Ford's voice [Archive]

Raiders112390

04-25-2008, 01:34 AM

This may sound creepy, but it seems to me that Ford's voice was a major part of his characterisation of Indy. Ford, unlike most actors, has a deep, authoritative voice that can sound both quick witted, and when the situation calls for it, somber. You can hear the emotion in his voice especially in Raiders in the bar-room conversation with Marion. It is my opinion that some of the lines would sound pretty hokey coming from an actor with a higher pitched voice. But Ford manages to pull them off.

Major West

04-25-2008, 05:36 PM

Definitely. I used to have the BBC audio tape soundtrack of TOD. Which was the movie compressed into about 40 minutes with linking narration. Just hearing Fords voice only demonstrated the range.

Tom Cook

04-28-2008, 09:21 AM

RaideroftheArk

04-28-2008, 02:53 PM

Jack La Fraze

06-09-2008, 03:54 PM

When I have been watching the films recently, whenever he's in a calm situation, he seems to talk in a low tone the whole time, and then in action scenes starts yelling.

The Man

06-09-2008, 04:09 PM

Listen to the scene in which Indy comes face-to-face with Belloq in Cairo...

"Well, these Arab's aren't gonna interfere in our business..."

Close your eyes and you'd swear you'd just heard John Wayne.

James

06-09-2008, 05:05 PM

Ford does have a pretty good range as Indy. I always thought he sounded very authoritative in TOD- particularly in scenes with the villagers and at Pankot Palace. He also has a pretty fantastic yell that gets a good workout during the "blood of Kali" sequence.

I really liked the KOTCS scene where Indy and Mutt walk through the Peruvian marketplace. When Mutt asks if Indy has a problem with him fixing motorcycles, Indy's response is almost a whisper. The whole film has little touches like that. Regardless of what you may think of the plot, there's no denying that Harrison Ford did a great job with the material he was handed- in all four movies.

DrHenryJonesJr

06-09-2008, 06:09 PM

In "Raiders" I always enjoyed when he said, "Boy, you're somethin'!" to Marion after the bar burns down.

I also liked (speaking of "squeaky voice"): "It's a date ... ya eat 'em!"

In "Temple" I liked when they came upon the statue on their way to the palace. Indy says to Shorty, "Don't come up here!"

In "Last Crusade" I always enjoyed "Pretty sure..." when Elsa asked if he knew that the drawing was ofthe Ark. That line was "borrowed" in one of the Brendan Fraser "Mummy" flicks.

In "Crystal Skull" I liked how he acknowledgedthe nun ("Sister ...") when he and Mutt were going to visit the cell in which Ox was kept.

starlings_id

06-10-2008, 09:25 PM

I agree, but... it's strange. I rewatched the original Star Wars trilogy last night, and I have to say that his voice just didn't have the same effect on me in those films as they did in Indy.

Samantha

Benraianajones

06-11-2008, 04:23 AM

In "Raiders" I always enjoyed when he said, "Boy, you're somethin'!" to Marion after the bar burns down.

I also liked (speaking of "squeaky voice"): "It's a date ... ya eat 'em!"

Haha, same, I always liked the "You eat em!" voice he does. Also, in Crystal Skull, when he shouts at the car that leaves him stranded in Doom Town, though can't remember exactly what he shouts.

Lonsome Indy

06-11-2008, 12:08 PM

nezobiwan

06-11-2008, 12:27 PM

i think thats why i liked Indy more than Han. there sometimes seems to a flatness (its no offense to him, Lucas does have a few lines that no actor could ever perform) but with Indy he seems in his element. and he seems to enjoy it too.
It just shows that he's not a on-note sort of a guy. As a kid, I never associated Han with Indy. To this day, they are totally separate in my mind. Only in ROTJ does he have an "Indy" quality to him. Considering the order the movies were filmed, this makes sense I guess.

I love how actor's can actually BECOME the character in this way. I never thought of Indy as "Harrison Ford." This happens so rarely... in fact I might start a thread in the Film forum about this "actor disappearence." :cool:

As to Indy's voice again... my Dad sounds a lot like him to the point where I thought my dad was Indiana Jones when I was really young. He doesn't look like him at all though... the fantasies of a child. :)

EDIT: Here's the "actor disappearence" thread: http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?p=344345#post344345

Darth Vile

06-11-2008, 04:58 PM

Also, in Crystal Skull, when he shouts at the car that leaves him stranded in Doom Town, though can't remember exactly what he shouts.

"That's great... don't wait for me" or something like that.

deckard24

06-11-2008, 06:47 PM

"That's great... don't wait for me" or something like that.
I think that's the line!:hat:

@Raiders 112390

I agree that Ford's voice is one of many aspects of the success of the Indy character. Not many actors have that authority or command such respect when they deliver their lines. Ford does have a great voice, that has only gotten more interesting as he's aged, and the gravely timber adds even more weight behind his delivery of lines.

@The Man
I agree that line is very Wayne-like, as is his line in KOTCS when he says to Spalko, "You're not from around here are you?".

