Ragtime (1981)

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

E.L. Doctorow (based on the novel by)
Michael Weller (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

8 January 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime

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.

Plot Keywords:

Car | 1910s | Pianist | Piano | New York City

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

James Cagney	...	New York Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo
Brad Dourif	...	Younger Brother
Moses Gunn	...	Booker T. Washington
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Evelyn Nesbit
Kenneth McMillan	...	Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien	...	Delphin
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	...	Houdini (as Jeff Demunn)
Robert Joy	...	Henry Thaw
Norman Mailer	...	Stanford White
Bruce Boa	...	Jerome
Hoolihand Burke	...	Brigit
Norman Chancer	...	Gent No. 1 - Agent
Edwin Cooper	...	Grandfather
Jeff Daniels	...	P.C. O'Donnell
Fran Drescher	...	Mameh
Frankie Faison	...	Gang Member No. 1
Hal Galili	...	Police Captain No. 1
Alan Gifford	...	Judge
Richard Griffiths	...	Delmas' Assistant No. 1
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Gang Member No. 2
Michael Jeter	...	Special Reporter
Calvin Levels	...	Gang Member No. 3
Bessie Love	...	Old Lady - T.O.C.
Christopher Malcolm	...	Police Captain No. 2
Herman Meckler	...	Vernon Elliott
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Delmas' Assistant No. 2
Jenny Nichols	...	Little Girl
Max Nichols	...	Little Boy
Zack Norman	...	Gent No. 2 - Manager
Eloise Taylor	...	Mrs. Thaw (as Eloise O'Brien)
Don Plumley	...	Inspector McNeil
Ted Ross	...	Black Lawyer
Dorsey Wright	...	Gang Member No. 4
Robert Arden	...	Foreman of the Jury
Robert Boyd	...	Teddy Roosevelt
Thomas A. Carlin	...	Vice President Fairbanks
John Clarkson	...	Plainclothes Detective No. 1
Brian F. Dean	...	Fireman No. 1
Harry Ditson	...	County Clerk
Robert Dorning	...	Gent with Stanford White
Geoffrey Greenhill	...	Police Guard - T.O.C.
Ray Hassett	...	Policeman No. 12
Robert Hitt	...	Plainclothes Detective No. 2
Rodney James	...	Sleek Male Dancer
George Harris	...	Band Leader - Clef Club
George J. Manos	...	Novelty Shop Storeman
Val Pringle	...	Clef Club Manager
Ron Weyand	...	Dr. Muller
Sonny Abagnale	...	Evelyn's Driver
John Alderson	...	Waldo's Aide No. 1
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Policeman No. 5
Chaim Blatter	...	Rabbi
Donald Bisset	...	J.P. Morgan
Josh Clark	...	Fireman No. 3
Robert Coffin	...	Desk Clerk
Patrick Connor	...	Waldo's Aide No. 3
Joel Cutrara	...	Policeman No. 11
Jake Dengel	...	Fireman No. 2
Barry Dennen	...	Stage Manager
Natalia Dobrer	...	Woman No. 1
Daniel Foley	...	Stock Reporter
Gretchen Franklin	...	Elderly Woman
Pat Gorman	...	Thug No. 2
Guy Gregory	...	Black Butler No. 2
Dave Griffiths	...	Thug No. 1
Jeff Harding	...	Policeman No. 13
Robert Henderson	...	Elderly Man
Colette Hiller	...	Lawyer's Female Companion No. 1
Patrick M. Hughes	...	Policeman No. 7
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Lawyer's Female Companion No. 2
Andreas Katsulas	...	Policeman #3
Douglas Lambert	...	Police Sergeant
Pavel Landovský	...	Solomon Peretz (as Pavel Landovsky)
Norris Mailer	...	Lady with Stanford White
Derek Martin	...	Waldo's Aide No. 2
Al Matthews	...	Maitre D'
Stuart Milligan	...	Marksman
Richard Oldfield	...	Stock Reporter
Nelly Polissky	...	Woman in Window
Mike Potter	...	Thug No. 4
Anthony Powell	...	Policeman #9
Ethan Phillips	...	Guard at Family House
Joe Praml	...	Policeman No. 8
John Ratzenberger	...	Policeman
Bill Reimbold	...	Gent No. 3 - Lawyer
Bob Sherman	...	Policeman No. 10
Tony Sibbald	...	Stock Reporter
Stan Simmons	...	Thug No. 3
John Sterland	...	Library Guard
Jan Tríska	...	Special Reporter
Burnell Tucker	...	Reporter
Britt Walker	...	Black Butler No. 1
Peter Whitman	...	Stock Reporter
Edward Wiley	...	Conductor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Carrafa	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Cop (uncredited)
Jim Fitzpatrick	...	Bail Clerk (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Assassin's Best Friend (uncredited)
Jack Nicholson	...	Pirate at Beach (uncredited)
Frank Patton	...	Arresting Police Officer (uncredited)
Ilana Rapp	...	Sister (uncredited)
Ellen Stretton	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Judi Trott	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Milos Forman

