobia. It must be said that when he was young, Daredevil fell into a pit full of those reptiles.
It’s a famous scene in movie history: Indiana Jones falls into the Well of Souls in search of a clue to the lost ark. A place full of all kinds of snakes, which Spielberg filmed with at least 6,500 animals. To the pile he added, camouflage, a few pieces of hose.
The most dangerous snake cobra was filmed in a glass bell. After shooting the scene, it was found that some snakes had gone missing.