Here's another thread regarding Ford's voice, it's uniqueness, and perhaps how it got that way:
http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?t=12910&highlight=harrison+ford%27s+voice

Can you imagine if Selleck actually was in the film?:dead:

DrHenryJonesJr

06-11-2008, 08:06 PM

In "Last Crusade" I also liked his reply to the knight who said, "You're strangley dressed for a knight."

"I'm not exactly ... a knight, what do you mean?" He had the last several words run together.

Great, great delivery...

robisindy

06-11-2008, 08:38 PM

I definitely agree that Harrison's voice is just another part of what makes Indiana Jones the great character that he is. His ability to deliver lines with confidence, wit, and charm is just terrific. An examples from each film of lines where I think this is on display:

ROTL: "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along!"

In TOD, when Willie says he'll get killed chasing after fortune and glory: "Maybe...but not today."

In LC: "Dad, we're well out of range."

KOTCS: "I'm sorry. I meant drop dead, comrade!"

muttjones

06-12-2008, 07:02 AM

did anyone think his voice sounded alot gravellier and harsher than it was in the original trilogy?

I think its cos of the age factor has changed his voice slightly.

:eek:

Benraianajones

06-12-2008, 07:31 AM

I think that is a very fair assumption!

I also liked in Raiders, when Indy gets "shot" in Marion's bar and he makes a shocked "hit by a bullet?" "uhhh!!" noise - then realises it was Marion shooting the enemy.

deckard24

06-12-2008, 08:46 AM

did anyone think his voice sounded alot gravellier and harsher than it was in the original trilogy?

I think its cos of the age factor has changed his voice slightly.

:eek:
That and the possibilty he's a smoker! It's been rumored for sometime that Ford smokes pot, not to mention he's been seen with a cigarette or cigar in his hand both on set and off since the 70's. I agree though his voice had changed a lot since Star Wars in 1977!

michael

06-14-2008, 04:36 PM

Raiders: "It's a date...you eat 'em!"

TOD: "Right...All of us!"

Giant Thuggee walks up to Indy when he's tied up... Indy: "Hi."

The noise he makes when the Giant Thuggee gives him that huge punch up against the minecart, and the noise he makes when he stops the minecart with his feet...only Ford could do that!

LC: "Dad!...They're coming back"
Always loved how he said that.

Professor Jones

06-14-2008, 04:47 PM

Absolutely!

The new 'PARTTIME!' line in the teaser-trailer is perfect. The way he delivers this line is essential Jones. Even the way it is pronounced, there is an action-connotation. He is a man of action. 'Part' is said with a snap, and 'time' is said more slowly, poetically. The intonation, too, is uptohigh-thenlow. I don't want to take this too far, but you get a sense of plane skip-landing, or a quick jump up, &then a slide....

Woa... you already HAVE taken this too far! No offence, but I find your analysis way too deep...

oliverjones18

06-14-2008, 04:48 PM

did anybody notice that at the beginning of KOTCS ford's voice sounded kinda fake like his but just deeper and more movie adjusted.

vf wing

06-16-2008, 06:55 PM

Absolutely!

The new 'PARTTIME!' line in the teaser-trailer is perfect. The way he delivers this line is essential Jones. Even the way it is pronounced, there is an action-connotation. He is a man of action. 'Part' is said with a snap, and 'time' is said more slowly, poetically. The intonation, too, is uptohigh-thenlow. I don't want to take this too far, but you get a sense of plane skip-landing, or a quick jump up, &then a slide....

The irony here is that another take was used in the actual film. The way he sounds now was a major factor in my adjusting to the new film. But on subsequent screenings i'm finding he has dramatically increased the range of emotion he can convey with his voice.

muttjones

06-17-2008, 01:51 AM

The irony here is that another take was used in the actual film. The way he sounds now was a major factor in my adjusting to the new film. But on subsequent screenings i'm finding he has dramatically increased the range of emotion he can convey with his voice.

Yeh i noticed that as well.

In the trailer he says it kind of angry and annoyed. In the film he says it more uncaring and lighter. It is completely different

Rococo

06-17-2008, 02:14 AM

did anybody notice that at the beginning of KOTCS ford's voice sounded kinda fake like his but just deeper and more movie adjusted.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who noticed that! The first few lines, his voice sounds awful- like he's trying to do an impression of Indiana Jones, instead of actually being him- the voice is deeper and more croaky. It stops after a few lines, but those first few lines he speaks after so long should be so iconic (especially coming off that great silhouette shot) and (for me) they are a bit ridiculous in the delivery, instead.

phildominator

06-17-2008, 02:49 AM

In a 4 minute span during the spiked room scene, Harrison Ford delivers great line after line...the authoritative and condescending, disgusted tone laced with sarcasm. Awesome....I can't imagine anyone else in Hollywood that could've delivered.

Selleck? Hell no -- his Indiana would've been too nice, laid back. Harrison's Indy is intense and demanding.

----------
as if the situation wasn't bad enough with the ceiling coming down...

~spikes appear out of the ceiling and floor~

Indiana: "THIS IS SERIOUS!!!"

