On Golden Pond

19811981
PGPG
1h 49min

On Golden Pond (1981)

Trailer for On Golden Pond

Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationshi... Read allNorman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms.Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms.Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms.Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Won 3 Oscars
- 14 wins & 23 nominations total

Videos2

On Golden Pond: Special Edition

On Golden Pond: Special Edition

Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 17

Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 17

Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond (1981)

Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, and Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond (1981)

Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond (1981)

Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond (1981)

Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, and Doug McKeon in On Golden Pond (1981)

Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, and Doug McKeon in On Golden Pond (1981)

3631-14 Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond" © 1981 Universal MPTV

3631-15 Henry and Jane Fonda, Katharine Hepburn in "On Golden Pond" © 1981 Universal MPTV

3631-17 Katharine Hepburn and Director Mark Rydell on the set of "On Golden Pond" © 1981 Universal MPTV

3631-9 Katharine Hepburn in "On Golden Pond"

James Earl Jones at an event for On Golden Pond (1981)

James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams at an event for On Golden Pond (1981)

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

7.8

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

9 to 5

6.9

The African Queen

7.8

The African Queen

Terms of Endearment

7.4

Terms of Endearment

Coming Home

7.3

The Lion in Winter

7.9

The Lion in Winter

The China Syndrome

7.4

The China Syndrome

Tootsie

7.4

Ordinary People

7.7

Ordinary People

On Golden Pond

6.6

The Goodbye Girl

7.4

The Goodbye Girl

Morning Glory

6.4

The loons are back again on Golden Pond and so are Norman Thayer, a retired professor, and Ethel who have had a summer cottage there since early in their marriage. This summer their daughter Chelsea -- whom they haven't seen for years -- feels she must be there for Norman's birthday. She and her fiance are on their way to Europe the next day but will be back in a couple of weeks to pick up the fiance's son. When she returns Chelsea is married and her stepson has the relationship with her father that she always wanted. Will father and daughter be able to communicate at last? —Dale O'Connor <daleoc@interaccess.com>

motherhood teenage boy 1980s nostalgia character appears in newspaper 50 more

Taglines
- A TRIPLE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER!
Genre
- Drama
Certificate
- PG
Parents guide

Trivia
The brown Fedora worn by Henry Fonda belonged to Spencer Tracy and was given to Fonda by Katharine Hepburn on the first day on the set. Fonda, overwhelmed with the gesture, painted a still life watercolor of the three hats he wore in the film and gave the original to Hepburn as a gift. He had 200 lithographs made of the painting and sent one to every person who worked on the film. Each copy was numbered and personally signed by Fonda thanking each person by name. In her autobiography, Hepburn wrote that she gave the painting to screenwriter Ernest Thompson. After Fonda's death, she found the painting to be a sad reminder of him and Tracy.

Goofs
The numbers of the pump show the cost of fuel to be 67.9 cents per gallon with a total cost of $19.00. The price of gasoline in 1981 was around $1.30 per gallon. However, old pumps were not capable of charging more than 99.9 cents per gallon, so they were set to half the price, and the total was then doubled. That is why the teenager asks for $38.00.

Quotes
Billy Ray: So, I heard you turned 80 today.
Norman: Is that what you heard?
Billy Ray: Yeah. Man, that's really old.
Norman: You should meet my father.
Billy Ray: Your father's still alive?
Norman: No, but you should meet him.

Alternate versions
When premiered on TV, an extra credit dedicated to Henry Fonda was added to the final credits.

Connections
Edited into Reflections on Golden Pond (2003)

Soundtracks
Happy Birthday to You
(1893) (uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
Sung by all for Norman's birthday

Top review

7/10

Surprisingly Entertaining

I was expecting a very boring movie. All I thought about this was a couple of old people sitting around talking at some cabin. I was way off. This film is quite the opposite. Things do happen that make this movie well worth watching. Henry Fonda is excellent and made me laugh really hard with his sarcastic answers to many questions. I do believe Jane Fonda was not in the film enough. Of course we can't go without mentioning Katherine Hepburn. She is one of the greats and this film has proof.

This is a film I would definitely recommend to others. It is light hearted and dramatic all at the same time. Watch this film it will entertain you.

helpful•32

8

iwatcheverything
Sep 16, 2003

Release date
- February 12, 1982 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Am goldenen See
Filming locations
- Squam Lake, New Hampshire, USA
Production companies
- IPC Films
- Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Gross US & Canada
- $119,285,432
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $89,213
- Dec 6, 1981
Gross worldwide
- $119,285,432

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 49min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Mono
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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