What can happen if a beloved Hollywood actor despised his sci-fi flick so much that he criticized it in public? In 1982, the actor playing the lead role in ‘Blade Runner‘ found himself in the middle of a supposedly torturous production process. Unable to cope with the director and forced to make decisions that he absolutely did not agree with, Harrison Ford grew frustrated.
Years later, he unleashed a sarcastic, deadpan moment on Hollywood’s biggest stage, utilizing the brutal, panicked notes of the film’s own executive producers to pick the movie apart. Highlighting frantic studio complaints about the film’s tempo, music, and editing, the critique culminated in a savage rhetorical question of the chaotic battle behind one of sci-fi’s most celebrated masterpieces.
Why Did Harrison Ford Hate Working On ‘Blade Runner’?
‘Blade Runner‘ is considered one of the greatest sci-fi movies to date. However, participating in the film was far from easy for Harrison Ford, who encountered serious problems with the production process from the very beginning. For one thing, the director and Ford differed in their understanding of particular scenes.
Related: ‘Blade Runner 2099’: Everything You Need To Know
As a result, creative disagreements made filming a challenging experience, with Ford and Ridley Scott seemingly trying to prove each other wrong. Besides, Ford criticized another aspect of the film, and it was the addition of narration that took place after test screenings.
When test screenings revealed accessibility issues with the film, the studio decided to add narration. The changes extended to the ending as well, with the studio opting for a more upbeat conclusion that Ford believed weakened the story’s impact.
Interestingly, Ford rattled off the harsh studio notes by ‘Blade Runner‘ executive producers Jerry Perenchio and Bud Yorkin during the 2021 Academy Awards for Best Film Editing.
“Why is this voiceover track so terrible? He sounds drugged. Were they all on drugs? Deckard at the piano is interminable,” Ford said. He used the notes from a January 1982 screening of the film as a funny example of how complicated the movie editing process can be.
Ford Revisited A Brutal Set Of Notes About ‘Blade Runner’
The notes took aim at nearly every aspect of the film, from its narrative and pacing to its editing and individual scenes. The critique reached its peak with the blunt observation, “This movie gets worse every screening.”
Although Ford did not write the comments himself, his deadpan delivery helped introduce them to a new audience and reignited discussion about the film’s troubled production history.
In Case You Missed It: 25 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows
“The flashback dialogue is confusing. Is he listening to a tape? Why do we need the third cut to the eggs? The synagogue music is awful on the street. We’ve got to use Vangelis. Up to Zora’s death, the movie is deadly dull,” he further said.
Ironically, despite the harsh assessment contained in the notes, ‘Blade Runner‘ would go on to become one of the most acclaimed science-fiction films ever made. Even Ford’s well-documented frustrations with the production could not prevent the movie from achieving classic status in the decades that followed.
You Might Also Like To Read: 10 Sci-Fi Movies That Feel A Little Too Real
