Witness (1985)

Following up starring in a string of big budget genre epics (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Blade Runner, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) in the early part of the '80's, Harrison Ford decided to detour just a bit with this smaller-scale suspense thriller directed by the legendary Peter Weir (Dead Poet's Society, The Truman Show).  Here he plays John Book, a Philadelphia police detective investigating a local murder where the ONLY witness is a young Amish boy (Lucas Haas) who happened to be travelling through the area with his mother at the time.  As it turns out, this murder investigation goes up the chain of the local police department and after an attempt is made on Book's life, he flees to the nearby Amish Country where the young boy lives with his mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis).  There as they help nurse John back to health, he not only becomes involved with the local Amish community but develops a forbidden romance with Rachel.  And what results is one of the best thrillers of the decade as it also was eventually nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and what has remained the ONLY Oscar nomination for Ford, Best Actor.   

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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