MovieChat Forums > Witness (1985) Discussion > Best peformance Harrison Ford ever gave

Best peformance Harrison Ford ever gave

posted 12 years ago by cjgalwey
23 replies | jump to latest

Apparently Nick Nolte was originally going to be cast as John Book, and reading the 'novelisation' of the film you could see that the role was written as if for his persona in '48 HRS' - bull-in-a-china-shop comedy. That the film turned out to be so much more is down to Peter Weir and - perhaps mainly - Harrison Ford. From the very first moment you see the cop - neat in his grey suit, tense, tired, professional to his finger-tips - you know that this is going to be all about the human cost of being a law enforcer who is still trying to believe in morality. Not just another shoot-'em-up. All his scenes with Kelly McGillis, but perhaps especially the final scene where they are gazing hopelessly at each other, trying to find something to say to bridge the gulf that has opened between them with the proof that Ford is a killer, are stellar and unforgettable. Too bad Ford has never had the chance to act in such a good film again.

[–] RussellDunn 11 years ago

I had read that the producers tried to get Sylvester Stallone and Jack Nicholson to play the part of John Book. Both ARE good actors but the script and story would have been changed to fit their image which would have been a colossal mistake.
Harrison Ford was perfect for the role of John Book. He's a seasoned, journeyman actor who can play just about any role.

[–] palisade-1 10 years ago

I had read that the producers tried to get Sylvester Stallone and Jack Nicholson to play the part of John Book.

On the Blu-Ray there are extras about the background to making the film.

Ed Feldman, the producer who bought and rewrote the script, says that from the outset the only actor he could think of (apart from Gary Cooper, from the past) to play the role was Harrison Ford. He at that time had no director and no other roles cast and no shooting schedule or anything, but he sent the script to Ford, who was in Europe filming one of the Indiana Jones films, and was astonished when Ford committed to it within a couple of days. He also was surprised how loyal Ford was to the project over the many months of limbo before they got a director on board (Feldman says many famous ones turned it down, and while he had thought of Peter Weir early on, Weir was then on another project).

So if the producer himself is to be believed, there were no other candidates for the role of John Book. The film was Feldman's baby from the start -- when his studio (Paramount, I think) turned it down, saying, "We don't do rural pictures," he bought the rights and did it himself.

The whole feature (about an hour in length) is worth watching. It's on both the DVD and Blu-Ray.

[–] Maddyclassicfilms 10 years ago

This is certainly one his best performances but he was also fantastic in Presumed Innocent, Regarding Henry and The Fugitive.

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

[–] A-Town8814 10 years ago

This, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Mosquito Coast are his best performances.

[–] manram24 10 years ago

I'd say it's his best acting performance, he should have won the oscar.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] Bluecher 10 years ago

IMO it's one of his lesser performances - too predictable and clean-cut for a hard-ass cop. Even his much-maligned effort in Blade Runner was more convincing.
Ford is a very physical actor who works best in action movies but he was out of his depth in Witness.

Death solves all problems. - Stalin