Cannes basks in sunshine at last as crowds await Dr Jones
Steven Spielberg and the cast of the new Indiana Jones movie will have woken with smiles on their faces this morning. After days of rain Cannes is basking under blue skies.
There's an unmistakable sense of Indy-mania on the Croisette, with scores of fans already surrounding the Palais (the complex of cinemas and media facilities that hosts screenings), holding signs begging for a precious "invitation" to this evening's world premiere.
Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull sees Ford back as the fedora-wearing adventurer for the first time in 19 years.
Excitement reaches fever-pitch today when the film shows out of competition, with a press conference and photocall this afternoon.
The fourth instalment in Steven Spielberg's blockbusting adventure series has taken nearly two decades to reach the big screen after the release of the rather misnamed Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, which saw Indiana and his grumpy father, played by Sean Connery, wrest the Holy Grail from the clutches of the Nazis.
The third adventure became the highest grossing picture of 1989 and of the entire series. Episode IV is expected to supersede all predecessors.
The new film sees Indy and sidekick Mac (British star Ray Winstone) escape a close scrape with Soviet agents on a remote airfield. Dr Jones returns home to Marshall College - only to find things have gone from bad to worse.
The dean of the college explains that Jones is under suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him.
On his way out of town, Indy meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries a grudge and a proposition for the archaeologist - if he will help him on a personal mission, he could make one of the most spectacular finds in history - the Crystal Skull of Akator. The archaeological treasure is an object of fascination, superstition and fear.
As Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru, they realise they are not alone in their mission. Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull. Chief among them is ice maiden Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe. They believe the find could help the Soviets dominate the world - if they can unlock its secrets.
Indy and Mutt must find a way to grapple with enemies and friends of questionable motives and stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into deadly hands.
At the age of 65, Harrison Ford recently tied with Die Hard star Bruce Willis for the top spot in a Pearl and Dean poll to find the greatest ever action heroes.
If the new film is also a smash hit, it could spark a renewed interest in archaeology.
Ford has been elected to the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)'s board of directors after glamorising the subject on the silver screen.
AIA president Brian Rose recently said that Ford, in his role as Indiana, had played a major part in stimulating interest in archaeological exploration.
The group promotes archaeological excavation, research, education and preservation around the world.
Crystal skulls are intricately-carved artefacts which have been linked to the Aztec and Mayan civilisations.
Some people believe they have magical healing properties.
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is released in the UK on Thursday, May 22.
