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IMDb > Ragtime (1981)
Ragtime
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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   3,675 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
E.L. Doctorow (novel) and
Michael Weller (writer)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ragtime on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 January 1982 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Stage Door: Ragtime, My Wonderful Day
 (From Huffington Post. 23 November 2009, 12:28 PM, PST)

Birthday Suit: You've Seen Demi's
 (From FilmExperience. 11 November 2009, 4:00 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Now clearly a classic more (43 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

James Cagney ... Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo

Brad Dourif ... Younger Brother
Moses Gunn ... Booker T. Washington

Elizabeth McGovern ... Evelyn Nesbit
Kenneth McMillan ... Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien ... Mr. Delphin Delmas

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 ... Harry Houdini (as Jeff Demunn)

Robert Joy ... Henry 'Harry' Kendall Thaw
Norman Mailer ... Stanford White
Bruce Boa ... Jerome
Hoolihand Burke ... Brigit
Norman Chancer ... Agent
Edwin Cooper ... Grandfather

Jeff Daniels ... P.C. O'Donnell

Fran Drescher ... Mameh
Frankie Faison ... Gang Member #1
Hal Galili ... Police Captain #1
Alan Gifford ... Judge
Richard Griffiths ... Delmas' Assistant #1

Samuel L. Jackson ... Gang Member #2

Michael Jeter ... Special Reporter
Calvin Levels ... Gang Member #3
Bessie Love ... Old T.O.C. Lady
Christopher Malcolm ... Police Captain #2
Herman Meckler ... Vernon Elliott
Billy J. Mitchell ... Delmas' Assistant #2
Jenny Nichols ... Little Girl
Max Nichols ... Little Boy
Zack Norman ... Gent #2 / Manager
Eloise Taylor ... Mrs. Thaw (as Eloise O'Brien)
Don Plumley ... Inspector McNeil
Ted Ross ... Black Lawyer

Dorsey Wright ... Gang Member #4
Robert Arden ... Foreman of the Jury
Robert Boyd ... President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt
Thomas A. Carlin ... Vice President Charles Warren Fairbanks
John Clarkson ... Plainclothes Detective #1
Brian F. Dean ... Fireman #1
Harry Ditson ... County Clerk
Robert Dorning ... Gent with Stanford White
Geoffrey Greenhill ... T.O.C. Police Guard
Ray Hassett ... Policeman #12
Robert Hitt ... Plainclothes Detective #2
Rodney James ... Sleek Male Dancer

George Harris ... Clef Club Band Leader
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 #1

Nesbitt Blaisdell ... Policeman #5
Chaim Blatter ... Rabbi
Donald Bisset ... J.P. Morgan

Josh Clark ... Fireman #3
Robert Coffin ... Desk Clerk
Patrick Connor ... Waldo's Aide #3
Joel Cutrara ... Policeman #11
Jake Dengel ... Fireman #2
Barry Dennen ... Stage Manager
Natalia Dobrer ... Woman #1
Daniel Foley ... Stock Reporter
Gretchen Franklin ... Elderly Woman
Pat Gorman ... Thug #2
Guy Gregory ... Black Butler #2
Dave Griffiths ... Thug #1
Jeff Harding ... Policeman #13
Robert Henderson ... Elderly Man
Colette Hiller ... Lawyer's Female Companion #1
Patrick M. Hughes ... Policeman #7
Elaine Ives-Cameron ... Lawyer's Female Companion #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 #2
Al Matthews ... Maitre D'
Stuart Milligan ... Marksman
Richard Oldfield ... Stock Reporter
Nelly Polissky ... Woman in Window
Mike Potter ... Thug #4
Anthony Powell ... Policeman #9

Ethan Phillips ... Guard at Family House

Joe Praml ... Policeman #4

John Ratzenberger ... Policeman
Bill Reimbold ... Gent #3 / Lawyer
Bob Sherman ... Policeman #10
Tony Sibbald ... Stock Reporter
Stan Simmons ... Thug #3
John Sterland ... Library Guard
Jan Triska ... Special Reporter
Burnell Tucker ... Reporter
Britt Walker ... Black Butler #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)
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Directed by
Milos Forman 
 
Writing credits
E.L. Doctorow (novel)

Heinrich von Kleist  story "Michael Kohlhaas"
Michael Weller  writer

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 
 
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
Colin Jamison .... hairdresser: UK
Leonard .... hair stylist (as Leonard of London)
 
Production Management
Malcolm J. Christopher .... production manager: UK (as Malcolm Christopher)
Patricia Churchill .... production manager: USA (as Pat Churchill)
 
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
 
Art Department
May Callas .... assistant art director: USA
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr. .... property master (as Joe Caracciolo Jr.)
John Chisholm .... property master
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
Ted Michell .... scenic artist: UK
Carlos Quiles .... construction manager: USA (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
Tony Reading .... art director: UK (as Anthony Reading)
Richard Shelton .... painter
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)
Gerald DeTitta .... set dresser (uncredited)
Dennis Murray .... plasterer (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: U.S.
Christopher Newman .... sound mixer (as Chris Newman)
Greg P. Russell .... sound recordist
Ken Weston .... boom operator: UK
Les Wiggins .... sound editor
Donald C. Rogers .... technical director of sound (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
Lightning Bear .... stunts
Joe Cirillo .... stunt fireman
Frank Ferrara .... stunt fireman
Nicholas J. Giangiulio .... stunt fireman (as Nick Giangiulio)
Scott Interrante .... stunt double: Houdini
Steve James .... stunts
Victor Magnotta .... stunt coordinator (as Vic Magnotta)
Harvey Parry .... stunts
James Randi .... stunt coordinator: Houdini
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Barry .... best boy
Tony Cridlin .... grip: UK
Gary Cross .... electrician
Vinnie Gerardo .... assistant camera: USA
Maurice Gillett .... gaffer electrician: UK (as Maurice Gillette)
Paul Kenward .... clapper loader
Billy Kerwick .... grip
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 photographer (as Muky Muncasi)
Bob Penn .... still photographer
Tom Priestley Jr. .... camera operator (as Thomas A. Priestley Jr.)
Richard Quinlan .... gaffer electrician: USA
Ed Quinn .... key grip
Micky Wilson .... electrician
Jimmy Worley .... electrician
 
