Witness
Brief Synopsis
Read More
A young Amish boy, visiting Philadelphia with his widowed mother, witnesses a murder. When the detective on the case discovers a police cover up, he realizes his, the boy's and the mother's lives are in jeopardy. He hides out in Amish country, living amongst the community and having to abide by their peaceful customs. Things get more complicated when he falls in love with the young widow. But, soon the idyllic life is shattered when the villains discover his whereabouts.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Peter Weir
Director
Harrison Ford
John Book
Kelly Mcgillis
Rachel Lapp
Lukas Haas
Samuel Lapp
Danny Glover
Mcfee
Viggo Mortensen
Moses Hochleitner
Film Details
Also Known As
Vittne till mord, Witness: Témoin sous surveillance
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Romance
Thriller
Release Date
1985
Production Company
Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures; Record Plant Scoring Inc; Segue Music Inc; Todd-Ao
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures; Paramount Pictures; United International Pictures
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 52m
Synopsis
A young Amish boy, visiting Philadelphia with his widowed mother, witnesses a murder. When the detective on the case discovers a police cover-up, he realizes his, the boy's and the mother's lives are in jeopardy. He hides out in Amish country, living amongst the community and having to abide by their peaceful customs.Things get more complicated when he falls in love with the young widow. But, soon the idyllic life is shattered when the villains discover his whereabouts.
Director
Peter Weir
Director
Cast
Harrison Ford
John Book
Kelly Mcgillis
Rachel Lapp
Lukas Haas
Samuel Lapp
Danny Glover
Mcfee
Viggo Mortensen
Moses Hochleitner
Josef Sommer
Deputy Commissioner Schaeffer
Jan Rubes
Eli Lapp
Alexander Godunov
Daniel Hochleitner
Brent Jennings
Carter
Patti Lupone
Elaine
Angus Macinnes
Fergie
Frederick Rolf
Stolzfus
John Garson
Bishop Tchantz
Beverly May
Mrs Yoder
Ed Crowley
Sheriff
Timothy Carhart
Zenovich
Sylvia Kauders
Tourist Lady
Marian Swan
Mrs Schaeffer
Maria Bradley
Schaeffer'S Daughter
Rozwill Young
T-Bone
Paul S Nuss
Amish Man
Emily Mary Haas
Amish Woman
Fred Steinharter
Amish Man
John D King
Amish Man
Paul Goss
Amish Man
Annemarie Vallerio
Amish Woman
Bruce E Camburn
Amish Man
William Francis
Town Man
Tom W Kennedy
Ticket Seller
Ardyth Kaiser
Female In Garage
Thomas Quinn
Male In Garage
Eugene Dooley
Detective
Victoria Scott D'angelo
Detective
Richard Chaves
Detective
Tim Moyer
Detective
Nino Del Buono
Detective
James Clark
Detective
Joseph Kelly
Detective
Norman Carter
Detective
Craig Clement
Detective
Robert Earl Jones
Custodian
Michael Levering
Hoodlum
Cara Giallanza
Hoodlum
Anthony Dean Rubes
Hoodlum
Bernie Styles
Counterman
Blossom Terry
Mother In Station
Jennifer Mancuso
Little Girl
Frank L Brown
Leadman
Crew
Carlos Acosta
Props
Lou Adler
Song ("(What A) Wonderful World")
Herb Alpert
Song ("(What A) Wonderful World")
Michael Amundsen
Apprentice Editor
John Anderson
Set Decorator
Pamela Bentkowski
Foley Editor
David Bombyk
Co-Producer
Alan Brackett
Song ("Party Down")
Allan Bromberg
Foley Editor
Paula Cain
Costumes
Greg Chapman
Song Performer ("(What A) Wonderful World")
Joan E Chapman
Assistant Editor
Paul Chiten
Song ("Shocking Behavior")
Chuck Clifton
Camera Operator 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)
Sam Cooke
Song ("(What A) Wonderful World")
Leland V Crawford
Hairstyles
Dianne Crittenden
Casting
Norval Crutcher
Sound Effects Editor
Marie Delrusso
Makeup
Don Digirolamo
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Eugene Dooley
Technical Advisor (Police)
