It's probably not hard to argue that "Witness" is pretty close to being an American classic. Combining neo-noir and socio-religious commentary into an unassuming package, it became one of the buzziest movies of 1985. The reception was so positive, in fact, that it ended up getting eight Oscar nominations and a slew of other recognitions.
However, this praise could have never materialized at all, as the process of getting "Witness" greenlit at a studio was an arduous one. At the center of it all was producer Edward S. Feldman, whose recollections of getting the film on the big screen were documented in his autobiography "Tell Me How You Love The Picture." He claimed that, while star Harrison Ford's mainstream popularity was on the rise, studios weren't that keen on casting him as the police detective John Book due to his relative inexperience in headlining non-action fare.
"You can't ask [people before the release of 'Witness'] whether...
However, this praise could have never materialized at all, as the process of getting "Witness" greenlit at a studio was an arduous one. At the center of it all was producer Edward S. Feldman, whose recollections of getting the film on the big screen were documented in his autobiography "Tell Me How You Love The Picture." He claimed that, while star Harrison Ford's mainstream popularity was on the rise, studios weren't that keen on casting him as the police detective John Book due to his relative inexperience in headlining non-action fare.
"You can't ask [people before the release of 'Witness'] whether...
- 12/29/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
One of Joe Dante’s finest pictures speaks heart-to-heart to gee-whiz space fans — transporting us from our backyard to the far reaches of the galaxy. With a boost from aliens unknown, Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix and Jason Presson are the intrepid space cadets that construct a fantastic vehicle from mysterious dream-signals, no Interociter required. Their dreams hint at the secret desires in their adolescent imaginations, even without an it’s-all-a-dream sandpit. They dare fly where no man has flown before, a genuine escape from the petty pressures of Junior High. New and old input on the Blu-ray finally tells the full story of the making of an underrated wonder movie.
Explorers
Blu-ray
1985 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109, 106 min. / Street Date May 25, 2021
Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Dick Miller, Dana Ivey, James Cromwell, Brooke Bundy, Robert Picardo, Leslie Rickert, Mary Kay Place.
Cinematography: John Hora
Film Editor: Tina Hirsch
Production Design: Robert S.
Explorers
Blu-ray
1985 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109, 106 min. / Street Date May 25, 2021
Starring: Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson, Amanda Peterson, Dick Miller, Dana Ivey, James Cromwell, Brooke Bundy, Robert Picardo, Leslie Rickert, Mary Kay Place.
Cinematography: John Hora
Film Editor: Tina Hirsch
Production Design: Robert S.
- 6/5/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Who will be included for the special “In Memoriam” segment for Sunday night’s Oscars 2021 ceremony? With last year’s Academy Awards happening over 14 months ago, it means an even larger number of film veterans have died. Producers will hopefully be offering a longer remembrance and not leaving out people for the sake of time.
Superstar actor Chadwick Boseman died late last summer and is a nominee as Best Actor for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Previous Oscar winners from acting categories show who will likely be honored include Sean Connery, Olivia de Havilland, Cloris Leachman and Christopher Plummer. Past acting nominees include Hal Holbrook, Ian Holm, Shirley Knight, George Segal, Cicely Tyson, Max von Sydow and Stuart Whitman.
SEE2021 Oscars presenters: Last year’s winners Renee Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt returning
Almost all of the near 100 people on the list below were Academy members.
Superstar actor Chadwick Boseman died late last summer and is a nominee as Best Actor for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Previous Oscar winners from acting categories show who will likely be honored include Sean Connery, Olivia de Havilland, Cloris Leachman and Christopher Plummer. Past acting nominees include Hal Holbrook, Ian Holm, Shirley Knight, George Segal, Cicely Tyson, Max von Sydow and Stuart Whitman.
SEE2021 Oscars presenters: Last year’s winners Renee Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt returning
Almost all of the near 100 people on the list below were Academy members.
- 4/23/2021
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Edward S. Feldman, the longtime Hollywood movie and TV producer whose credits included the Oscar-nominated Witness and K-19 The Widowmaker both starring Harrison Ford, died October 2 in Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 91.
Feldman was nominated for the Oscar for producing Witness, Peter Weir’s 1985 drama starring Ford as a cop who goes undercover in Amish country to protect a boy who witnessed a murder. It scored eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won for its writing and editing.
Feldman would later reunite with Weir for 1998’s The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey which scored three Oscar nominations. His other film credits include Save the Tiger, The Other Side of the Mountain, Near Dark, The Hitcher, Honey I Blew Up The Kid, Hot Dog…The Movie, The Golden Child, Wired, Green Card, The Doctor, Forever Young, the live-action The Jungle Book, and the live-action 101 Dalmatians and its sequel 102 Dalmatians.