Casting Department
Maggie Cartier .... casting: UK
Mary Goldberg .... casting: USA
David Rubin .... casting assistant
 
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
Marilyn Putnam .... wardrobe supervisor: USA
Guy Tanno .... wardrober
Janet Tebrooke .... wardrobe assistant: UK
Sue Wain .... wardrobe assistant
 
Editorial Department
Debra Bard .... assistant editor
Lisa Zeno Churgin .... first assistant editor
Anne V. Coates .... editor: UK
Nena Danevic .... associate editor: USA
Roberta Friedman .... post-production coordinator: USA
Leslie Gaulin .... assistant editor: USA
Antony Gibbs .... editor: UK
Peter Honess .... assistant editor: UK
Chris Kelly .... assistant editor: UK
Patrick Moore .... assistant editor: UK
Patrick Mullins .... assistant editor: USA
Stanley Warnow .... editor: USA
Judith Blume .... apprentice 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 .... transportation captain: USA
Gerald Makein .... transportation captain: UK
 
Other crew
Gordon Arnell .... unit publicist
Randall Balsmeyer .... title designer
Len Barnard .... supervising accountant
Mary Breen-Farrelly .... production accountant
Richard Brick .... location manager: USA
June Broom .... publicity assistant
Carol Cuddy .... location coordinator: USA
Martha De Laurentiis .... production accountant: New York (as Martha Schumacher)
Hector Freeman .... production staff
Terry Gilbert .... assistant choreographer
Christopher Goode .... location coordinator: USA
Miroslav Hájek .... consultant: Mr. Forman
Shawn Hausman .... location coordinator: USA
Ernie Karpeles .... animal coordinator
Adeline Leonard Seakwood .... production office coordinator: USA
Reggie Life .... location coordinator: USA (as Regge Life)
Lee R. Mayes .... location coordinator: USA (as Lee Mayes)
Ooty Moorehead .... craft service
Marilyse Morgan .... production secretary: UK
Charles Musser .... researcher
Terry Needham .... location manager: UK
Amy Ness .... assistant: Mr. Forman
Golda Offenheim .... production coordinator
Martha Pinson .... script supervisor
Twyla Tharp .... choreographer
David Ticotin .... location coordinator: USA
Marge Zimmerman .... assistant: Mr. Cagney
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Love and Glory (Philippines: English title)
Ragtime (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Ragtime (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Na Época do Ragtime (Brazil) [pt]
Ragtime (France) [fr]
Ragtime (Poland) [pl]
Ragtime (Greece) [el]
Ragtime (Italy) [it]
Ragtime - toivon ja vihan aika (Finland) [fi]
more
Runtime:
155 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
James Cagney had been advised by his doctors and caregivers that making a film at this point in his life was very important for his health. The actor never flew, so he and his wife took an ocean liner to London, where his scenes were filmed. It is a tribute to his professionalism that despite his numerous infirmities, he generously stayed on set during his fellow actors' closeups to give them line readings. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Evelyn's hair in her nude scene shifts over her shoulder momentarily. more
Quotes:
P.C. O'Donnell: Nobody's intimidating me, Mister. You just don't know what you're getting yourself into, and I'm trying to keep your nose clean. Now, would you be a good boy and just get along.?
Coalhouse Walker Jr.: I want my car cleaned!
P.C. O'Donnell: Clean it then, damn you! Clean it and go!
Coalhouse Walker Jr.: I want the man who did it to clean it!
P.C. O'Donnell: All right, all right, let me pit it this way. I can arrest you for blocking a public service exit, for creating a public nuisance, and about ten other things I ain't gonna mention. Now, am I making myself clear?
Coalhouse Walker Jr.: Yes.
P.C. O'Donnell: Good.
Coalhouse Walker Jr.: Officer, I still want my car cleaned.
P.C. O'Donnell: Oh, for Christ's sake! Ain't you got any sense in your head? I'm trying to help you! You leave me no choice.
Coalhouse Walker Jr.: I'm sorry.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Forty Deuce (1982) more
Soundtrack:
ONE MORE HOUR more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
31 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
Now clearly a classic, 18 October 1999
9/10
Author: Scott (scottnyc) from New York, NY

Ragtime has emerged as a classic film. Its astonishing array of great performances--literally a score of them, from Howard Rollins's truly tragic stand for human dignity at the film's center to James Cagney's historic return to film at the end of his life and the end of this motion picture--would almost alone qualify this as a great motion picture. But Michael Weller's breathtakingly complex and complete dramatization of Doctorow's sprawling novel, the gorgeous production and costume designs and the superb direction of Milos Forman seal the deal. This is a magnificent tapestry of American life at the beginning of the American century.

Lavishly entertaining, genuinely heartbreaking and a dandy history lesson to boot, Ragtime has joined the pantheon of great, epic movies.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (43 total)

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Worst movie ever nominated for more than one academy award? whigpresident
Movie of the musical, anyone? cmiller11
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nude scene = PG rating? SeldonRL
Did anyone else notice... brainybrailler
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