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Witness (1985) 7.5
Ratings:
7.5/10 from 45,813 users
Metascore: 76/100
Reviews: 145 user | 68 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com 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. Director:Peter Weir |
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Title: Witness (1985)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Harrison Ford | ... | ||
| Kelly McGillis | ... | ||
| Josef Sommer | ... | ||
| Lukas Haas | ... | ||
| Jan Rubes | ... | ||
| Alexander Godunov | ... | ||
| Danny Glover | ... | ||
| Brent Jennings | ... | ||
| Patti LuPone | ... | ||
| Angus MacInnes | ... | ||
 |
Frederick Rolf | ... | |
| Viggo Mortensen | ... | ||
|
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John Garson | ... | |
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Beverly May | ... | |
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Ed Crowley | ... | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Samuel Lap is a young Amish boy who witnesses a murder in Philadelphia while traveling with his mother Rachel. A good cop named John Book must go with them into hiding when the killers come after them. All three retreat to Amish country and Book has to adjust to the new life style, and his feelings for the boy's mother. Of course the killers are still on their trail. Written by Greg Bole <bole@life.bio.sunysb.edu>
Taglines:
Harrison Ford is John Book - A big city cop who knows too much. His only evidence: a small boy who's seen too much... See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
8 February 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Called Home See more »Filming Locations:
30th Street Station - 3001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$65,500,000 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby (as Dolby Stereo)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Samuel Lapp: Um... there were two.
John Book: There were TWO men?
Samuel Lapp: I only saw one.
John Book: [turning to Carter] Does anybody else know about this?
Det. Sgt. Elden Carter: No, no one's had a chance to talk to him.
John Book: What did he look like, the man that you saw?
Samuel Lapp: He was... like him.
[pointing at Carter]
John Book: He was a black man, had black skin?
[...]
See more »
(1959)
Written by Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler
Performed on a radio by Greg Chapman
Also partially sung by Harrison Ford (uncredited) and danced by him with Kelly McGillis (uncredited)
Courtesy of Abkco Music, Inc.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Sylvester Stallone was an early choice for the role of John Book. When he turned down the role, he said it was one of the worst decisions of his career. See more »Goofs
John Book's Volkswagen hit the birdhouse and broke its windshield. Later the car is seen in the barn with an unbroken windshield. See more »Quotes
John Book: Samuel, the man who was killed tonight was a policeman, and it's my job to find out what happened. I want you to tell me everything you saw when you went into the bathroom.Samuel Lapp: Um... there were two.
John Book: There were TWO men?
Samuel Lapp: I only saw one.
John Book: [turning to Carter] Does anybody else know about this?
Det. Sgt. Elden Carter: No, no one's had a chance to talk to him.
John Book: What did he look like, the man that you saw?
Samuel Lapp: He was... like him.
[pointing at Carter]
John Book: He was a black man, had black skin?
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
The closing shot of John Book, driving away in his car passing Daniel provides an initial backdrop for the end credits. See more »Soundtracks
" (WHAT A) WONDERFUL WORLD"(1959)
Written by Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler
Performed on a radio by Greg Chapman
Also partially sung by Harrison Ford (uncredited) and danced by him with Kelly McGillis (uncredited)
Courtesy of Abkco Music, Inc.
See more »
I would like to clear up a couple of comments made by movieguy1021, who wrote:
"One thing I didn't understand is how come everyone seemed to use such strong accents yet they've been living in America for a long time."
Most Amish communities mainly speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a dialect of German, hence the accents in the film. Amish children learn English in school.
And:
"Also, although I may not be the end-all, be-all of Amish knowledge, it seems like for people so strict in their rules, they broke them easily. They didn't seem to object to riding in trains or cars, or even using technology."
The Amish accept some forms of modernisation as long as it is not deemed disruptive to their social structure. Some forms of primitive technology are accepted in their community, such as devices that assist with milking cows. Likewise they accept rides in cars, but members of the community cannot own them.