The Witness - Production & Contact Info

The Witness (1969)
105 min | Drama, Comedy

The Witness (1969)

105 min | Drama, Comedy

Banned for over a decade for its outspoken criticism of the post-WWII communist regime in Hungary, Péter Bacsó's 'The Witness' has since then achieved unparalleled cult status in its native land. Known as the best satire about communism, '...See moreBanned for over a decade for its outspoken criticism of the post-WWII communist regime in Hungary, Péter Bacsó's 'The Witness' has since then achieved unparalleled cult status in its native land. Known as the best satire about communism, 'The Witness' has become a cult classic, which was also well received by critics and general audiences alike when it was finally released outside of Hungary. Its candid and realistic portrayal of the incompetent communist regime has earned great acclaim for both the director and the film itself when it was shown at Cannes Film Festival in 1981. 'The Witness' takes place during the height of the Rákosi Era, which was closely modeled after the ruthless and brutal Stalin regime. The film follows the life of an ordinary dike keeper, József Pelikán, who has been caught for illegally slaughtering his pig, Dezsõ. Instead of doing hard time for his "heinous" crime, Pelikán is elevated into an important position, generally reserved for the communist elite. Of course, Pelikán is utterly clueless about his newfound luck, not to mention his new job. Even his new benefactor, the mysterious Comrade Virág, is reluctant to reveal the real reason behind Pelikán's preferential treatment. Thus, begins Pelikán's hilarious adventure deep within the "sophisticated" communist society. One failure after another the incompetent Pelikán is elevated higher and higher on the communist echelon, all the while remaining completely clueless about his promotions. Until one day, when he gets called for to return the "favour" by falsely testifying against his long-time friend in a mock-up show trial. Written by Zoltan Furedi See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
37 cast members

Name	Known for
Ferenc Kállai Pelikán József, gátõr Pelikán József, gátõr See fewer	A vörös grófnö (1985)
Lajos Öze Virág Árpád (as Õze Lajos) Virág Árpád (as Õze Lajos) See fewer	Richard III (1973)
Zoltán Fábri Dániel Zoltán Dániel Zoltán See fewer	Twenty Hours (1965)
Béla Both Bástya elvtárs Bástya elvtárs See fewer	Légy ügyes a szerelemben! (1966)
Georgette Mertzhradt Potocsni elvtársnõ (beszédtanár; szerep-betanító) (as Georgette Mertzradt) Potocsni elvtársnõ (beszédtanár; szerep-betanító) (as Georgette Mertzradt) See fewer	The Agony of Mr. Boroka (1972)
Róbert Rátonyi Operettszínész (as Róbert Ráthonyi) Operettszínész (as Róbert Ráthonyi) See fewer	A száguldó riporter elindul... (1966)
Károly Bicskey Gulyás Elemér (as Károly Bicskei) Gulyás Elemér (as Károly Bicskei) See fewer	It Happened in Europe (1947)
Lili Monori Gizi Gizi See fewer	Forbidden Relations (1983)
László Vámos Idegorvos Idegorvos See fewer	Völegény (1982)
Ida Versényi Gogolák elvtársnõ Gogolák elvtársnõ See fewer	Mephisto (1981)
György Bálint Actor Actor See fewer	A szív szava (1937)
Pál Bánó Bíró Bíró See fewer	The Trumpeter (1979)
Tibor Fehér Börtönõr Börtönõr See fewer	Fekete gyémántok (1977)
József Iványi Rendõr Rendõr See fewer	Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
Pál Jákó Orvos Orvos See fewer	Szabóné (1949)
György Kézdy Virág testõre (as György Kézdi) Virág testõre (as György Kézdi) See fewer	A névtelen vár (1981)
Péter Korbuly Virág testõre Virág testõre See fewer	Michel Strogoff (1975)
Lajos Mezey Író (as Lajos Mezei) Író (as Lajos Mezei) See fewer	Mephisto (1981)
Steve Nemeth Actor (as István Németh) Actor (as István Németh) See fewer	Modern Girls (1986)
István Novák Börtönigazgató Börtönigazgató See fewer	Kispolgárok (1987)
György Pálfi Actor (as György Pálffy) Actor (as György Pálffy) See fewer	Before the Bat's Flight Is Done (1989)
József Pecsenke Bástya testõre Bástya testõre See fewer	Fejlövés (1968)
Tibor Sipeki Rendõr Rendõr See fewer	The Confrontation (1969)
Lajos Tándor Jegyszedõ Jegyszedõ See fewer	Merry-Go-Round (1956)
Mária Dudás Gépírónõ Gépírónõ See fewer	Szerelmes biciklisták (1965)
Károly Garamszegi Actor Actor See fewer	Vissza az úton (1941)
György Györffy Börtönigazgató Börtönigazgató See fewer	Young Noszty and Mary Toth (1960)
József Horváth Vasutas Vasutas See fewer	A pénzcsináló (1964)
József Madaras Rendõr (voice) Rendõr (voice) See fewer	A Tenkes kapitánya (1964)
Miklós Molnár Borbély-hóhér Borbély-hóhér See fewer	The Witness (1969)
György Reinitz Actor Actor See fewer	The Phantom on Horseback (1976)
Mária Rákosi A miniszter titkárnõje A miniszter titkárnõje See fewer	Állami áruház (1953)
György Siklós Actor Actor See fewer	The Agony of Mr. Boroka (1972)
István Velenczei Minisztériumi alkalmazott Minisztériumi alkalmazott See fewer	Musical TV Theater (1970)
Miklós Zoltai Actor Actor See fewer	Ripacsok (1981)
László Baranyi Bástya testõre (uncredited) Bástya testõre (uncredited) See fewer	The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Ildikó Pádua A miniszter titkárnõje (uncredited) A miniszter titkárnõje (uncredited) See fewer	A pénzcsináló (1964)