Writing credits
E.L. Doctorow		(based on the novel by)
Michael Weller		(screenplay)
Heinrich von Kleist		story "Michael Kohlhaas" (uncredited)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer
Michael Hausman	....	executive producer
Fred Sidewater	....	associate producer (as Fredric M. Sidewater)
Bernard Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Randy Newman

Cinematography by
Miroslav Ondrícek		(director of photography)

Production Design by
John Graysmark

Art Direction by
John Dapper

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Frank Bianco	....	hairdresser: USA
Joe Cuervo	....	makeup artist: USA
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist: UK
Peter Frampton	....	makeup artist: UK
Bob Grimaldi	....	hairdresser: USA (as Robert Grimaldi)
Stephanie Hall	....	hairdresser: UK
Max Henriquez	....	makeup artist: USA
Colin Jamison	....	hairdresser: UK
Leonard	....	hair (as Leonard of London)

Production Management
Malcolm J. Christopher	....	production manager: UK (as Malcolm Christopher)
Patricia Churchill	....	production manager: USA (as Pat Churchill)
Richard Brick	....	assistant unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andy Armstrong	....	second assistant director: UK
Michael Hausman	....	first assistant director
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director: UK
Joel Tuber	....	second assistant director: USA
Ken Tuohy	....	second assistant director: UK (as Ken Touhy)

Art Department
May Callas	....	assistant art director: USA
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	property master (as Joe Caracciolo Jr.)
Ted Clements	....	assistant art director: UK
John Dapper	....	assistant art director: USA
George DeTitta Jr.	....	set decorator: USA (as George De Titta Jr.)
George DeTitta Sr.	....	set decorator: USA (as George De Titta Sr.)
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist: USA
Bert Hearn	....	property master: UK
Peter Howitt	....	set decorator: UK
Patricia Johnson	....	draughtsman
John Lanzer	....	property buyer: UK
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist: UK
Carlos Quiles	....	construction manager: USA (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
Tony Reading	....	art director: UK (as Anthony Reading)
Vic Simpson	....	construction manager: UK
Steve Spence	....	assistant art director: UK
Patrizia von Brandenstein	....	art director: USA (as Patrizia Von Brandenstein)
Joe Williams Sr.	....	head construction grip: USA
Andy Aitken	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Michael Boone	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
John Chisholm	....	property master (uncredited)
Mick Chubbock	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Gerald DeTitta	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Dennis Murray	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Richard Shelton	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Terry Busby	....	assistant sound editor
Rowland Fowles	....	boom operator: UK
Nigel Galt	....	assistant sound editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Archie Ludski	....	sound editor
Dennis Maitland II	....	boom operator: USA
Christopher Newman	....	sound mixer (as Chris Newman)
Ken Weston	....	boom operator: UK
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)
Greg P. Russell	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Edward Drohan	....	special effects supervisor: USA (as Ed Drohan)
George Gibbs	....	special effects supervisor: UK

Visual Effects by
Charles Staffell	....	process photography (as Charles D. Staffell)

