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IMDbPro

On Golden Pond

  • 19811981
  • PGPG
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
31K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,211
793
Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, and Doug McKeon in On Golden Pond (1981)
Trailer for On Golden Pond
Play trailer1:48
2 Videos
88 Photos
  • Drama
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... 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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
31K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,211
793
  • Director
    • Mark Rydell
  • Writer
    • Ernest Thompson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Katharine Hepburn
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Fonda
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark Rydell
  • Writer
    • Ernest Thompson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Katharine Hepburn
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Fonda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 145User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 14 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos2

    On Golden Pond: Special Edition
    Trailer 1:48
    On Golden Pond: Special Edition
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 17
    Video 32:48
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 17

    Photos88

    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)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Katharine Hepburn
    Katharine Hepburn
    • Ethel Thayeras Ethel Thayer
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Norman Thayer Jr.as Norman Thayer Jr.
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Chelsea Thayer Wayneas Chelsea Thayer Wayne
    Doug McKeon
    Doug McKeon
    • Billy Rayas Billy Ray
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Bill Rayas Bill Ray
    William Lanteau
    William Lanteau
    • Charlie Martinas Charlie Martin
    Christopher Rydell
    Christopher Rydell
    • Sumner Toddas Sumner Todd
    • (as Chris Rydell)
    Troy Garity
    Troy Garity
    • Young Boy on Jettyas Young Boy on Jetty
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Rydell
    • Writer
      • Ernest Thompson(screenplay) (based on his play)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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

    User reviews145

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Reflective twilight year musings on aging & relationships
    This is an extremely well crafted film, although I believe a little overrated from a sense of nostalgia for its beloved talented and now aging stars, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Of course the cinematography is magnificent, with lovely country scenery and beautiful lakeside vistas, all well incorporated into the emotional aspects of the picture.

    The movie brings the viewer into what is probably the last of many summers spent at their Golden Pond cottage by retired professor, Norman Thayer, an ornery old codger, and his cheerful, loving wife, Ethel. Their semi estranged 40 something daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda), comes to visit, in honor of her father's 80th birthday, bringing her new fiancé, Bill. The younger couple leave Bill's young teenage son, Billy, with Chelsea's parents while they jaunt off to Europe for a couple of weeks on holiday.

    It's a film that is character driven, and all about relationships. For me, the most moving is that between husband and wife. Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn give brilliant Oscar winning performances as the aging Thayer couple, Norman and Ethel. Their relationship, the love, support, and comfortable banter, is so amazing on screen it is impossible to believe they aren't actually married in real life. Norman has become quite frail and has troubling health concerns, both physical (heart palpitations) and mental (some memory loss). Mind you, this film is all a bit depressing with Norman's anxieties about his mortality (no comforting faith mentioned here, unfortunately) and of course his aging. Ethel is jovially comforting, especially when he gets a little lost in the woods while they are out picking strawberries together. This scene is beautifully done by both spouses. He's a sympathetic but crotchety character to say the least, yet she always manages to deal with him affectionately.

    Also, the relationship between Norman and the fiancé's young son... Although Billy has earlier been rather miffed at being stuck with these old folks for the summer, Norman develops quite a touching grandfatherly relationship with him, as the two go fishing together and so forth.

    The only relationship that doesn't come off well here is the strained father / daughter one between Norman and Chelsea that presumably is meant to reflect the real life tensions between Henry and Jane Fonda. Frankly, Chelsea seems more like a self absorbed teenager or 20 something, trying to find herself. By age 40, she should have done so and become a genuine support to these elderly parents of hers. I really like Jane Fonda in some of her roles, but this particular character hasn't much depth and is little asset to the movie. Hopefully, at least making On Golden Pond together helped to mend any real life fences between the two Fondas.

    In any case, the film examines skillfully the aging process from the very personal perspective of a loving couple going through it, and as such is a movie not to be missed.
    helpful•12
    1
    • roghache
    • Mar 24, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • 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

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,500,000 (estimated)
    • 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

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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