Harrison Ford Calls This Role “Dog****,” Says He Took It Just to Get Work

When Star Wars hit theaters in 1977, it changed Hollywood forever. You’d think Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, would’ve instantly become one of the most in-demand actors in the world. But that didn’t happen right away.

Even though the movie was a huge hit, the cast didn’t come out of it as instant stars. Instead, the success was mostly credited to the groundbreaking effects and the overall magic of George Lucas’ universe.

Ford already had some solid work under his belt, like American Graffiti and The Conversation, but after Star Wars, he didn’t get flooded with offers like many expected.

Things eventually worked out for him with The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark coming back-to-back. But right after Star Wars, Ford found himself in a tight spot. He needed a job, and the only role he was offered was in a movie he now regrets deeply.

That movie was Force 10 from Navarone, a sequel to the 1961 war film The Guns of Navarone. While the original starred big names like Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn, the 1978 sequel had a much smaller lineup, including Carl Weathers, Richard Kiel, and Franco Nero. Ford signed on, but not because he was excited about it.

In The Making of The Empire Strikes Back by J.W. Rinzler, Ford explained his thinking at the time. “I saw the success of the first film as an opportunity to diversify,” he said. “To become known as an actor, not a person attached to Star Wars, which could have given me a beginning and an end to my career, but no middle.”

He hoped to be seen as someone who could play a wide range of characters. “I wanted to do roles where the humanity of that person is available regardless of the part they’re playing,” he added.

But Force 10 from Navarone didn’t turn out the way he’d hoped.

“Unless you’re in a piece of total dog**** like Force 10 from Navarone in which you can’t do anything,” Ford said bluntly. He admitted he only did the film because it was the only job he was offered and because “they were going to give me billing above the title, second to Robert Shaw.”

The critical reception of Force 10 from Navarone was mixed to negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, only 68% of 22 reviews were positive, while Metacritic gave it a score of 42 out of 100, reflecting average reviews.

Roger Ebert gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, suggesting it felt routine and uninspired, noting that director Guy Hamilton seemed to be on autopilot. Harrison Ford also admitted it wasn’t the right role for him, though he said the film was made with honest intentions.

It’s clear Ford knew the film wasn’t great. But at the time, he didn’t have much choice. Even after Star Wars, he, and likely co-stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, weren’t getting dozens of job offers. Force 10 from Navarone was the one opportunity he had, and even though he now calls it “dogshit,” it helped him stay visible just long enough for better roles to come along.

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