Ragtime (film)
| Ragtime | |
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 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Miloš Forman |
| Produced by | Dino De Laurentiis |
| Written by | Michael Weller Bo Goldman (uncredited) E.L. Doctorow (novel) |
| Starring | James Cagney Brad Dourif Moses Gunn Elizabeth McGovern Kenneth McMillan Howard E. Rollins, Jr. Mary Steenburgen Samuel L. Jackson Fran Drescher Debbie Allen Uncredited: Jack Nicholson |
| Music by | Randy Newman |
| Cinematography | Miroslav Ondříček |
| Editing by | Anne V. Coates |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 20, 1981 |
| Running time | 155 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $11,099,118 |
Ragtime is a 1981 American film based on the historical novel Ragtime (1975) by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the first decade of the 1900s, and includes fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film was directed by Miloš Forman. The music was the first full feature score composed by Randy Newman. This was the final feature film for both James Cagney and Pat O'Brien; Cagney was ailing during the shoot.
Although ambiguous about the year of action within the storyline, architect and socialite Stanford White was actually shot in 1906 and the trial(s) of Harry K. Thaw for the murder took place in 1907 and again in 1908. Thaw's wife, Evelyn Nesbit had a previous intimate relationship with White while she was a teenager. The film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but lost to On Golden Pond. It was nominated for eight Oscars in all.
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[edit] Plot
In early 20th Century New York, Father, Mother and Younger Brother reside in a house in New Rochelle. Younger Brother becomes smitten with coquettish showgirl Evelyn Nesbit, whose wealthy husband Harry Kendall Thaw murders architect Stanford White in a jealous rage.
An abandoned baby is found by Mother in her garden. She takes it into her home, and eventually the baby's mother Sarah to work for the family as well. A ragtime musician, Coalhouse Walker Jr., has become prosperous with his expertise at the piano. He is the baby's father and drives in his new Model T to the New Rochelle home, presenting himself to Father with a desire to marry Sarah.
Outside their firehouse, a group of bigots headed by fire chief Willie Conklin refuse to let Walker's automobile pass. After he leaves to find a policeman, Walker returns to find his car damaged and desecrated with manure. His objections result in the law placing him under arrest rather than Conklin and the firemen.
Walker wishes to sue, but can find no lawyer willing to represent him. He decides to exact revenge by planting a bomb in the firehouse. He then does the same in the J.P. Morgan Library, assisted by a group of disguised followers that include Younger Brother. He demands that the Model T and the fire chief, Conklin, be delivered to him or the library will be destroyed.
Booker T. Washington fails to persuade Walker to surrender, as does Father in a visit to the library. Conklin is summoned by Police Commissioner Rheinlander Waldo, who cites the fire chief's reputation as "a piece of slime" yet cannot submit to Walker's terrorist demands. Walker ultimately agrees to give up if Waldo will first permit the other men to safely depart. They do, but when Walker surrenders, he is shot.
[edit] Featured cast (in alphabetical order)
[edit] Awards
[edit] 1981 Academy Awards (Oscars)
Ragtime was nominated for eight Academy Awards:[1]
- Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
- Nominated – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Elizabeth McGovern
- Nominated – Best Achievement in Art Direction:
Art Direction: John Graysmark, Patrizia Von Brandenstein, Tony Reading
Set Decoration: George DeTitta, Sr., George DeTitta, Jr., Peter Howitt - Nominated – Best Achievement in Cinematography: Miroslav Ondrícek
- Nominated – Best Achievement in Costume Design: Anna Hill Johnstone
- Nominated – Best Original Score: Randy Newman
- Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"
- Nominated – Best Adapted Screenplay: Michael Weller
[edit] 1981 BAFTA Film Awards
- Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"
[edit] 1981 Golden Globe Awards
- Nominated – Best Director - Motion Picture: Miloš Forman
- Nominated – Best Motion Picture - Drama
- Nominated – Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
- Nominated – Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture: Mary Steenburgen
- Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"
- Nominated – New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
- Nominated – New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture: Elizabeth McGovern
[edit] 1981 Grammy Awards
- Nominated – Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Randy Newman
[edit] 1981 Image Awards
- Won – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Moses Gunn
- Nominated – Outstanding Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
[edit] 1981 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- Nominated – Best Music: Randy Newman
[edit] 1981 Writers Guild of America Awards
- Nominated – WGA Screen Award for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: Michael Weller
[edit] Other
One instrumental from the soundtrack, "Clef Club Number 2", was later used as the theme tune for ESPN's Inside Baseball weekly magazine program hosted by George Grande.
[edit] References
- ^ "NY Times: Ragtime". NY Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/40107/Ragtime/awards. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
[edit] External links
- Ragtime at the Internet Movie Database
- Ragtime at AllRovi
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