LOS ANGELES, Californa—Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is such a larger-than-life, iconic film classic hero that when the actor strode into a hotel meeting room, one half-expected to hear John Williams’ rousing theme song from the movie series.

But Harrison, wearing a simple suit and shirt, is not that kind of guy. He’s not the type who requires blaring trumpets and French horns to herald his entrance. “Life is good,” he said with a smile. “I can’t complain. If I did, nobody would listen to me anyway.” Such wry, self-effacing statements reflect the man who once left acting to work as a carpenter.

When a journalist asked an “intellectual”-angle question about the much-awaited, 1950s-set “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” on behalf of her editor, Harrison cracked, “Well, isn’t that nice? Let’s send him to an intellectual movie. That will make him happy.”

When the same reporter posed another question written by her boss, about Indiana Jones’ “un-modern approach to women,” Harrison smiled and quipped, “It is set in 1957, for Christ’s sake. We reflect the characters in that period of time. But I also want to say that Indiana Jones loves women. There’s a nice way of doing that and a not-so-nice way of doing that. I think Indiana Jones is a guy with a very strong moral core.”

Pure pleasure

He said of the fedora-wearing, whip-cracking, leather-jacketed archaeologist Dr. Jones that generations of film lovers will likely remember him for: “What makes him interesting is the story that he’s in. He’s part and parcel of an incredible meal for an audience. It’s pure pleasure.”

So get ready for the fourth installment of the blockbuster series that reunites him with Steven Spielberg (director) and George Lucas (he co-wrote and produced). Making their grand entry in an “Indiana Jones” movie are Shia LaBeouf, as Mutt Williams, who may or may not be the son of Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen, back from the first film) and Cate Blanchett as the villain.

Harrison granted us this exclusive talk in LA more than a week before “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” makes its world premiere in Cannes this Sunday.

Are you concerned that young moviegoers may not be familiar with the “Indiana Jones” movies?

I hardly think we’re coming to the audience that doesn’t know the “Indiana Jones” films. These films have been enormously successful on DVD and videotape. They are such good family films that they have been passed on by parents to the generation that has not seen them in theaters. This latest film is a wonderful opportunity to see it in theater, in the full scale it was meant to be seen in.

How about the huge box-office record numbers set by the previous three films? Are you daunted by the challenge to match or surpass these records?

That’s something we choose not to impose on ourselves. Steven, George and I are of a different mind-set. We do the best we can with the material that we have and love to work on. So when we get a chance to make a movie like this, which is wonderful, pure entertainment, we don’t burden ourselves with those questions. We made a movie that we’re all very proud of. We’re not thinking very much about the future. We’re expecting it to do well. After that, who knows?

The whip completes the iconic film hero look of Indiana Jones. Can you talk about Anthony De Longis, the whip master who taught you the ropes, so to speak?

Anthony is a real artist and he taught me quite a lot. In the beginning, I almost took my ear off with the whip. The first couple of weeks training with the whip is painful. One is encouraged to wear a hat, maybe even goggles, in classes. But once you get the hang of it, it stays with you.

Part of the appeal of these films is its comedic element. Can you elaborate on the humorous touch?

The comedy has always been an important part of the character, and of these films. We have a wonderful script. A lot of the comedy comes out of the script — from the relationships with the actors and circumstantially during the shooting. The comedy is one of the more important elements in the series, although it is not often acknowledged. I do think of them as sort of adventure comedies.

In these films, the villains are just as important — plus they make us root for Indiana Jones even more. In two of the previous films, the Nazis were the villains. Now that this film is set in the Cold War era of the 1950s, it’s the Russians.

Really? I thought it was the Australians (laughter). I’m referring to Ms Blanchett’s nationality.

It makes absolute sense. The period is in the Cold War so we’re talking about a time in which the academe was under considerable threat from demagogues such as Senator [Joseph] McCarthy (who led the anti-communist witch-hunt in the ’50s). It’s a wonderful opportunity to get out of the Nazi habit and expand our opportunities to use other kinds of villains.

Talk about Cate as the newest addition to the “Indiana Jones” gallery of villains.

She has made a stunning contribution to the film. She is absolutely wonderful [as] Irina Spalko, a very strong and vivid character. We’re very lucky to have Cate. These [“Indiana”] films are inhabited by terrific actors, with the possible exception of myself. But I get to work with really great ones in a whole range of parts, from the very top, all the way down. Cate, Shia, Ray Winstone, Karen and Jim Broadbent... They are fantastic. It’s so much fun to work with them.

How false were the reports on the Internet that Cate’s behavior on the set was “bizarre” as she tried to stay in character?

Can we say bulls**t? It’s just amazing what you can read on the Internet — it’s a method of disseminating information which does not have to face tests of truthfulness.

Cate is a totally professional actress. She has no requirement or need to stay in character between takes. She is a perfectly appropriate social companion when the camera isn’t rolling.

What I can tell you is that the first time I met Cate, she was bewigged and in costume. We were pressed into service very quickly, so we didn’t have very much time for small talk. About two weeks later, there was this blonde girl on the set, hanging around near the camera. I said to somebody, “Who is that blonde chick?” He said, “You idiot, that’s Cate Blanchett.” Cate’s portrayal of her character is so strong and successful, I didn’t recognize her out of costume.

After the first three “Indiana Jones” movies, Steven Spielberg directed serious films like “Munich” and “Amistad.” Did you find that he’s different now?

Steven was always very thoughtful — sort of a closet intellectual. He’s very capable of deep thought. I think he wants to explore intellectual challenges. He has the wisdom to devote his energy and passion to things that interest him or he wants to work through in his mind. I applaud the films he has done, especially what we call the more serious films.

But there’s no less of a serious filmmaker at the helm in a movie like “Indiana Jones.” Strange as it may seem, he is a better director than he was 20 years ago. It’s hard to imagine because Steven was already one of the best filmmakers in the world 20 years ago.

He’s the hardest working man in show business. He built a way for himself to prepare and develop films with astonishing capacity. He is prolific. The quality of the work he does is as high as it gets. It was an 80-day shooting schedule. I had one day off but every day, going to work was pure pleasure.

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.