Main Cast: James Cagney, Brad Dourif, Moses Gunn, Elizabeth McGovern, Kenneth McMillan, Pat O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, James Olson, Mandy Patinkin, Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
Release Year: 1981
Country: US
Run Time: 155 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
E. L. Doctorow's novel Ragtime was a sprawling fictional account of American manners and mores in the years between 1900 and 1913. Among the mosaic of colorful factual and fictional characters in the novel were escape artist Harry Houdini and radical Emma Goldman. Both characters are all but eliminated in the film version, which only concentrates on three of Doctorow's many plot threads: The story of an immigrant artist (Mandy Patinkin) who becomes a movie director; the saga of "Gibson Girl" Evelyn Nesbit Shaw (Elizabeth McGovern), for whose sake playboy Harry K. Thaw (Robert Joy); kills architect Stanford White (Norman Mailer) and a lone black man's (Howard Rollins Jr.) quest for justice when his car is destroyed by a racist fire chief (Kenneth McMillan). This last subplot consumes most of the film's running time, to the overall detriment of the pacing. There are also several scenes involving an unnamed upper-middle-class family (headed by James Olson and Mary Steenburgen) who are evidently meant to be the audience's eyes and ears, but are frankly not terribly interesting. Back in 1981, Ragtime was given plenty of press coverage as the "comeback" picture for James Cagney, after twenty years in retirement. The problem is that Cagney's character (a police commissioner) isn't in the book, and his inclusion not only throws the story off balance, but necessitates the removal of several potentially interesting characters and events. Another detriment is the gratuitous (and illogical) nudity in the Evelyn Nesbit scenes, which earned the film its "R" rating. An ornate misfire, Ragtime is of interest today only for its remarkable cast of veterans and stars-to-be, including Pat O'Brien and Eloise O'Brien, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Allen, Moses Gunn, Jeff Daniels and Fran Drescher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Milos Forman's Ragtime offers a gorgeous recreation of turn-of-the-century suburban New York, from the immaculate sets and costumes down to the terrific ragtime score by Randy Newman. The novel's complex social tapestry --which weaves together several intriguing storylines -- is here ultimately winnowed down by director Forman and writer Michael Weller to a black man's inevitably tragic pursuit of justice, thereby resulting in the significant diminishment of Doctorow's challenging and acutely critical themes. Despite this weakness, the dominant narrative is effectively presented and the film builds to a morally ambiguous and compelling climax. The film marked the return to the silver screen of the legendary James Cagney after a twenty year absence, but the acting plaudits here go to Elizabeth McGovern and Howard Rollins Jr., both of whom earned supporting actor nominations at the Academy Awards for their sensitive and powerful work. While Ragtime is not one of Forman's best films, it was recognized by the Academy with nine nominations (though it won none). ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
Mary Steenburgen - Mother; Debbie Allen - Sarah; Jeffrey DeMunn - Houdini; Robert Joy - Harry K. Thaw; Norman Mailer - Stanford White; Bruce Boa - Jerome; Hoolihan Burke - Brigit; Edwin Cooper - Grandfather; Jeff Daniels - P.C. O'Donnell; Fran Drescher - Mameh; Bessie Love - Old Lady (T.O.C.); Herman Meckler - Vernon Elliott; Jenny Nichols - Little Girl; Max Nichols - Little Boy; Eloise O'Brien - Mrs. Thaw; Don Plumley - Inspector McNeil; Ted Ross - Black Lawyer; Norman Chancer - Agent; Zack Norman - Manager; Bill Reimbold - Lawyer; Frankie R. Faison - Gang Member; Samuel L. Jackson - Gang Member; Calvin Levels - Gang Member No. 3; Dorsey Wright - Gang Member; Hal Galili - Police Captain; Christopher Malcolm - Police Captain; Richard Griffiths - Delmas's Assistant; Billy Mitchell - Delmas's Assistant; Robert Arden - Foreman of the Jury; Robert Boyd - Theodore Roosevelt; Thomas A. Carlin - Vice President Fairbanks; Harry Ditson - County Clerk; Robert Dorning - Man with Stanford White; Norris Mailer - Woman with Stanford White; Geoffrey Greenhill - Police Guard (T.O.C.); Douglas Lambert - Police Sergeant; Ray Hassett - Policeman; Nesbitt Blaisdell - Policeman; Joel Cutrara - Policeman; Jeff Harding - Policeman; Patrick M. Hughes - Policeman; Andreas Katsulas - Policeman; Anthony Powell - Policeman; Joe Praml - Policeman; Bob Sherman - Policeman; Rodney James - Sleek Male Dancer; George Harris - Band Leader, Clef Club; George J. Manos - Novelty Shop Storeman; Val Pringle - Chef Club Manager; Ron Weyand - Dr. Muller; John Clarkson - Plainclothes Detective; Robert Hitt - Plainclothes Detective; Brian E. Dean - Fireman; Josh Clark - Fireman; Jake Dengel - Fireman; John Ratzenberger - Fireman; Sonny Abagnale - Evelyn's Driver; Chaim Blatter - Rabbi; Donald Bisset - J.P. Morgan; John Alderson - Waldo's Aide; Patrick Connor - Waldo's Aide; Derek Martin - Waldo's Aide; Robert Coffin - Desk Clerk; Guy Gregory - Black Butler; Britt Walker - Black Butler; Pat Gorman - Thug; Dave Griffiths - Thug; Mike Potter - Thug; