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Ragtime (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
6 January 1982 (France) moreTagline:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime morePlot:
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 synopsisPlot Keywords:
Silhouette Maker
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Morality
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Jew
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Out Of Wedlock Child
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Brother In Law Brother In Law Relationship
more
Awards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
John Ratzenberger Receives Career Achievement Award For Movie And "Cheers" Roles (From iCelebz. 8 October 2008, 10:21 AM, PDT)
Donald O'Connor<br>1925-2003
(From WENN. 29 September 2003)
User Comments:
Fantastic in every way moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
155 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
StereoCertification:
Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PGMOVIEmeter: 
7% since last week
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When Jack Nicholson, who was to play Rhinelander Waldo, had to drop out of the film less than a month before filming began, the producers were left without a name star in the cast. It was then that director Milos Forman recruited James Cagney, whom he had met at a private dinner in Connecticut the year before. He offered Cagney any part he wanted including (facetiously) the role of Evelyn Nesbitt. moreGoofs:
Miscellaneous: While negotiating with Coalhouse Walker Jr., the earpiece hook on the phone hangs in the off position while Conklin is talking. moreQuotes:
Rheinlander Waldo: Where is J. P. Morgan?Vernon Elliott: Oh, he's on an expedition down the Nile... in Egypt.
Rheinlander Waldo: Hmmm... Lucky him!
[Looks at the Captain]
Police Captain #1: Yes, sir!
Rheinlander Waldo: And contact some colored big shots to talk to us in case we need to negotiate.
Police Captain #1: Very good, sir. Anything else?
Rheinlander Waldo: Yeah, he said something about a car and a fire chief.
Police Captain #1: Conklin. Willie Conklin.
Rheinlander Waldo: Get him. I want to meet him.
[...]
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Soundtrack:
ONE MORE HOUR moreFAQ
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This a truly terrific period piece directed by Milos Forman(Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus) and starring terrific cast. The film takes place in the very early 1900's and follows the lives of at least four different people/families. As the movie gets going, it begins to focus mostly on an African American man and his struggle to be heard in society after he is mistreated by a group of firemen. Everything that follows is equally powerful and fascinating as the man tries to find justice in the turn of the century America. This fine film is richly textured with turn of the century atmosphere, music and actual newsreels from the period which all contribute to this fascinating story. Also nice to see James Cagney one more time. This is a film that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in what life was like at the turn of century. A fantastic film. ***3/4 out of ****.