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Many may not realize it now, but between his initial appearances as Han Solo in the groundbreaking “Star Wars” series, Harrison Ford was far from idle. In 1979 alone, the year preceding the release of “The Empire Strikes Back,” Ford graced the screen in four different films. Among these was “The Frisco Kid,” a comedy Western that saw him share the spotlight with the beloved comedic star of the time, Gene Wilder. In this film, Ford played a bank robber alongside Wilder’s endearing rabbi, creating an unlikely yet memorable on-screen partnership.
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Directed by the esteemed Robert Aldrich, known for classics like “The Dirty Dozen” and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”, “The Frisco Kid” initially received a lukewarm reception from critics. However, over time, audiences have come to appreciate its quirky charm. While it might not rank among the top-tier films of either Ford or Wilder and doesn’t reach the comedic heights of a film like “Blazing Saddles,” it nevertheless offers an enjoyable escape for a laid-back afternoon, particularly for enthusiasts of its lead actors or the comedy Western genre.
When reflecting on Harrison Ford’s formative years in Hollywood, most people immediately recall his iconic roles in “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Blade Runner,” and “American Graffiti.” However, his early career was significantly influenced by the Western genre, a fact often overlooked. Long before “The Frisco Kid,” Ford had already accumulated a series of credits in Westerns, both in cinema and television.
Ford’s official on-screen debut came with the 1967 Western film “A Time for Killing,” followed by appearances in the TV series “The Virginian” the same year. His journey through the Western landscape continued with roles in “Journey to Shiloh” and appearances in the series “The Intruders” and the iconic “Gunsmoke.” While his involvement in the less-than-stellar “Cowboys & Aliens” might not be his proudest moment, Ford’s return to the Western genre with the “Yellowstone” prequel series “1923” in 2002 was met with much enthusiasm, reaffirming his enduring connection to the genre.
Much of Ford’s early acting work was in Westerns
CBS
When people think of Harrison Ford’s early career as an actor, they tend to go straight to “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Blade Runner,” and maybe “American Graffiti.” But he’d actually been kicking around Hollywood since the mid 1960s, and a somewhat surprising genre dominated much of that early work. Even before starring in “The Frisco Kid,” Ford already had multiple credits under his belt in Westerns on both the big and small screens.
In fact, Ford’s first official screen credit was in a 1967 Western film called “A Time for Killing.” Also that same year, he made his television debut in two episodes of the Western series “The Virginian.” Between those and “The Frisco Kid,” Ford would star in the movie “Journey to Shiloh” as well as appear in both the show “The Intruders” and the legendary Western series “Gunsmoke.” We’ll gloss over how he was in the dreadful “Cowboys & Aliens” — which 40% of fans agree is Ford’s worst movie — and focus on the fact that he made his triumphant return to the Western genre when he starred in the “Yellowstone” prequel series “1923” in 2002.
