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Eyewitness

  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
Trailer for Eyewitness
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
71 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.

  • Director
    • Peter Yates
  • Writer
    • Steve Tesich
  • Stars
    • William Hurt
    • Sigourney Weaver
    • Christopher Plummer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    5.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Yates
    • Writer
      • Steve Tesich
    • Stars
      • William Hurt
      • Sigourney Weaver
      • Christopher Plummer
    • 49User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Eyewitness
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch Eyewitness

    Photos71

    Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    Eyewitness (1981)
    William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    Sigourney Weaver in Eyewitness (1981)
    James Woods in Eyewitness (1981)
    William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    Eyewitness (1981)
    William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)
    William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Daryll Deever
    Sigourney Weaver
    Sigourney Weaver
    • Tony Sokolow
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Joseph
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Aldo
    Irene Worth
    Irene Worth
    • Mrs. Sokolow
    Kenneth McMillan
    Kenneth McMillan
    • Mr. Deever
    Pamela Reed
    Pamela Reed
    • Linda Mercer
    Albert Paulsen
    Albert Paulsen
    • Mr. Sokolow
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • Lt. Jacobs
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Lt. Black
    Alice Drummond
    Alice Drummond
    • Mrs. Deever
    Sharon Chatten
    Sharon Chatten
    • Israeli Woman
    • (as Sharon Goldman)
    Chao Li Chi
    Chao Li Chi
    • Mr. Long
    Keone Young
    Keone Young
    • Mr. Long's Son
    Dennis Sakamoto
    • Vietnamese Man #1
    Henry Yuk
    • Vietnamese Man #2
    Mikhail Bogin
    • Shlomo
    Moshe Geffen
    • Cantor
    • Director
      • Peter Yates
    • Writer
      • Steve Tesich
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sigourney Weaver's character was based on an object of infatuation that Steve Tesich had with a Washington, D.C. anchorwoman. He recorded her broadcasts and had pictures of her like William Hurt's character had in the film of Weaver. The actual anchorwoman was brought in by Peter Yates for technical support to make Weaver's character more believable.
    • Goofs
      There is a security camera very obviously placed in the outer office outside of where the murder takes place, yet during the investigation no mention is made of it. However, perhaps (circa 1981) it's a closed-circuit, live feed only (no recordings made), and no one viewing the live security screens noticed anything unusual.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Jacobs: When he was a kid, Aldo must have wanted to be a suspect when he grew up.

    • Alternate versions
      Runs 93 minutes long on Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED), also commonly known RCA Selectavision Videodisc.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Eyewitness/Tess/The Competition/The Dogs of War (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano trio no. 1 in D minor, op. 49: ii. Andante con moto tranquillo
      Written by Felix Mendelssohn
      [Performed at the Sokolows' house concert]

    User reviews49

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    An unusual thriller
    William Hurt stars as the brooding janitor in this sub-Hitchcockian thriller directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt). No-one in the film is quite what they seem, and Hurt plays the role of ambivalent hero/anti hero intelligently. Sigourney Weaver shows what a fine actress she really is whilst Christopher Plummer adds gravitas to the proceedings. Like Benton's Still Of The Night the film is well-crafted and often intriguing. Definitely well worth watching.
    helpful•17
    8
    • Paul-250
    • May 23, 1999

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Janitor Can't Dance
    • Filming locations
      • Claremont Riding Academy - 175 West 89th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,400,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,400,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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