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IMDbPro

On Golden Pond

  • 1981
  • PG
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
33K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,888
46
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.

  • Director
    • Mark Rydell
  • Writer
    • Ernest Thompson
  • Stars
    • Katharine Hepburn
    • Henry Fonda
    • Jane Fonda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    33K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,888
    46
    • Director
      • Mark Rydell
    • Writer
      • Ernest Thompson
    • Stars
      • Katharine Hepburn
      • Henry Fonda
      • Jane Fonda
    • 150User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 14 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos2

    On Golden Pond: Special Edition
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch On Golden Pond: Special Edition
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 17
    Video 32:48
    Watch 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 Thayer
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Norman Thayer Jr.
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Chelsea Thayer Wayne
    Doug McKeon
    Doug McKeon
    • Billy Ray
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Bill Ray
    William Lanteau
    William Lanteau
    • Charlie Martin
    Christopher Rydell
    Christopher Rydell
    • Sumner Todd
    • (as Chris Rydell)
    Troy Garity
    Troy Garity
    • Young Boy on Jetty
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Rydell
    • Writer
      • Ernest Thompson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    On Golden Pond
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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 reviews150

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Really great!!!
    I really enjoyed "On Golden Pond". I wanted to see it, because Henry Fonda won his only Best Actor Oscar for it. Since I'm a Henry Fonda fan, I thought I should watch the movie the Academy considered his best. When I watched it, I really enjoyed it! It makes you not want to take life for granted, in any way. For Norman, he learns not to take life for granted by enjoying it. He also learns not to be so crotchety, and not to dote on death. His daughter, Chelsea, learned to forget about her differences with her father, and to love him while she can.

    Katharine Hepburn also gives a brilliant, Oscar-winning performance as Ethel Thayer, Norman's devoted wife. She helps him in more ways than the audience realizes, because she tries to make him feel young, which is what he needs.

    "On Golden Pond" is a wonderful movie with a combination of drama and comedy that makes for an entertaining experience. I recommend this movie to everyone!
    helpful•32
    7
    • Elizabeth-328
    • Feb 17, 2000

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    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(Main lake)
    • Production companies
      • Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
      • IPC Films
    • 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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