Mark Harmon is a household name, especially for his legendary portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS. He’s the tough guy with a soft heart, the kind of character who doesn’t need to say much to dominate a scene. But before he found his groove as America’s favorite silver-haired crime solver, Harmon took a very different career detour.
Yes, long before NCIS, Chicago Hope, or even The West Wing, Mark Harmon tried his hand at comedy. And not just any comedy—a quirky, offbeat 80s flick that tried to be light-hearted and breezy… but fell flat with critics and audiences alike.
Let’s talk about “Let’s Get Harry” — the Mark Harmon movie you’ve probably never seen… and maybe for good reason.
The Movie: Let’s Get Harry (1986)
An Action-Comedy With an Identity Crisis
Let’s Get Harry was intended to be a zany rescue mission turned buddy comedy. Think The A-Team meets Weekend Warriors. The film follows a group of average American factory workers who band together to rescue a kidnapped friend (named Harry) from a South American dictatorship after the U.S. government refuses to intervene.
Mark Harmon plays Harry Burck Jr., the title character who—ironically—is barely in the movie. The film is less about him and more about the ragtag group trying to save him.
A Strange Mix of Genres
Is it a comedy? An action flick? A satire? Even the movie doesn’t seem to know. It tries to juggle too many tones, bouncing from goofy bromance to deadly shootouts without a clear direction. The result? Confused audiences and critics who didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or just walk out.
The Cast Had Potential… On Paper
Aside from Mark Harmon, the film boasted some serious star power:
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Gary Busey – As wild and unpredictable as ever.
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Robert Duvall – Seriously, Oscar-winner Robert Duvall was in this.
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Michael Schoeffling (a.k.a. Jake from Sixteen Candles)
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Rick Rossovich (Top Gun, Roxanne)
Yet somehow, even this stacked cast couldn’t save the movie from itself.
The Director Disowned It (Yes, Really)
Here’s where it gets weird: director Stuart Rosenberg (known for Cool Hand Luke) actually removed his name from the film. That’s right—he replaced his credit with the pseudonym “Alan Smithee”, a classic Hollywood move when a director feels the final cut was so butchered, they no longer want to be associated with it.
Ouch.
Why the Film Flopped
1. Tonal Whiplash
The film never settled on a genre. It couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be an action-packed thriller, a satire, or a heartfelt drama. That confusion trickled down into the story, performances, and pacing.
2. Marketing Meltdown
The promotional materials tried to paint it as a fun, adventurous romp, but audiences quickly realized it wasn’t what was promised. It was too dark to be funny and too silly to be taken seriously.
3. Lost in the Crowd
The mid-80s were packed with high-quality action comedies. Think Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, and Back to the Future. Let’s Get Harry just didn’t have the chops—or the buzz—to compete.
Mark Harmon’s Role: The Missing Man
Ironically, even though Harmon’s character is central to the plot, he spends most of the film off-screen. When he does appear, it’s underwhelming—he doesn’t get much dialogue or development.
It was a weird casting choice, especially considering Harmon was just starting to gain momentum in his career. At the time, he was gaining heat as People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive (1986)—and yet, Let’s Get Harry did nothing to capitalize on that.
The Silver Lining: Every Star Has a Misstep
Let’s be fair—every actor has a flop (or three) on their résumé. And to Harmon’s credit, he bounced back quickly. Just a few years later, he was killing it on St. Elsewhere, then Chicago Hope, and eventually leading NCIS to global success for nearly two decades.
In a weird way, Let’s Get Harry may have helped Harmon realize where his true strengths lay: serious, grounded characters with a strong moral compass—not goofy rescue victims in genre-hopping films.
Why NCIS Fans Should Still Check It Out (Sort Of)
If you’re an NCIS superfan or a die-hard Harmon completist, Let’s Get Harry is a fascinating time capsule. It shows a very different version of the actor we know and love today. You’ll see a younger, clean-shaven Harmon trying to find his place in Hollywood.
Is it a great film? Not really. But it’s a fun way to see how far he’s come—and how easily his career could have gone in a totally different direction.
Conclusion: A Swing and a Miss That Led to a Home Run
Let’s Get Harry may not have been Mark Harmon’s finest hour, but it’s an important chapter in his journey. Every actor needs a few duds to figure out where they truly shine. For Harmon, it took a few misfires before he landed the role of a lifetime in NCIS.
So yes, he took a swing with this forgotten 80s flick. And yes, he missed. But sometimes, striking out is just part of the road to becoming a legend.
FAQs
1. What is “Let’s Get Harry” about?
It’s a 1986 action-comedy about American factory workers who launch a rescue mission in South America to save their kidnapped friend, Harry.
2. Why is Mark Harmon barely in the movie?
Although the movie is about rescuing his character, Harry, Harmon has minimal screen time and limited dialogue, making his role surprisingly underused.
3. Was “Let’s Get Harry” successful?
No, it flopped critically and commercially. Even the director disowned it, using the alias “Alan Smithee.”
4. Is the movie available to watch today?
It’s hard to find but occasionally surfaces on DVD or digital rental platforms. It has something of a cult “so bad it’s good” status now.
5. Did this movie hurt Mark Harmon’s career?
Not really. While it didn’t help, Harmon rebounded quickly with major TV roles and eventually found massive success with NCIS.
Custom Message:
“Every Hollywood legend has a few duds hidden in the vault. If you ever feel like you missed the mark—just remember, even Mark Harmon once got lost in the jungle of bad scripts. Keep swinging.”
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a downloadable blog format, or need more forgotten Mark Harmon gems unearthed!
