Witness (1985)

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

William Kelley (story) and
Pamela Wallace (story) ...

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Harrison Ford is John Book - A big city cop who knows too much. His only evidence: a small boy who's seen too much...

Plot:

A young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder; policeman John Book goes into hiding in Amish country to protect him until the trial.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Kiss | Buggy | Cop | Blood

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 25 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Aug. 7

3:00 PM

AMC

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Det. Capt. John Book
Kelly McGillis	...	Rachel Lapp
Josef Sommer	...	Chief Paul Schaeffer
Lukas Haas	...	Samuel Lapp
Jan Rubes	...	Eli Lapp
Alexander Godunov	...	Daniel Hochleitner
Danny Glover	...	Det. Lt. James McFee
Brent Jennings	...	Det. Sgt. Elden Carter
Patti LuPone	...	Elaine
Angus MacInnes	...	Det. 'Fergie'
Frederick Rolf	...	Stoltzfus
Viggo Mortensen	...	Moses Hochleitner
John Garson	...	Bishop Tchantz
Beverly May	...	Mrs. Yoder
Ed Crowley	...	Sheriff

Also Known As:

Called Home (USA) (working title)
Testigo en peligro (Argentina) (Peru) (Venezuela) [es]
A Testemunha (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Único testigo (Spain) [es]
A Tanu (Hungary) [hu]
Ed, Ha- (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Einzige Zeuge, Der (West Germany) [de]
Peter Weirin todistaja (Finland) [fi]
Swiadek (Poland) [pl]
Témoin sous surveillance (Canada: French title) [fr]
Todistaja (Finland) [fi]
Vidnet (Denmark) [da]
Vittne till mord (Sweden) [sv]
Witness - il testimone (Italy) [it]
Witness: Témoin sous surveillance (France) [fr]

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #27540) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Ireland:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

30th Street Station - 3001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of John Book.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the Philadelphia cops are talking on the phone to the cops in Lancaster, first the Lancaster cop pronounces Lancaster (lank aster) like we natives do, but in the next breath, he pronounces it LANcaster like everyone outside a 25 mile radius does. Is he local or isn't he?

Quotes:

Rachel Lapp: You said we'd be safe in Philadelphia!
John Book: Well I was wrong!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: Yetta's Letters (#6.18)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

SHOCKING BEHAVIOR

Deep and wonderful

This beautiful love story contrasts corruption with goodness.

Harrison Ford underplays his role so well it is scandalous – his Hollywood buddies must have laughed their arses off at him taking this role… what some cop living with Amish? Sounds lame right, until all the Oscar nom's start pouring in … But he is nothing short of brilliant as Detective John Book. I love the scene when he gets that old car-radio working, that old heap of junk in a barn that opens up his love with Rachel, and she dances and sings for the first time in her life.

It is beautifully written, the screenplay is flawless, the editing is flawless. The pacing is flawless but won't appeal to those who want car-chases and guns going off all over the place, and a beer and a hot-dog for dinner ... uh you know who I mean …

This film gives a gentle insight into the simple sweetness of Amish life. Us "sophisticates" with our frequent-flyers and cell phones and iPods and laptops and instant everything … we all may be missing something they already found…

A wonderfully inspirational and deeply satisfying film.