Last week Über-mega-superstar Harrison Ford made a fleeting appearance in Kansas City.  He was in town to promote his new movie “42” along with the rest of the cast.  Imagine, if you will, a red carpet premiere here in Cowtown.  Rarely do you see paparazzi, autograph hunters and national media muckety-mucks all roaming around the KC metro.

“42” tells the story of Jackie Robinson … the first African-American to break into major league baseball.  Not only did Robinson get his start playing for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues, his legacy lives on here at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Ford is known to be a notoriously tough interview, but he couldn’t have been more pleasant or delightful the night of the premiere.  While I wouldn’t exactly call him chatty, he was low-key and deliberate in his answers.  (How low-key? I had to strain to hear him and I was standing less than a foot away from the man, the myth, the legend.)

We were warned ahead of time not, repeat, NOT, to ask him any questions about Indiana Jones or Star Wars.  Rumor has it, Ford has been known to walk away from an interview if quizzed about his illustrious past.  Just this week he got into an alleged (mock?) argument with Jimmy Kimmel –who spoofed Harrison’s disdain for certain questions.

When it comes to big names, rarely does anyone’s star shine brighter than Harrison Ford.  His movies have made over $6 billion worldwide, so it was no wonder that everyone wanted a piece of him (including some incredibly pushy sci-fi fanatics who wanted him to sign their incidental Star Wars merchandise and/or various sundry item.)

Oh … and in case you were wondering … “42” is a brilliant slice-of-life period film.  Heartfelt, sincere and reminds you of a world when Jackie Robinson was (and remains) a trailblazing pioneer in the world of sports.

And Ford is — once again — a cinematic gem.