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It turns out that Indiana Jones can be soft.
Harrison Ford fought back tears at one of the biggest premieres at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Disney spared no expense as it drove its top executives, including CEO Bob Iger, to the south of France for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the fifth chapter in one of the most iconic movie franchises in movie history.
But when the credits rolled on this time-traveling action epic directed by James Mangold, Cannes mustered only a faint five-minute standing ovation for the film.
The biggest cheers of the night were dedicated to Ford, who was summoned to the stage by festival director Thierry Frémaux to receive a surprise Palme d’Or after being shown a reel of his greatest screen roles.
“I was very moved by this,” Ford said before the film’s release. “They say when you’re about to die, you see your life flash before your eyes, and you’ve seen my life flash before my eyes. A big part of my life, but not all of my life. My life has been empowered by my beautiful wife” — Calista Flockhart, attendee — “who has supported my passions and my dreams And I am grateful.”
Then Ford addressed the audience. “I love you, too. But I have a movie you should see. It’s right behind me. So let me get out of the way, and I thank you again for this great honor.”
The film’s elaborate action scenes and masterful one-liners by Phoebe Waller-Bridge received a mostly muted response inside the theatre. During parts of the 142-minute film, audience members could be heard whispering in French out of boredom.
Once again, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” finds the role of the eponymous archaeologist. Set in 1969 against the space race, the film finds Indiana Jones back on an adventure involving the re-emergence of the Nazi Party. Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook and Waller-Bridge co-star in the film.
Ford has confirmed that “Dial of Destiny” is the end of his stint playing Indiana Jones. “This is the last movie in the series, and this is the last time I get to play the character,” said Ford. Total Film Magazine before was. “I expect it will be the last time he appears in a movie.” While he is aware that Disney is developing an Indiana Jones series for Disney+, Ford said he “wouldn’t be involved with that, if it comes to fruition.”
Notably, “Indiana Jones” is the first Indiana Jones film not directed by Steven Spielberg. Mangold, the director of “The Wolverine” and “Ford v Ferrari,” handled filmmaking duties on “Dial of Destiny.” Spielberg said during a press event in April that he loved the final installment.
“Bob Iger has performed for a lot of Disney executives, and I attended the show with director James Mangold,” Spielberg said. “Everyone loved the movie. It’s a really good Indiana Jones movie. I’m really proud of what Jim did with it.”
Disney’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” hits theaters June 30.
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