Feldman was nominated for the Oscar for producing Witness, Peter Weir’s 1985 drama starring Ford as a cop who goes undercover in Amish country to protect a boy who witnessed a murder. It scored eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won for its writing and editing.
Feldman would later reunite with Weir for 1998’s The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey which scored three Oscar nominations. His other film credits include Save the Tiger, The Other Side of the Mountain, Near Dark, The Hitcher, Honey I Blew Up The Kid, Hot Dog…The Movie, The Golden Child, Wired, Green Card, The Doctor, Forever Young, the live-action The Jungle Book, and the live-action 101 Dalmatians and its sequel 102 Dalmatians.
- 10/6/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Award nominated film producer Edward S. Feldman, known for producing hits such as 1985’s “Witness” and 1998’s “The Truman Show,” died Friday night Oct. 2, in Los Angeles at the age of 91, according to his spokesperson.
Feldman, whose career began during the golden age of Hollywood and lasted for over six decades, worked with such Hollywood legends as Glen Close, Debbie Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Jack Lemmon, Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Rutger Hauer, Burt Reynolds, Yul Brynner, Eddie Murphy, Mel Gibson and Gerard Depardieu. Feldman’s final film in 2002 reunited him with Harrison Ford at Paramount, “K-19 The Widowmaker,” when he decided to retire and spend more time with his family.
Feldman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for “Witness” and the BAFTA Award for Best Film for “Witness” and “The Truman Show.” In 2001, the Hollywood Film Festival honored him for Outstanding Achievement in Producing.
Born in The Bronx,...
Feldman, whose career began during the golden age of Hollywood and lasted for over six decades, worked with such Hollywood legends as Glen Close, Debbie Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Jack Lemmon, Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Rutger Hauer, Burt Reynolds, Yul Brynner, Eddie Murphy, Mel Gibson and Gerard Depardieu. Feldman’s final film in 2002 reunited him with Harrison Ford at Paramount, “K-19 The Widowmaker,” when he decided to retire and spend more time with his family.
Feldman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for “Witness” and the BAFTA Award for Best Film for “Witness” and “The Truman Show.” In 2001, the Hollywood Film Festival honored him for Outstanding Achievement in Producing.
Born in The Bronx,...
- 10/6/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Film producer Edward S. Feldman, who received an Academy Award best picture nomination for “Witness,” died on Oct. 2 in Los Angeles, according to his publicist. He was 91.
He was also nominated for BAFTA Awards for “Witness” and “The Truman Show.” In 1977, he received an Emmy nomination in the limited series category for “21 Hours at Munich” and was nominated the following year in the same category for “King.”
His feature film producing credits included “What’s the Matter With Helen?,” “Save the Tiger,” “The Other Side of the Mountain,” “Two-Minute Warning,” “The Last Married Couple in America,” “Hot Dog…The Movie,” “The Golden Child,” “Wired,” “Green Card,” the 1994 live-action “The Jungle Book,” the live-action “101 Dalmatians,” its sequel “102 Dalmatians” and “K-19: The Widowmaker.”
“Witness” starred Harrison Ford as a detective protecting a young Amish boy who becomes a target after he witnesses a murder in Philadelphia. The film received eight Oscar nominations,...
He was also nominated for BAFTA Awards for “Witness” and “The Truman Show.” In 1977, he received an Emmy nomination in the limited series category for “21 Hours at Munich” and was nominated the following year in the same category for “King.”
His feature film producing credits included “What’s the Matter With Helen?,” “Save the Tiger,” “The Other Side of the Mountain,” “Two-Minute Warning,” “The Last Married Couple in America,” “Hot Dog…The Movie,” “The Golden Child,” “Wired,” “Green Card,” the 1994 live-action “The Jungle Book,” the live-action “101 Dalmatians,” its sequel “102 Dalmatians” and “K-19: The Widowmaker.”
“Witness” starred Harrison Ford as a detective protecting a young Amish boy who becomes a target after he witnesses a murder in Philadelphia. The film received eight Oscar nominations,...
- 10/6/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Edward S. Feldman, the studio publicist turned producer who guided such films as the best picture nominee Witness, The Truman Show and The Hitcher, died Friday in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 91.
During his six-decade career, the Bronx native also produced movies including Save the Tiger (1973), an Oscar winner for Jack Lemmon; The Golden Child (1986), starring Eddie Murphy; the live-action features The Jungle Book (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000); and Harrison Ford’s K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), his final film.
