Behind the Screens

Our man with the bullwhip is back in Indy 4.

Time will tell where that whole "You're a teacher?" "Part time!" exchange between Shia LaBeouf and Harrison Ford in Indy 4 ranks among Ford's echelon of classic moments. But one thing's for sure - the actor's already given us plenty of fond movie memories to mull over. At his peak, Ford was the kind of gargantuan "movie star" we just don't get nowadays. He appealed to all demographics, and appeared in a continuous stream of blockbusters that were commercial and critical hits.

In tribute, then, to his return this week as one of the most adored characters in cinema with Ind iana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, here is our list of the top Harrison Ford 'movie moments' (whether it's a line of dialogue, a particular scene, a sequence, or some combination thereof...these are the bits of cinematic magic that will forever be linked to the man). Here's hoping more are on the way!

#10 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Scene: The Rolling Boulder

Why You'll Never Forget It: There are lots of incredible moments in the Indiana Jones series, but this was one of the earliest and most iconic. Watching Harrison Ford's adventurer attempt to outrun a massive boulder -- and his little trip and recovery -- still gets the blood pumping.

#9 - American Graffiti

Dialogue/Scene:

Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford): Hey, you know a guy around here with a piss yellow deuce coupe, supposed to be hot stuff?
Terry Fields (Charles Martin Smith): You mean John Milner?
[Falfa nods]
Terry Fields: Hey, nobody can beat him, man. He's got the fastest...
Bob Falfa: I ain't nobody, dork.

Why You'll Never Forget It: It can be convincingly argued that Ford truly arrived as Han Solo four years later in 1977's Star Wars. But anyone who's seen this Happy Days precursor from SW director George Lucas knows Harrison already had the charisma, and obviously, the chutzpah, to be huge.

#8 - Apocalypse Now

Dialogue/Scene:

Colonel Lucas (Harrison Ford): Your mission is to proceed up the Nung River in a Navy patrol boat. Pick up Colonel Kurtz's path at Nu Mung Ba, follow it and learn what you can along the way. When you find the Colonel, infiltrate his team by whatever means available and terminate the Colonel's command.
Willard (Martin Sheen): Terminate the Colonel?
Civilian (Jerry Zeimer): Terminate with extreme prejudice.

Why You'll Never Forget It: Harrison's only in one scene in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam magnum opus, but he's memorable as the nervous officer who orders Martin Sheen's Army mercenary up the river to take out madman Marlon Brando. Apparently, Ford the actor was also nervous during the filming, and it shows. It works to his advantage, though, and pits him against type from his usual swaggering, ultra-macho movie persona.

#7 - The Fugitive

Dialogue/Scene:

Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford): I didn't kill my wife.
Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones): I don't care.

Why You'll Never Forget It: This scene, during the middle of a chase, is hilarious. The exchange between the actors, Ford playing the fugitive and Jones playing the predator cop, is perfect. The way Ford sincerely issues this statement, and the way Jones absolutely dismisses him...it's just really funny, and it's followed by one of the great Harrison Ford movie visuals: the character leaping hundreds of feet from a viaduct into the -- hopefully -- semi-safe watery depths below.

#6 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Dialogue/Scene:

Sallah (John Rhys-Davies): Indy, why does the floor move?
Indiana (Harrison Ford): Give me your torch.
[Sallah gives it to him, Indy drops it in, revealing...]
Indiana: Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?

Why You'll Never Forget It: It's one of Harrison Ford's trademark lines, and he pulls it off with brilliant timing and effect. Indy is the ultimate tough guy, but if he has a weakness, well, we all know what that is. Everything that follows in this sequence is awesome, especially when love interest Marion is thrown into the well of snakes, too. Good, good fun.

#5 - Witness

Dialogue/Scene:

John Book (Harrison Ford): (Singing)...What a wonderful word this would be...

Why You'll Never Forget It: Alright, everyone who thinks Harrison Ford is just a crusty old man who doesn't like to talk to the press should check out the You Tube clip below. At one time, 1985 to be exact, Ford demonstrated why he was beloved by every generation. In this simple courtship dance set to the Sam Cooke version of "Wonderful World," Ford charms Kelly McGillis and everyone else in the moviegoing world. This was the ideal dude that women would all like, and all guys could genuinely aspire to become...sturdy, funny and even capable of carrying a decent tune.

#4 - Blade Runner

Dialogue/Scene:

Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer): All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

Why You'll Never Forget It: As a first-class movie geek, I admit to having watched this scene and film hundreds of times. Harrison Ford has no lines in the clip below, but his reaction to Hauer's monologue (much of it improvised on set) is critical. The scene, the score, the visuals and especially the acting are all indelible. The sci-fi fantasy genre has been trying to live up to the standards set by this film -- and this scene, too -- ever since.

#3 - Star Wars

Dialogue/Scene:

Han Solo (Harrison Ford): You're all clear, kid!