Stunts
Joe Cirillo	....	stunt fireman
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt fireman
Nicholas J. Giangiulio	....	stunt fireman (as Nick Giangiulio)
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt co-ordinator (as Vic Magnotta)
Lightning Bear	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lisa Cain	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Scott Interrante	....	stunt double: Houdini (uncredited)
Steve James	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
James Randi	....	stunt coordinator: Houdini (uncredited)
Konrad Sheehan	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Barry	....	best boy
Tony Cridlin	....	camera grip: UK
Gary Cross	....	electrician
Vinnie Gerardo	....	camera assistant: USA
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer electrician: UK (as Maurice Gillette)
Ronald M. Lautore	....	second camera operator: USA
Peter MacDonald	....	second camera operator: UK
Mary Ellen Mark	....	special photographer
Douglas Milsome	....	camera assistant: UK
Muky	....	still cameraman (as Muky Muncasi)
Bob Penn	....	still cameraman
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator (as Thomas A. Priestley Jr.)
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer electrician: USA
Ed Quinn	....	key grip
Paul Kenward	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Billy Kerwick	....	grip (uncredited)
Micky Wilson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jimmy Worley	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maggie Cartier	....	casting: UK
Mary Goldberg	....	casting: USA
Pat Golden	....	casting associate: USA (as Patricia Golden)
David Rubin	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor: UK
John Boyt	....	assistant costume designer: USA
Bill Christians	....	wardrobe assistant: USA
Peggy Farrell	....	assistant costume designer: USA
Ian Hickinbotham	....	wardrobe assistant: UK (as Ian Hickinbottom)
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe supervisor: USA
Janet Tebrooke	....	wardrobe assistant: UK
Guy Tanno	....	wardrober (uncredited)
Sue Wain	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anne V. Coates	....	film editor: UK
Nena Danevic	....	associate editor: USA
Roberta Friedman	....	post-production coordinator: USA
Leslie Gaulin	....	assistant editor: USA
Antony Gibbs	....	film editor: UK
Peter Honess	....	assistant editor: UK
Chris Kelly	....	assistant editor: UK
Patrick Moore	....	assistant editor: UK
Patrick Mullins	....	assistant editor: USA
Stanley Warnow	....	film editor: USA
Debra Bard	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Judith Blume	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Lisa Zeno Churgin	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
John Murray	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Stanley Cowell	....	music coach: Mr. Rollins
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Gilbert Marouani	....	music consultant
John Strauss	....	music editor
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Fanning	....	transport captain: USA (as James J. Fanning)
Gerald Makein	....	transport captain: UK
Patrick Hogan	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Gordon Arnell	....	unit publicist
Len Barnard	....	supervising accountant
Mary Breen-Farrelly	....	production accountant
Richard Brick	....	location manager: USA
June Broom	....	publicity assistant
Carol Cuddy	....	location co-ordinator: USA
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter
Martha De Laurentiis	....	assistant accountant: NY (as Martha Schumacher)
Terry Gilbert	....	assistant choreographer
Christopher Goode	....	location co-ordinator: USA
Shawn Hausman	....	location co-ordinator: USA
Miroslav Hájek	....	consultant: Mr. Forman
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production office coordinator: USA
Reggie Life	....	location co-ordinator: USA (as Regge Life)
Lee R. Mayes	....	location co-ordinator: USA (as Lee Mayes)
Marilyse Morgan	....	production secretary: UK
Charles Musser	....	researcher
Terry Needham	....	location manager: UK
Amy Ness	....	assistant: Mr. Forman
Golda Offenheim	....	production co-ordinator
Martha Pinson	....	script supervisor
Twyla Tharp	....	choreographer
David Ticotin	....	location co-ordinator: USA
Marge Zimmerman	....	assistant: Mr. Cagney
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (uncredited)
Hector Freeman	....	production staff (uncredited)
Ernie Karpeles	....	animal coordinator (uncredited)
Ooty Moorehead	....	craft service (uncredited)
Art Smith Jr.	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dino De Laurentiis Company (A Milos Forman Film)
• Sunley Productions Ltd. (as A Sunley Production)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount) (A Gulf + Western Company)
• AMLF (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Europa Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1982) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Aquarius TV (2006) (Greece) (TV)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Initial (I) (????) (France) (VHS)
• KNM Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1995) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Amigo and Evergreen Studios (I)  music recorded at (as Amigo and Evergreen Studios, Los Angeles, California)
• Elektra/Asylum Records  sound track available on (as Elektra/Asylum Records and Tape)
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the producers would like to thank (as Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, New York City)
• New York City Police Department, Movie and Television Unit  the producers would like to thank (as New York Police Department, Movie & TV Unit)
• R/Greenberg Associates  main and end titles produced and designed by (as R. Greenberg Associates, Inc., New York City)
• Twickenham Studios  recorded at (as Twickenham Film Studios, London)

Also Known As:

"Love and Glory" - Philippines (English title)

Runtime:

155 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

81 West Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

The silhouettist played by Mandy Patinkin and his wife (played by Fran Drescher) are listed in the credits with the character names 'Tateh' and 'Mameh'. These are not meant to be interpreted as their actual names, but are rather the Yiddish words for 'father' and 'mother', respectively.

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.

Quotes:

Rheinlander Waldo:That library over there is worth millions and people keep telling me you're a piece of slime.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Le bourreau des coeurs (1983)

Soundtrack:

ONE MORE HOUR

A Wonderful Panel of Racism, Intolerance, Violence, Greed and Hypocrisy, Showing the Formation of the American Society

In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, many dramas cross in a wonderful panel, showing the formation of the American society. Evelyn Nesbit Thaw (Elizabeth McGovern) is the wife of a millionaire, and pivot of a crime committed by her jealous husband. Her mother-in-law is a hypocrite old lady, who convinces Evelyn to lie in court for money, to avoid her son to go to the electric chair. Evelyn commits perjury, but the mother-in-law does not pay her the promised amount. Mary Steenburgen is a correct woman, having a very moralist husband. Her brother (Brad Dourif) is honest and idealist. The family hires Sarah, a black and single mother, with her baby. The father is the pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), who progresses in his career and comes back to Sarah, proposing her to get married with him. An incident with a group of racists makes him fighting for justice in a racist society. Rheinlander Waldo (James Cagney) is the chief of police, who is involved in the incident. This movie is another wonderful film of Milos Forman. Amazing the quantity of marvelous movies made by this fantastic director. The reconstitution of the period is magnificent. The cast is stunning. Elizabeth McGovern looks like a doll wearing those costumes. Her nude scene is also great. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): `Na Época do Ragtime' (`In the Age of the Ragtime')