When Harrison Ford was busy filming movies for the big screen in the 1990’s, he took the time to play Indiana Jones for the small screen in his only such original television appearance.
The decade didn’t see any Indiana Jones films made — the last one up to that point was 1989’s third installment, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, co-starring Sean Connery. The next one wouldn’t be made for another 19 years, in 2008. However, the decade did at least have an Indiana Jones show, called The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. Unfortunately, the show is more interesting that it is adventurous, and plays out like a Forrest Gump series in the sense that Indiana Jones just so happens to meet every famous person possible, though he did not teach Elvis how to dance.
The stories are slow-paced compared to an Indiana Jones movie, but one intriguing element that has since been erased is the work of George Hall, who played an elder Indiana Jones in his 90’s. Hall’s version of Indy would begin and end each episode, thus each show was really a flashback starring both Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flannery, younger versions of the character. Hall would usually begin the show by telling a story to his family, and then the lengthy flashback sequence would begin.
When the series was cancelled, George Lucas decided to release the series on DVD, but with a twist — make them mini-movies. Thus, he combined multiple episodes, re-shot some sequences to make them feel like one smooth movie (which is not necessarily accomplished), and got rid of the elder Indy altogether. This made some people wonder whether Indiana Jones was going to be killed off in later films. However, George did keep one particular appearance of another actor as Indy.
On March 13, 1993, fans of the show were delighted to watch the episode titled “Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues” because, as it began with a brief car chase in the snow, in the driver’s seat of the car being pursued was none other than Harrison Ford in fedora and in character as Indiana Jones.
In his only appearance as Indy outside of the films, Harrison Ford drives the car into a snow bank with his passenger, actor Saginaw Grant as his Native American friend, Greyhound. The sequence takes place in 1950 Wyoming. Indiana and Greyhound then flee the snowbound vehicle, taking big steps in the deep snow à la Han Solo on Hoth. As the snowstorm gets worse, they manage to get away from their pursuers who were trying to steal a relic in possession of Greyhound.
They find a nearby cabin and head there. Soon, while inside, they realize they are safe — or stuck — until the storm subsides. So, Indiana Jones tells Greyhound a story triggered by him finding a saxophone in the cabin that he briefly plays for his friend. Thus, the episode begins of Indy in 1920 Chicago, learning to play jazz. The show features actors playing such real-life people as Ernest Hemingway, Eliot Ness, and Sidney Bechet.
When the episode ends, we’re back in the cabin with Harrison Ford, but suddenly the bad guys have arrived with guns, bust into the house, and steal the relic. During this sequence, there is one quick moment that Indiana Jones fans would appreciate.
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy faces a man who has a sword and deals with him by simply shooting him. In Temple of Doom, Indy faces numerous bad guys simultaneously, so he nonchalantly reaches for his gun, but suddenly realizes his gun is missing. Without being able to shoot them, he runs.
Here, Indy doesn’t have a gun. So, he beats up the bad guys and then, as the leader of this small group of gangsters points a gun at Indy, Jones takes it from him and points it at him. That’s when the bad guy says, “My pistol is empty, Dr. Jones.. I don’t like loaded weapons.” Indy realizes he’s telling truth and resigns himself to tossing the bad guy his gun back.
Then, we see a pretty odd ending. Jones sits down and starts playing the sax as the gangsters leave with the relic. We then have a strange Walls of Jericho moment, as Indy plays the sax so loudly — or so poorly — that the snow from the roof falls onto the thieves and buries them. Indiana and Greyhound then take back the relic and flee.
Thus ends Harrison Ford’s unique Indiana Jones appearance, which now can be seen on Disney Plus. They have uploaded the series — not the original TV versions, but the re-done movie versions.
If you haven’t seen the series, you might find it interesting, if not for all the other cameos, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christopher Lee, Daniel Craig, Elizabeth Hurley, and more.
Oh, and Harrison Ford.