Why You'll Never Forget It: Han Solo is the older brother we all wish we had. At the end of Star Wars, when all seems lost, when hope is just a Darth Vader trigger blast away from being obliterated...there's someone to help. That's why the original trilogy worked. Stunning visual effects aside, you cared about Harrison Ford/Han Solo, Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia and Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker. In this scene, you knew that they cared about each other, too.

#2 - The Empire Strikes Back

Dialogue/Scene:

Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher): I love you.
Han Solo (Harrison Ford): I know.

Why You'll Never Forget It: Is Solo's line arrogant? Yeah. Is it honest? Definitely. Harrison Ford improvised this response to Leia's declaration of love. It's good for a laugh, it's true to his character, and it's unforgettable. What's more, he doesn't come across as a jerk in the scene. He answers the way he should, and the line says a lot. The couple bickered all the time. But who was kidding who? We knew what was really going on underneath, and so did Han.

#1 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Scene: The Swordsman vs. Indy

Why You'll Never Forget It: As much as Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones is more capable, strong and resilient than any ten normal guys put together, he shows here that he's also just as practical as the next guy. Uh, oh, here comes the big, bad swordsman, who's the breathing embodiment of dark, dangerous, lethal villainy. There's no possible easy way out of this one, right? Time for a huge duel? Wait, isn't Indy packing a gun? Bang, one shot, game over, and movie history is made...you had us at ka-pow, Indy.

Did we include all of your favorite Harrison Ford movie moments? If not, let us know what we missed!

*Update: Thanks for all of your emails so far! Here are some of the other great Harrison Ford moments you told us you loved...and if we're still missing your personal favorite, email us!

President James Marshall (Harrison Ford): GET OFF MY PLANE!
-Air Force One

Han Solo: Traveling through hyperspace aint like dusting crops boy. Without the precise calculations we’d fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova. That’d end your trip really quick, now wouldn’t it?
-Star Wars

Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford): I don't dance, Mr President.
-Clear and Present Danger

On the bridge at the finale, when Indiana Jones raises his sword to cut the bridge in half, and Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) shouts out "oh...my...god!"
-Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

(Spoiler alert!!) When you find out Harrison Ford's character is the killer, and he taunts Michelle Pfeiffer's character in the bathtub.
-What Lies Beneath

The scene is with Indiana Jones and his father. Elsa, working for the Nazis, takes the diary away from Indy, but discovers a key map to the location of the Holy Grail is missing. Elsa looks at Indy and says, "Well that is easy, the map is with Brody, we find Brody, we find the missing pages." Ford says something regarding the fact that Brody knows several different languages, knows various locations and with any luck, he has the Grail already. Then, the scene cuts to a clueless Brody in a foreign locale, asking if anyone speaks English.
-Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Harrison Ford's police detective, disguised as one of the Amish, tries to help a friend who's being humiliated and bullied by a local punk. When the punk knocks his hat off, without hesitation, Ford's cop character pulvarizes him.
-Witness

Han Solo (after much back-and-forth arguing with Leia): Then why are you following me?
-The Empire Strikes Back

Indiana Jones (after a big fight scene, and prior to the classic truck chase, is asked how he plans to get the ark back): I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along
-Raiders of the Lost Ark

Indiana jones is confronted by a gang of swordsmen, and much like before, smiles a little grin and reaches for his gun...only to find, this time, it isn't there.
-Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Han Solo chases a few storm troopers around the corner. A few seconds later, he's chased right back the other way by the storm troopers, and some more of their storm trooper friends.
-Star Wars

Princess Leia: I'd just as soon kiss a wookie
Han Solo: I can arrange that.
-The Empire Strikes Back

The cantina scene, where Han Solo meets up with Greedo...
-Star Wars

Han Solo: Luke?! A Jedi Knight!?? I'm out of it for a little while and everyone has delusions of grandeur.
-Return of the Jedi

C3PO: But Sir! The possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Han Solo: Never tell me the odds.
-The Empire Strikes Back

Indiana Jones: How did you know she was one of them?
Professor Jones (Sean Connery): She talks in her sleep.
-Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

When?
When you've had enough, say when.
-Regarding Henry

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill): Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be...
Han Solo: What?
Luke Skywalker: Well, more wealth than you can imagine!
Han Solo: I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit.
-Star Wars

Robin Monroe (Anne Heche): You still look good.
Quinn (Harrison Ford): I still *am* good.
-Six Days Seven Nights

Indiana Jones: (pointing) That's the Ark of the Covenant.
Elsa (Alison Doody): Are you sure?
Indiana Jones: Pretty sure.
-Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones: (after throwing the German officer literally out the window of the zeppelin, to the astonished passengers) No ticket.
-Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

After C3PO barges in on Han and Leia kissing on the millenium faclon...
Han Solo: Thank you, thank you very much!
C3PO: Oh, you're very welcome sir!
-The Empire Strikes Back

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