-----------

Willie: "There are two dead people down here."
Indiana: "There are going to be two dead people in HERE!!!!"

-------

Willie: "What's the rush?"
Indiana: "It's a long story. Hurry or you're not going to hear it!"

-------

Of course, the 'we.are.going.to.die' line and facial frown.

Yure

06-17-2008, 05:01 AM

I want my family back! (cit.)

Agent Z

06-17-2008, 05:38 AM

"That's great... don't wait for me" or something like that.

"Sure! Great! Don't wait for me!"

That is one of my favorite scenes in the film. I love the way Harrison runs to the center of the street and his expression and delivery, physically and verbally, is pure Indy! Right up there with the "Why the hell didn't you make him finish school?!" delivery. :whip:

vf wing

06-17-2008, 08:39 AM

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who noticed that! The first few lines, his voice sounds awful- like he's trying to do an impression of Indiana Jones, instead of actually being him- the voice is deeper and more croaky. It stops after a few lines, but those first few lines he speaks after so long should be so iconic (especially coming off that great silhouette shot) and (for me) they are a bit ridiculous in the delivery, instead.

I still scratch my head over his opening deliveries. I really think he is just trying to emulate the B movie feel. So different tonally from the way he's played the character in the past. But i guess maybe that is the point!

StoneTriple

06-17-2008, 08:53 AM

"Sure! Great! Don't wait for me!"

That is one of my favorite scenes in the film. I love the way Harrison runs to the center of the street and his expression and delivery, physically and verbally, is pure Indy!

I particularly like Ford's way of conveying that Indy seems genuinely shocked that the Russians are completely ok with letting him die. Indy's solitude in that scene is palpable. That car speeds off and he's alone very quickly. No running after it, no jumping a fence to try to catch it, no point where he's nearly getting in it, etc. It's not even close to being an option for getting out of there.

Ford really shows Indy's desperation and fear. The whole scene is very surreal, and a testament to Ford's ability to make us feel it - to feel isolated and in danger.

Agent Z

06-17-2008, 09:27 AM

I particularly like Ford's way of conveying that Indy seems genuinely shocked that the Russians are completely ok with letting him die. Indy's solitude in that scene is palpable. That car speeds off and he's alone very quickly. No running after it, no jumping a fence to try to catch it, no point where he's nearly getting in it, etc. It's not even close to being an option for getting out of there.

Ford really shows Indy's desperation and fear. The whole scene is very surreal, and a testament to Ford's ability to make us feel it - to feel isolated and in danger.

Yeah, and it shows you how screwed the situation really is when he is going to the Commies for help. :p

Reading up on actual survival towns, I still can't believe they didn't have bomb shelters in them....just in case someone was actually stuck out there during a test like that.

Rococo

06-17-2008, 10:38 AM

I still scratch my head over his opening deliveries. I really think he is just trying to emulate the B movie feel. So different tonally from the way he's played the character in the past. But i guess maybe that is the point!

Maybe- and anywhere else in the film, it probably would have worked for a little bit- maybe to the Russians... but right in the beginning, as the first bit a of dialoge you hear from him... maybe I'm just too picky, but I cringe every time I hear it.

robisindy

06-17-2008, 11:31 AM

Maybe- and anywhere else in the film, it probably would have worked for a little bit- maybe to the Russians... but right in the beginning, as the first bit a of dialoge you hear from him... maybe I'm just too picky, but I cringe every time I hear it.

I don't know, I thought the opening lines were delivered appropriately. I think he was conveying, for one thing, how much he hated these Russians. I also think the more gravelly, gruff delivery was appropriate considering the fact that he's just been hauled miles and miles through the blazing heat of the desert stuffed in the trunk of a car. The one line that seemed a little off to me, even though it was funny, was the "the way you're sinking your teeth into those wubba yous" line, but I don't think anyone could sound natural delivering that line the way it was written. Other than that, I think Harrison was saying the dialogue appropriately for the scene.

StoneTriple

06-17-2008, 01:27 PM

I thought the opening lines were delivered appropriately. I think he was conveying, for one thing, how much he hated these Russians. I also think the more gravelly, gruff delivery was appropriate considering the fact that he's just been hauled miles and miles through the blazing heat of the desert stuffed in the trunk of a car.

Exactly. It wasn't him sitting in his home having a relaxed discussion with Stanforth.

Considering all he'd been through just before we meet up with him at the start of the film, he should have looked and sounded the way he did.

James

06-17-2008, 02:45 PM

LC: "Dad!...They're coming back"
Always loved how he said that.

The great thing about that moment is the way Ford plays Indy like a frustrated child.

"Sure! Great! Don't wait for me!"

That is one of my favorite scenes in the film. I love the way Harrison runs to the center of the street and his expression and delivery, physically and verbally, is pure Indy!

Ford's desperate run out into the street reminds me of a similar moment when he's chasing the basket in Cairo.

And for some reason, the moment when he's struggling to clear the cans that are preventing the fridge from closing reminds me of this banner pic. (A similar angle/action- but seen from the opposite viewpoint.)

http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders/index.php