Dallas Dornan
Costume Supervisor
Nora Dunfee
Technical Advisor (Amish Dialect)
Craig Edgar
Set Design
Pamela Eilerson
2nd Assistant Director
John R Elliott
Special Effects
Gary Epper
Stunts
Gary Epper
Stunt Coordinator
Edward Feldman
Producer
Shari Feldman
Costume Supervisor
Lawrence K Freeman
Bestboy Electrician
Humberto Gatica
Music Recording Mixer
Humberto Gatica
Sound Recording Mixer
Eyal Geva
Assistant (To Peter Weir)
Cara Giallanza
Production Assistant
Robert W Glass
Sound Rerecording Mixer
David M Goldman
Props
Cecelia Hall
Sound Effects Editor Supervisor
Michael Hancock
Makeup Supervisor
Clifford D Hill
Transportation Coordinator
Michael Hoffman
Costumes
Frank Howard
Sound Effects Editor
Bette Iverson
Hair
Maurice Jarre
Music
Stan Jolley
Production Designer
Chaim Kantor
2nd Assistant Camera
William Kelley
Screenwriter
William Kelley
From Story
William Kelley
Story By
John D King
Technical Advisor (Amish)
Michael Klastorin
Publicist
Robin Knight
Key Grip
Robert Knudson
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Robert Krume
Construction Coordinator
Dan Lerner
Camera Operator
Bruce Maccallum
1st Assistant Camera
Anderson Martin
Stunts
David Mcgiffert
1st Assistant Director
Michael John Meehan
Location Manager
Michel Mention
Assistant (To Maurice Jarre)
Bob Minor
Stunts
Alan Nineberg
Sound Effects Editor
Thom Noble
Editor
Bob Noland
Color Timer
Andrew G Patterson
Sound Effects Editor
Judy Pritchard
Other
Sandra Rabins
Production Auditor
Paul Bruce Richardson
Sound Effects Editor
Diane Schneier
Production Assistant
Bernie Schwartz
Dolly Grip
Tom Scott
Casting (Lancaster)
John Seale
Director Of Photography
John Seale
Dp/Cinematographer
Scott Shelly
Song ("Party Down")
Sue Sheridan
Song ("Shocking Behavior")
Gloria Slate
Assistant (To Edward S Feldman And David Bombyk)
Fred Stafford
Adr Supervisor
Ilene Starger
Casting Associate
Lynn Stewart
Production Assistant
Wendy Stites
Associate Producer
Richard Stone
Music Editor Supervisor
Ted Swanson
Production Manager
Gary Tandrow
Gaffer
Barry D Thomas
Sound Recording Mixer
Governor Dick Thornburgh
Assistance (Pennsylvania)
Ruth Tighe
Production Assistant
Cynnie Troup
Script Supervisor
Earl W Wallace
From Story
Earl W Wallace
Screenwriter
Earl W Wallace
Story By
Pamela Wallace
Story By
Pamela Wallace
From Story
Gail Walton
Casting (Philadelphia)
George Watters
Sound Effects Editor Supervisor
Josh Weiner
Stills
Wendy Weir
Associate Producer
Glenn Wilder
Stunt Coordinator
Forrest Williams
Boom Operator
Hope Williams
Script Supervisor
Film Details
Also Known As
Vittne till mord, Witness: Témoin sous surveillance
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Romance
Thriller
Release Date
1985
Production Company
Pacific Title & Art Studio; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures; Record Plant Scoring Inc; Segue Music Inc; Todd-Ao
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures; Paramount Pictures; United International Pictures
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 52m
Award Wins
Best Editing
1985
Thom Noble
Best Original Screenplay
1985
William Kelley
Best Original Screenplay
1985
Earl W Wallace
Best Original Screenplay
1985
Pamela Wallace
Award Nominations
Best Actor
1985
Harrison Ford
Best Art Direction
1985
Stan Jolley
Best Cinematography
1985
Best Director
1985
Peter Weir
Best Picture
1985
Best Score
1985
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Voted One of the Year's Ten Best Films by the 1985 National Board of Review.
Released in United States Winter February 8, 1985
American debut for Australian director Peter Weir.
Began shooting April 27, 1984.
Film is in memory of Tom Scott.
Released in United States Winter February 8, 1985