For television, Feldman produced such miniseries as the fact-based 1976’s 21 Hours at Munich, 1978’s King — both of which earned him Emmy ...
During his six-decade career, the Bronx native also produced movies including Save the Tiger (1973), an Oscar winner for Jack Lemmon; The Golden Child (1986), starring Eddie Murphy; the live-action features The Jungle Book (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000); and Harrison Ford’s K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), his final film.
For television, Feldman produced such miniseries as the fact-based 1976’s 21 Hours at Munich, 1978’s King — both of which earned him Emmy ...
- 10/6/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Edward S. Feldman, the publicist turned producer who guided such films as the best picture nominee Witness, The Truman Show and The Hitcher, died Friday in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 91.
During his six-decade career, the Bronx native also produced movies including Save the Tiger (1973), an Oscar winner for Jack Lemmon; The Golden Child (1986), starring Eddie Murphy; the live-action features The Jungle Book (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000); and Harrison Ford’s K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), his final film.
For television, Feldman produced such miniseries as the fact-based 1976’s 21 Hours at Munich, 1978’s King — both of which earned him Emmy Award ...
During his six-decade career, the Bronx native also produced movies including Save the Tiger (1973), an Oscar winner for Jack Lemmon; The Golden Child (1986), starring Eddie Murphy; the live-action features The Jungle Book (1994), 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000); and Harrison Ford’s K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), his final film.
For television, Feldman produced such miniseries as the fact-based 1976’s 21 Hours at Munich, 1978’s King — both of which earned him Emmy Award ...
- 10/6/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Hollywood Film Awards® was founded in 1997 and honors excellence in filmmaking and traditionally signals the Official Launch of the Award Season®. The HFAs showcase to the public at large previews of quality films released during the calendar year. The first-ever Hollywood Film Awards® gala took place in October 1997 in the historic Blossom Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in Hollywood. Kirk Douglas took home the inaugural “Hollywood Lifetime Achievement Award.” The Hollywood Film Awards launch the awards season. Over the past 18 years, prior honorees have gone on to garner many Oscar nominations and wins. With participating Hollywood insiders, our Advisory Team identifies and selects the recipients of our honors. Our winners are pre-selected to receive our awards. Our selection is based on their outstanding achievement and contribution to the art of cinema. They are not “nominees.” 2014 honorees included some of the biggest names in Hollywood such as Keira Knightley,...
- 10/2/2015
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Hollywood Film Awards honor established Hollywood artists. The criteria for these awards is based on the recipient’s body of work and/or a film that they have coming out this year. These awards are bestowed in all disciplines of filmmaking*: Career, Leadership, Producer, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Editor, Film Composer, Production Designer, Costume Designer, Animation, and Visual Effects. Our award/tribute recipients are selected by our Advisory Team which is comprised of a cross section of Hollywood professionals. To read more about the Hollywood Film Awards The selection process for our honorees takes multiple elements into consideration and involves attending pre-press private industry screenings, press screenings, festival screenings, and research. It also includes the support and participation of established entertainment industry executives, from agents, critics, directors, managers, producers, publicists, screenwriters and studio execs to members of the craft guilds. With participating Hollywood insiders,...
- 10/2/2015
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
My first screenwriting teacher at the Nyu film school was Patricia Cooper, who'd served as the highest female executive at a major studio at that time, overseeing big movies at Paramount in the '70s. She marched our class up to the Gulf & Western Building at Columbus Circle and sat us down in a screening room that resembled what I imagined a first-class airline compartment looked like, then showed us Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation."
As we gushed over it afterward, she praised the film but confessed to disappointment with the script. This was my first glimpse of major-league Hollywood story development.
My second teacher was Venable Herndon, co-author of Arthur Penn's "Alice's Restaurant." Venable's class was like some Reichian encounter group, but to get out of it in one piece, you didn't have to bare your primal wounds, only write a screenplay.
My third teacher was once-blacklisted Ian McLellan Hunter,...
As we gushed over it afterward, she praised the film but confessed to disappointment with the script. This was my first glimpse of major-league Hollywood story development.
My second teacher was Venable Herndon, co-author of Arthur Penn's "Alice's Restaurant." Venable's class was like some Reichian encounter group, but to get out of it in one piece, you didn't have to bare your primal wounds, only write a screenplay.
My third teacher was once-blacklisted Ian McLellan Hunter,...
- 1/27/2010
- by By Tom Silvestri
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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