Harrison Ford scored his first important movie role in George Lucas’ nostalgic comedy-drama American Graffiti, a $140 million box-office hit back in 1973, but his big break almost turned into a big nothing when he was nearly fired from the film for a completely absurd reason.
Four years before Star Wars changed the world of movies forever, while significantly altering Ford’s career course, Lucas hired the future Han Solo star to play one of the car-crazy 1950s kids in his Oscar-nominated 1973 hit.
Ford’s American Graffiti role was relatively minor, but he nevertheless made an impact as part of the film’s impressive ensemble, contributing in his small way to the movie receiving five Academy Award nominations while grossing $140 million worldwide.
But Ford’s American Graffiti breakthrough almost didn’t happen, as he was nearly fired from the movie for being greedy at the craft services table, as he revealed in a new interview (via Variety):
A lot of actors came out of that show, and I thought it was remarkable the way George [Lucas] used music in that film; it was a rare use of contemporary music. That movie was fun to make. It was made very, very cheaply. I do remember I was almost fired for taking two doughnuts instead of my deserved one.
What Ford’s Story Means For His Legacy With Lucas
Ford’s Antics On American Graffiti Went Beyond Doughnut Indulgence
Ford may indeed have nearly been fired from American Graffiti after taking two doughnuts instead of one, but that may have been a case of the straw that almost broke the camel’s back, given the other shenanigans the star reportedly got up to on the movie’s set.
In his book Mythmaker: The Life and Work of George Lucas, author John Baxter related some wild stories about the making of American Graffiti. In the craziest tale, a drunken Ford and two of his co-stars are said to have amused themselves by climbing the Holiday Inn sign at their H๏τel, leading to Ford being kicked out.
Ford made an uncredited cameo appearance in the sequel More American Graffiti, playing a motorcycle cop.
Ford’s inebriated sign-climbing and doughnut-hogging may have nearly gotten him fired, but American Graffiti director Lucas obviously saw past the star’s antics, having enough confidence in him to cast him in Star Wars.
It would have been truly sad had Ford and Lucas’ collaboration been terminated early, over a single pastry. But cooler heads prevailed, and history would play out as it was always meant to, with Ford becoming Solo.
Our Take On Ford, Lucas And American Graffiti
Ford’s AG Appearance Hinted At His Han Solo Future
American Graffiti casts Ford as Bob Falfa, the drag-racing rival of Paul Le Mat’s John Milner. Falfa may be somewhat of a bad guy, and Ford’s part may be small, but the swagger that would later blossom into Han Solo’s iconic cockiness is already evident.
Lucas must have known that Ford would be right at home behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon, after seeing him in the driver’s seat of Falfa’s 1955 Chevy. Han Solo’s brusque way with the ladies is also on display in American Graffiti, in Ford’s scenes with Mackenzie Phillips’ Carol.
It’s easy now to watch Ford as Falfa and see, in embryonic form, the star presence that would burst forth in Star Wars. But it may not have been as evident at the time, at least to audiences and critics.
Lucas must have seen something special in Ford, however, to keep him on American Graffiti despite his doughnut pilferage.
Source: Variety
