Amish Favorites

See now famous stars in the roles they tried to forget...


Air Force None

Special Agent Connor O'Connor (Harrison Ford) returns to the tranquil Pennsylvania community of Bird in Hand with one goal: to reunite with his forbidden love interest, Mary (Kelly Maginnis). But Agent O'Connor is unaware of the maelstrom that awaits him. An issue pitting traditional values against modern patriotism has spawned a generational conflict among the Amish: should members of the Amish community be allowed to apply for Officers Training in the United States Air Force?

O'Connor senses the unrest the moment he steps from the carriage in the central-Pennsylvania burrough. Then, he witnesses the unspeakable. At a church social, a young chow-chow canner who dreams of becoming a fly boy is taunted by a community elder: *If God had intended for thee to fly, Ezekial, He would have given thee wings!* The incensed boy lashes out with the fury of a runaway horse team: *And if God had intended for me to can chow-chow, he would have given me hollow fingers capable of dispensing proportional amounts of corn, butter beans, peas, and various spices to create the relish-like stew!* That night, with the community still reeling from the outburst at the church social, a band of renegade Amish punks nearly succeeds in equipping a slow moving wagon with wings and a crude jet propulsion device. The fuse is lit; will the tinder box explode?

Air Force None chronicles the torrid romance of O'Connor and Mary, set against a backdrop of endless town hall meetings and prayer sessions. Starring Chris Farley as Nathaniel, Chris Rock as Thomas, Chris Burman as The Announcer, and Kris Kristofferson as Colonel Christopher, USAF (ret.). Original musical score by Kris Kross. 1997.

The Hunt for Red October Beans

There's a famine in Lancaster County. Every variety of October string bean has been obliterated. Amish families everywhere are feeling the brunt of the scarcity, but no one is feeling it more than Graham Weaver, patriarch of the 13-member Weaver clan. With a wife and 11 children, Graham (C. Everett Koop) needs at least 30 bushels of the now nonexistent legume to get the family through the harsh winter months ahead. The Hunt for Red October Beans chronicles Graham's search for the bean - a journey that takes him through Lancaster County, past western Pennsylvania, and eventually to the sin-filled streets of Boise, Idaho. Along the way, Graham learns a lot more than just gardening tips. Starring Rebecca de Mornay as the whore, Tom Cruise as Ezekiel Weaver, and introducing Billy Idol as Jacob. Color 117 min. 1989.

Rat Killin' Weekend

Jonathan Husker (C. Everett Koop) is a simple man living in not-so-simple times. His sons, Matthew (Burt Reynolds) and Moses (Merle Haggard) are tired of plowing and milking. They long for the fast-paced life they can see across the mighty Susquehanna River in neighboring Harrisburg. Jonathan has done an admirable job of keeping them down on the farm, but now a rat problem threatens to change everything. And when a young female exterminator arrives, things really start to get complicated. Eerie musical score by Boxcar Willie helps set the tone in this high-stakes thriller. Jack Nicholson as the city boy. Cameo appearance by Prince. Color 112 min. 1990.

Slow Moving Vehicle from Hell

Inspired by Steven King's The Car, director R. Waalkes paints the tranquil Amish countryside red in this bloody, surreal look at what many consider to be little more than an outdated mode of transportation. Slow Moving Vehicle from Hell is the story of a demon-possessed wagon load of pumpkins that terrorizes southern Lancaster County. But it's also a tender love story of a young Amish lad and a special investigator on her first assignment from Pittsburgh. Nominated for best screenplay. Color 98 min. 1989.

Disaster in Lancaster: The September Mule Massacre

Those zany Gremlins are back. And this time they've killed every mule in Lancaster County. The long-awaited sequel to 1988's Christmas blockbuster. In this installment, the curious fur-bearing creatures face their greatest challenge, a makeshift army of local Amish. The trapping and eventual clubbing to death of the Gremlins is sure to delight the hearts of youngsters everywhere. Starring Venessa Redgrave as Mom, Dustin Hoffman as Billy, and Yassir Arafat as Ringo's cousin. Color 144 min. 1989.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Barn-Raisers

Your favorite cartoon characters come to life in R. Waalke's adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock musical by the same name. Join Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo as they help a local farmer back to his feet after a terrifying fire destroys most of his outbuildings and farming implements. Filmed in surround sound. Narration by Burl Ives and Richard Petty. Color 112 min. 1990.

Contact

Jody Foster stars as MaryRuth Weaver in this tense shocker that pits traditional Christian values against modern commercial exploitation. MaryRuth, a defiant Amish teenager with a $20-a-day butterfat habit, has lost a daily wear contact lens in the hay barn. Her dirt-poor boyfriend, Ezekial (James Woods), dutifully supports MaryRuth in her time of need. But time is running out for the couple as Ezekial searches in all the wrong places. Meanwhile, the laughter and high jinks of Amish farm life are threatened by the hidden agenda of Dr. Charles Cosworth (Jim Scopelitis), the local ophthalmologist Hell-bent on selling the Weaver family a replacement lens. Starring Jan-Michael Vincent as Father, Benyamin Netanyahu as Benjamin, and introducing Richard Trickle as Abe.

Men in Brown

The year is 2045. The place: the Pennsylvania Dutch community of Bird in Hand. Here, a renegade extremist element known only as ASS (Amish for Systematic Secession) threatens to topple the centuries-old Amish empire. ASS's evil leader, Hezikiah (Steven Wright), vows to stop only after the last roadside stand is plundered, the last barn burnt, and the last slow moving vehicle overturned. Desolation rules until the ultra-secret Men in Brown decide it's time to show some knee. Woody Harrelson stars as MiB special-agent-in-charge Joe Ragan in this techno gonzo look at the Amish of the future. Featuring Conan O'Brien as Isaiah, Jimmi Smits as the Commissioner, and in his triumphant return to the big screen, Mr. T as Lieutenant Mulcahey. Original Motion Picture soundtrack by Hanson.

 

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