Harvest of Fire (1996)

A female FBI agent comes to a distrustful Amish community to investigate a multiple building arson incident.

Director:

Arthur Allan Seidelman

Writers:

Susan Nanus (story), Richard Alfieri (teleplay),

Stars:

Lolita Davidovich, J.A. Preston, Jean Louisa Kelly

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lolita Davidovich	...	Sally Russell
J.A. Preston	...	Sheriff Garrison
Jean Louisa Kelly	...	Rachel
Tom Aldredge	...	Jacob Hostetler
James Read	...	Scott
Craig Wasson	...	Philip Dixon
Patty Duke	...	Annie Beiler
Jeff Kizer	...	Lester
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wesley Addy	...	Bishop Levi Lapp
Gary Bisig	...	Amos Zook
Justin Chambers	...	George
Jennifer Garner	...	Sarah Troyer
Bette Henritze	...	Mary Lapp
Catherine Kellner	...	Nancy
Marta Kristen	...	Martha Troyer

Storyline

In a small Amish community, three barns are burnt down almost simultaneously. FBI agent Sally Russwell is sent in to investigate this possible hate crime. What she finds however is a community that little trust for outsiders or "The English" as they call them. However, in her investigations, Agent Russell makes friends with one entrepreneurial widow, Annie Beiler who has her own curiosity about this stranger. Together, Annie introduces Russell in-depth to this close knit community bearing many appealing attributes. However, as Sally's investigations continue, she discovers secrets that reveal uncomfortable truths about the religious community that are linked to the arson attacks.

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Plot Keywords:

amish | fbi | arson | rescue | farming | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: Harvest of Fire (#45.3)

Filming Locations:

Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bernard Sofronski Productions, Hallmark Entertainment, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Sally Russell: But isn't the covenant you keep with your faith, with your people, that you will obey their edicts - all of them - and if you don't, you lose the grace of their fellowship?
Jacob Hostetler: If that is all I lose, I lose very little.
Sally Russell: Look at the anger in your face, sir, and in your sons' faces. I think you've lost much more.

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Connections

Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

User Reviews

Harvest of Fire Burns Bright ****

Wonderful television movie dealing with the Amish people.

What makes this film so good is that at by the end these people are willing to accept their own mistakes and come together. Obviously, Amish people have strong family values as they shun technological advancement.

Lolita Davidovich is wonderful as the FBI agent sent to the Amish country to investigate a series of barn burnings. She is equally matched by Patty Duke, an understanding Amish women, who while accepting the values of her people, also knows how to relate somewhat to the outside world.

There are the usual cast of characters who come under immediate suspicion. We can't jump to conclusions and while the ending may be a shock to others, it still shows the cohesiveness of these people in times of adversity.

This is a beautifully done film.