Does 'Firewall' failure mean Ford is lost on youth?

Two previews on the same night - so which movie do I attend? Harrison Ford battling high-tech hackers in "Firewall," or Steve Martin fighting Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau legacy in "The Pink Panther"?

Early last week, it seemed best for me to pick the about-to-open film I thought would be of more box-office interest. Can't miss with Harrison Ford, eh?

Well, "Firewall" turned out not to be first-gear Ford, but I was surprised to learn that his movie was swamped last weekend by a certain inept detective whose film was even more tepidly reviewed. "The Pink Panther" opened at No. 1 with a $20.2-million gross. "Firewall" faltered at No. 4, with $13.6 million.

(A third new film, "Final Destination 3," the weekend's No. 2 grosser, didn't figure in my plans; I wasn't inclined to see another variation on that horror series' deathly theme.)

A couple of days ago, an acquaintance in the movie-distribution business told me why "Pink Panther" held sway over "Firewall": Young people don't recognize Harrison Ford.

It was a tough thing to hear: I've spent many of my adult years watching Ford films - the first "Star Wars" trilogy, the Indiana Jones epics, "Witness" (a longtime favorite) - leave their paybox competition in shreads. Ford's track record has been more spotty of late - his last film before "Firewall," 2003's "Hollywood Homicide," was one of his worst. But I thought his return to films after such a long time away would attract more curiosity than it has.

Well, then, I asked my acquaintance, how to account for Steve Martin - at 60 only three years Ford's junior - faring better with the youth-majority audience. I was reminded that Martin made the "Cheaper by the Dozen" pictures, which have had much pre-adult appeal. Shrewd, that Mr. Martin.

So how does this look for Ford? I wonder if the folks behind the announced fourth Indiana Jones film are sweating a little. Maybe they should get Hilary Duff to co-star.

- By Ed Bradley, Journal Columnist