The producers of ``Witness'' provided a turning point in the careers of Harrison Ford and Peter Weir.

Search for a director whose names have come and gone

Freed from his first-look contract, Feldman started knocking on the doors of major studios. At first, it was rejected by Warner, and an MGM executive declared, ``Ford can't act.'' Universal was a request from Ford. This is because he had the bitter experience of being cast as the lead role in a film, but was replaced by Mel Gibson (I think this was Mark Rydell's ` `The River '' (1984)).

Only Paramount Pictures, which had worked on ` `Raiders of the Lost Ark' ' (1981), liked the script and gave the green light for Ford to star in the film. However, Feldman will now have a much harder time finding a director.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” preview

Peter Weir was the first choice to direct. Feldman was an Australian and almost unknown in Hollywood, but he fell in love with Mel Gibson's talent after seeing him in `` The Dangerous Years '' (1982). However, Weir was already being approached by Hollywood. He was scheduled to make a film based on Paul Theroux's novel `` The Mosquito Coast '' at Warner, and had been on an extended stay in Central America in preparation.

Feldman had no choice but to look for another director. Peter Yates from `` Bullitt '' (68) showed interest but was unavailable, while Arthur Penn from `` Bonnie and Clyde '' (67) and Edward Zwick, who was active on TV at the time, were interested. was rejected by Paramount. John Badham dismissed it as, ``It's just another detective movie'' (something he later regretted). Feldman didn't like the British director Paramount had recommended. Martin Scorsese also received an offer, but turned it down because he couldn't find the motivation.

It had been six months since I started looking for a director. Just when it seemed like he was at a dead end, Feldman received information from an acquaintance at Warner that production of Weir's `` The Mosquito Coast '' had been canceled due to financial difficulties. I hurriedly sent the script to Weir, who was back in Sydney, and four days later I received a phone call with the OK. Weir was also intrigued by the existence of the Amish, who live a life much the same as they did 200 years ago.

By the time a director, star, and script were finally in place, things were in jeopardy. The Directors Guild of America strike was coming up in five months, and filming had to be completed by then. Weir had only 10 weeks to prepare.

H. Ford's transition from star to acting talent