Confronting Ford: Will Dann go to 'Extraordinary Measures' to get truth?

In 1982, I vowed I would never interview Harrison Ford again.

That vow stood for 28 years.

Every time the Chicago-born actor returned to the Windy City to promote his latest movie, I made sure my schedule was too full to accommodate him. I slyly pawned Ford off on other willing Daily Herald writers, such as Joel Reese.

In 2002, Reese wrote one of the best and most honest accounts of meeting the man who created Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

Reese dubbed the half-hour he and other local reporters spent with Ford at Chicago's Ritz Carlton Hotel "30 minutes of torture" as the surly star dodged questions and seethed contempt for the writers there to help publicize his submarine movie "K-19: The Widowmaker."

So why, after nearly three decades of Fordian abstinence, why was I here sitting opposite him in a room at Chicago's Four Seasons Hotel?

I guess I wanted an answer. A reason. Some closure.

Back in 1982, I interviewed Ford and director Ridley Scott about their movie, "Blade Runner." I had read conflicting accounts of how Ford received his scar and wanted the truth firsthand.

What caused that scar?

"It's a dueling scar," Ford said, barely above a rasp. "A saber. I was at a university in Germany and got involved in a dueling society. Well, I'm a little ashamed of it. It was a long time ago. It was a foolish thing to do."

Then he added, "Well, let's just say it was over a woman. I don't like to talk about it."

Later, it was confirmed Ford received his scar in a regular, old-fashioned car accident.

Why the lie?

To avoid the monotony of discussing his chin? To see if this journalist would take the bait? To spice up the interview?

Not being a fan of premeditated misinformation, I simply resolved I would never give Ford another opportunity to have a joke at my expense.

But when a representative for CBS Films asked if I'd like to interview the actor for his movie "Extraordinary Measures," I said yes.

Maybe now I could ask him about the chin controversy and finally put it behind me.

Our interview started with Ford explaining how hands-on he had been as the executive producer of "Extraordinary Measures."

He talked about the importance of balancing the science with entertainment. He described his character, a scientist who might have a cure for an "orphan" disease called Pompe that afflicts two children in the story.

I finally asked him to what extent growing up in Chicago and Park Ridge forged his character?

"It goes a long way toward defining it," Ford said. "If I hadn't shoveled snow for 75 cents a sidewalk, if I hadn't cut lawns and worked, I wouldn't have the ... uh ..." - Ford paused for a mini-eternity to find the right word - "... tenacity to have held out in the early stages of my career."

You experienced a lot of lean times, I said.

"I never made a living as an actor until I was about 35 years old," Ford said. "I'd been out there since I was 22 or 23."

What was the best decision you ever made in your life? I asked.

"I stood with my first wife outside of our packed Volkswagen bug that had everything we owned in it. I flipped a coin to decide whether we should go to either the East coast or the West coast to be an actor. When it came up New York, I said, 'Let's make it two out of three.' I was sick and tired of the cold.

"When I got out there, I didn't even know the names of the motion pictures studios. I had a long row to hoe. I had to outlast everybody who arrived around the same time I did."

You strike me as the sort of person who would have been perfectly happy to have had a modest career, I said.

"I never had any ambition beyond making a living as an actor," Ford replied.

So why become one?

"Guys I knew from college were going off to work in an office with the hope and expectation that they would work their way to a corner office with two exposures and a gold watch at the end of 25 years," Ford said. "I couldn't figure out how I would ever live through that."

What is it about acting that kept you going?

"I can't think of a better job," Ford replied. "I like the problem-solving aspects of it. I like the people I meet. I love the tension of the game. I love, uh, the whole process."

What is the stupidest question you've ever been asked?

"Well, this morning, I was asked if I were mugged and I had a light saber in one pocket and a whip in the other, which one would I go for?

"Not only was I asked that, but the reporter was persistent when I said I would run away. There's no end to the questions that you may decide are dumb. But then, I probably shouldn't judge."

My time was up. Three other reporters were waiting to interview the actor.

I thanked Ford for his time and departed.

Oh, yeah. Why did he lie to me back in 1982? You know, once we started talking, I never thought to ask.

Sometimes, you've got to let go of the things that just don't matter anymore.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=352386">Dann reviews 'Extraordinary Measures'<span class="date">[1/22/10]</span></a></li>

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