Eyewitness

1981
AA
1h 43m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

YOUR RATING

Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt in Eyewitness (1981)

Play trailer2:01

1 Video

71 Photos

Crime Drama Mystery Romance Thriller

A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.A janitor who claims he's seen a murder becomes romantically involved with the glamorous TV reporter covering the story.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:01

Eyewitness

Photos71

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Sigourney Weaver's character was based on an object of infatuation that Steve Tesich had with a Washington, D.C. anchorwoman. He recorded her broadcasts and had pictures of her like William Hurt's character had in the film of Weaver. The actual anchorwoman was brought in by Peter Yates for technical support to make Weaver's character more believable.

Goofs
There is a security camera very obviously placed in the outer office outside of where the murder takes place, yet during the investigation no mention is made of it.

However, perhaps (circa 1981) it's a closed-circuit, live feed only (no recordings made), and no one viewing the live security screens noticed anything unusual.

Quotes
Lt. Jacobs: When he was a kid, Aldo must have wanted to be a suspect when he grew up.

Alternate versions
Runs 93 minutes long on Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED), also commonly known RCA Selectavision Videodisc.

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: Eyewitness/Tess/The Competition/The Dogs of War (1981)

Soundtracks
Piano trio no. 1 in D minor, op. 49: ii. Andante con moto tranquillo
Written by Felix Mendelssohn
[Performed at the Sokolows' house concert]

User reviews50

Review

Featured review

7/10

An unusual thriller

William Hurt stars as the brooding janitor in this sub-Hitchcockian thriller directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt). No-one in the film is quite what they seem, and Hurt plays the role of ambivalent hero/anti hero intelligently. Sigourney Weaver shows what a fine actress she really is whilst Christopher Plummer adds gravitas to the proceedings. Like Benton's Still Of The Night the film is well-crafted and often intriguing. Definitely well worth watching.