Ragtime (1981)

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

E.L. Doctorow (novel) and
Michael Weller (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

6 January 1982 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime

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.

Plot Keywords:

Racial Injustice | Car | Little Boy | Baby | 1910s

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

James Cagney	...	Commissioner Rheinlander 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
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	...	Doctor Muller
Sonny Abagnale	...	Evelyns Driver
John Alderson	...	Waldos Aide #1
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Policeman #5
Chaim Blatter	...	Rabbi
Donald Bisset	...	J.P. Morgan
Josh Clark	...	Fireman #3
Robert Coffin	...	Desk Clerk
Patrick Connor	...	Waldos 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	...	Lawyers Female Companion #1
Patrick M. Hughes	...	Policeman #7
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Lawyers 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	...	Waldos 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:
Hoolihand Burke	...	Brigit (uncredited)
John Carrafa	...	Dancer (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)

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
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
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

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)
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

Production Companies

• Dino De Laurentiis Company
• Sunley Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Europa Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Sweden (1995) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Scanbox Sweden (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• AMLF (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Initial (I) (????) (France) (VHS)
• Paramount Pictures

Other Companies

• Amigo and Evergreen Studios (I)  music recorded at
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York Police Department Motion Picture Unit  thanks
• R/Greenberg Associates  main titles designed and produced by
• Twickenham Film Studios  recorded at

Also Known As:

Love and Glory (Philippines: English title)
Ragtime (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Na Época do Ragtime (Brazil) [pt]
Ragtime (France) [fr]
Ragtime (Poland) [pl]
Ragtime - toivon ja vihan aika (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

155 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

81 West Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

O.J. Simpson was considered for the role of Coalhouse Walker.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Charles W. Fairbanks was not the Vice President of the United States when he was running with Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. He was a Senator from Indiana and was chosen as Roosevelt's running mate that year. Roosevelt was Vice President when he succeeded to the presidency upon William McKinley's assassination and he had no Vice President for his first term of office.

Quotes:

Younger Brother: I design fireworks. That's my job.
[the black anarchists laugh in derision]
Younger Brother: . I can make bombs.
[They stop laughing and take him seriously]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Remembering 'Ragtime' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

ONE MORE HOUR

It doesn't do the impossible, but so what?

A short commentary: Having read through a few of the comments here, I note that there are several which express disappointment that the movie didn't do the book justice. Personally, having read the book some time after seeing the movie, I can understand their point, but realistically it's the type of book which would be nearly be impossible to do justice to, as there are so many broad interwoven threads in the book that it would require at least a 6 hour movie to even scratch the surface, and even then, putting it all together into a singular coherent whole which would hold the viewer's interest for that long would be quite a mean feat indeed. So instead of looking at it as an attempt to fully capture the book, it might be best to simply appreciate it for what it is, rather than what it isn't. And I believe that on its own terms it succeeds admirably, and remains one of my favorite movies of all time.

Another way of looking at this, as an introduction to the book, rather than vice versa it has some value on those terms. Perhaps if I hadn't seen the movie I might never have happened upon the book, and never known what I'd missed.