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Witness

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,231
180
  • 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
2,231
180
  • 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
    • 235User 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?

    Photos115

    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)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

    The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

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    Storyline

    Edit
    An 8 year old Amish boy and his mother are traveling to Philadelphia, on their way to visit the mother's sister. While waiting at the train station, the young boy witnesses a brutal murder inside one of the bathroom stalls. Police detective John Book is assigned to investigate the murder of the man, who was an undercover cop. Soon after, Book finds out that he's in great danger when the culprits know about his investigation and hides out in the Amish community. There, he learns the way of living among the Amish locals, which consists of non-violence and agriculture. Book soon starts a romance with the mother of the little boy, but their romance is forbidden by the Amish standards. But, it's not long before the bad guys find out Book's whereabouts. —blazesnakes9
    • amish
    • murder
    • train
    • love
    • police
    • 108 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A big city cop. A small country boy. They have nothing in common ...but a murder.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    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 reviews235

    Review
    Top review
    'Witness' is a remarkably intelligent movie!
    Won Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, and Best Editing. Nominated for five more Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, Harrison Ford, and Best Director Peter Weir. Weir Directed the 'The Year of Living Dangerously', and 'The Truman Show'. After seeing it maybe 10 times, I find it is one of those infrequent stories that still draws my attention. This places it in the company of pictures like 'The Godfather', and some others which stand the test of repeat viewings over time. Kelly McGillis is the film's intelligent and talented secret weapon. Her performance makes me wonder where she is these days. She is an Amish widow from a rural Amish community. On a trip to the city her little boy witnesses a murder in the restroom of a train station. Police investigator Harrison Ford finds himself targeted along with the boy by corrupt cops in his unit that did the murder. He is hurt in a shootout and hides with the Amish. He wears Amish clothes, and labors with the men of the community as he rebuilds his strength. An attraction naturally develops between the McGillis and Ford charactors. The chemistry is remarkably intelligent, and authentically portrayed. Their worlds are seperated by a cultural gulf. They are drawn by each other, and respect one another. The contrasts are drawn clearly between the quaint honesty and almost dreamlike serenity of the Amish, and the horrible violence intruding upon them from the outside world. The resolution of the story should not be given away to someone who has not seen the movie. This film is a different kind of thriller in more ways than one. It's makers kept it intelligent, instead of resorting to another pyrotechnic joyride. -Robert Hartman-
    helpful•61
    10
    • microfx
    • Nov 29, 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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