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IMDb > Ragtime (1981)
Ragtime
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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   3,671 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
E.L. Doctorow (novel) and
Michael Weller (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Ragtime on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 January 1982 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime more
Plot:
A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence, and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Stage Door: Ragtime, My Wonderful Day
 (From Huffington Post. 23 November 2009, 12:28 PM, PST)

Birthday Suit: You've Seen Demi's
 (From FilmExperience. 11 November 2009, 4:00 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Love this film. more (43 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

James Cagney ... Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo

Brad Dourif ... Younger Brother
Moses Gunn ... Booker T. Washington

Elizabeth McGovern ... Evelyn Nesbit
Kenneth McMillan ... Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien ... Mr. Delphin Delmas

Donald O'Connor ... Evelyn's Dance Instructor
James Olson ... Father

Mandy Patinkin ... Tateh
Howard E. Rollins Jr. ... Coalhouse Walker Jr.

Mary Steenburgen ... Mother

Debbie Allen ... Sarah
Jeffrey DeMunn ... Harry Houdini (as Jeff Demunn)

Robert Joy ... Henry 'Harry' Kendall Thaw
Norman Mailer ... Stanford White
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Love and Glory (Philippines: English title)
more
Runtime:
155 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
James Cagney had been advised by his doctors and caregivers that making a film at this point in his life was very important for his health. The actor never flew, so he and his wife took an ocean liner to London, where his scenes were filmed. It is a tribute to his professionalism that despite his numerous infirmities, he generously stayed on set during his fellow actors' closeups to give them line readings. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Charles W. Fairbanks was not the Vice President of the United States when he was running with Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. He was a Senator from Indiana and was chosen as Roosevelt's running mate that year. Roosevelt was Vice President when he succeeded to the presidency upon William McKinley's assassination and he had no Vice President for his first term of office. more
Quotes:
Rheinlander Waldo: Where is J. P. Morgan?
Vernon Elliott: Oh, he's on an expedition down the Nile... in Egypt.
Rheinlander Waldo: Hmmm... Lucky him!
[Looks at the Captain]
Police Captain #1: Yes, sir!
Rheinlander Waldo: And contact some colored big shots to talk to us in case we need to negotiate.
Police Captain #1: Very good, sir. Anything else?
Rheinlander Waldo: Yeah, he said something about a car and a fire chief.
Police Captain #1: Conklin. Willie Conklin.
Rheinlander Waldo: Get him. I want to meet him.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Remembering 'Ragtime' (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
ONE MORE HOUR more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
Love this film., 17 May 2001
10/10
Author: suzy q123 from United States

This is one of the last great epics featuring James Cagney, Donald O'Conner, and oh yeah- some terrific younger actors too. An amazing score by Randy Newman, a great script based on a book, and lovely cinematography. I highly recommend this film, I saw it the night after I saw REDS, and somehow they belong together on a double bill.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (43 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Ragtime (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Worst movie ever nominated for more than one academy award? whigpresident
Movie of the musical, anyone? cmiller11
Jack Nicholson MJBell25
Question esbie44
nude scene = PG rating? SeldonRL
Did anyone else notice... brainybrailler
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