The original screenplay for the film THE FUGITIVE Starred Tommy Lee Jones’s United States Marshal character as the villain

The fugitive first came across people’s screens with the 1963 tv series, starring David Janssen as Richard Kimble, a respected doctor who was arrested for the murder of his wife, although he did not commit the crime. Dr. Kimble escapes custody and goes on the run, searching for the real killer, hoping to avenge his wife and prove her innocence. All he knew was that the killer had one arm. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Philip Gerard (Barry Morse), was tasked with capturing the alleged criminal doctor and bringing him back to face arraignment. It’s a solid story that became a blockbuster movie in 1993, starring Harrison Ford as Dr. Kimble titular, e Tommy Lee Jones as the renamed Sam Gerard, a United States marshal.

The film was directed by Andrea Davis and written by David Twohy AND Jeb Stuart, and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Jones won Best Supporting Actor, and it was largely his charisma and on-screen chemistry with the hurt and grieving main character that made the film go from good to endearing. But the original script had a crazy twist that would have made Jones’ Sam Gerard a lot less likable.

According to a report in the latest issue of Empire Magazine (via /Film) to mark the film’s 30th anniversary, the director Andrea Davis he was hired to direct the film, and he said the script he was handed included an odd twist:

“[Gerard had] hired the one-armed man to kill Kimble, after Kimble botched an operation on Gerard’s wife. […] It didn’t make sense. But Harrison was committed to the film and his point of view was, ‘Hey, we’ll fix the script.'”

Davis hated the idea that this twist pointed to blame for the landing on the Dr. Kimble character, and wanted the story to keep him innocent. So the director called his sister Josie, a nurse, and she suggested the theme for the film. Davis recalled:

“I said, ‘Josie, what could a doctor do that would get him in a lot of trouble?’ He spoke to a brilliant young resident at his hospital, who said, ‘What if there’s a dangerous new drug on the market and the doctor says this drug is bullshit?’ So, that became the storyline.”

It was a great way to get to the story that kept it fresh and relevant, and kept it compelling and exciting for the audience. I have not seen The fugitive for a long time, but I think it’s time for a rewatch! It was such a beautiful movie.