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Witness

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,071
160
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Harrison Ford and Lukas Haas in Witness (1985)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:19
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Thriller
When a young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder while visiting Philadelphia with his mother, police detective John Book tries to protect the boy until an attempt on Book's life forces him... Read allWhen a young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder while visiting Philadelphia with his mother, police detective John Book tries to protect the boy until an attempt on Book's life forces him into hiding in Amish country.When a young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder while visiting Philadelphia with his mother, police detective John Book tries to protect the boy until an attempt on Book's life forces him into hiding in Amish country.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,071
160
  • Director
    • Peter Weir
  • Writers
    • William Kelley(story by)
    • Pamela Wallace(story by)
    • Earl W. Wallace(story by)
  • Stars
    • Harrison Ford
    • Kelly McGillis
    • Lukas Haas
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Weir
  • Writers
    • William Kelley(story by)
    • Pamela Wallace(story by)
    • Earl W. Wallace(story by)
  • Stars
    • Harrison Ford
    • Kelly McGillis
    • Lukas Haas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 234User reviews
    • 106Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 13 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    Official Trailer
    'Witness' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:10
    'Witness' | Anniversary Mashup
    What Roles Has Harrison Ford Turned Down?
    Video 4:33
    What Roles Has Harrison Ford Turned Down?

    Photos112

    Lukas Haas in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford, Viggo Mortensen, and Jan Rubes in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford in Witness (1985)
    Alexander Godunov in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford, Lukas Haas, Viggo Mortensen, Alexander Godunov, and Jan Rubes in Witness (1985)
    Kelly McGillis in Witness (1985)
    Lukas Haas in Witness (1985)
    Jan Rubes in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford in Witness (1985)
    Brent Jennings in Witness (1985)
    Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Viggo Mortensen, and Alexander Godunov in Witness (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • John Bookas John Book
    Kelly McGillis
    Kelly McGillis
    • Rachelas Rachel
    Lukas Haas
    Lukas Haas
    • Samuelas Samuel
    Josef Sommer
    Josef Sommer
    • Schaefferas Schaeffer
    Jan Rubes
    Jan Rubes
    • Eli Lappas Eli Lapp
    Alexander Godunov
    Alexander Godunov
    • Daniel Hochleitneras Daniel Hochleitner
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • McFeeas McFee
    Brent Jennings
    Brent Jennings
    • Carteras Carter
    Patti LuPone
    Patti LuPone
    • Elaineas Elaine
    Angus MacInnes
    Angus MacInnes
    • Fergieas Fergie
    Frederick Rolf
    • Stoltzfusas Stoltzfus
    Viggo Mortensen
    Viggo Mortensen
    • Moses Hochleitneras Moses Hochleitner
    John Garson
    • Bishop Tchantzas Bishop Tchantz
    Beverly May
    • Mrs. Yoderas Mrs. Yoder
    Ed Crowley
    Ed Crowley
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Timothy Carhart
    Timothy Carhart
    • Zenovichas Zenovich
    Sylvia Kauders
    Sylvia Kauders
    • Tourist Ladyas Tourist Lady
    Marian Swan
    • Mrs. Schaefferas Mrs. Schaeffer
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writers
      • William Kelley(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Pamela Wallace(story by)
      • Earl W. Wallace(story by) (screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

    The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In preparation for her role, Kelly McGillis lived with an actual Amish widow and her seven children for a while before filming began to get the speech cadence down and to observe the daily life of an Amish widowed mother.
    • Goofs
      John Book's Volkswagen hit the birdhouse and broke its windshield. Later the car is seen in the barn with an unbroken windshield.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Eli Lapp: [to John Book] You be careful out among them English!

    • Crazy credits
      For Tom Scott. Scott was a member of the casting department on Witness.
    • Alternate versions
      In the VHS version, just after John Book is shot, we see a close-up of his gun and a voice-over from an earlier conversation Book had with the captain. We hear the words: "Who else knows about this? "Just you and me." In the DVD version, we see the close-up of the gun and then it segues to Book's sister waking up Rachel and her son Samuel, minus the voice-over.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Songwriter/Nineteen Eighty-Four/Witness/Mrs. Soffel (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      (What a) Wonderful World
      (1959)

      Written by Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler

      Performed by Greg Chapman

      Courtesy of Abkco Music, Inc.

    User reviews234

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    topnotch
    This is one of those movies whose virtues and subtleties become more and more apparent with subsequent viewings. The crime story is nothing more than a pretense - a "MacGuffin", in Hitchcock's phrase - on which to hang this sensitive and insightful story of the conflict between modernity and the culture of the Amish, which is portrayed here with admiring respect and not a hint of condescension.

    Harrison Ford's portrayal of John Book is perhaps his finest work on screen so far. In particular, Book's struggle to suppress his rising attraction for Rachel, and his tormented realization that a relationship between them is not possible, is achingly portrayed. Ford's effort is well-matched by Kelly McGillis, whose beauty here is almost breathtaking. The erotic interplay between them, because it is unconsummated, radiates an almost painful tension, and the easily lampooned "running through the field" scene - because it has been led up to so convincingly - is almost heartbreaking. The character of Eli Lapp, wonderfully played by Jan Rubes, is richly multifaceted. His suspicion of the "English" outsider and his anger at Rachel's attraction to him, is surmounted by an underlying humanity. His parting words to Book, "You be careful out there among them English," are moving testimony to his acceptance of him. His stern yet loving dialogue to his grandson about renouncing hatred and violence is a treasured moment.

    Both direction and cinematography are splendid. The simplicity of Amish interiors is shot in a way that makes its austerity almost beautiful, and the barnraising scene is an exercise in cinematic lyricism.

    It would be easy to fault the movie for the facile scene in which the punks taunting of Book's newfound friends and protectors drives him over the edge (Eli: "It's not our way, Book" / Book: "No, but it's MY way."), but his gift to the young thug of a bloody nose is mighty satisfying to behold.

    My one criticism is with the music; certainly not with the venerable Maurice Jarre's score itself, but with its paltry synthesized realization. They should have found the money to spring for a full orchestra.

    In short, a highly satisfying, richly themed, and multifaceted film which is well worth watching.
    helpful•146
    26
    • rupie
    • Sep 13, 2002

    FAQ7

    • What is "Witness" about?
    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • What language do the Amish speak in this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Called Home
    • Filming locations
      • Paul Krantz Farm - 758 Bunker Hill Road, Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Edward S. Feldman Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $68,706,993
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,539,990
      • Feb 10, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $68,706,993
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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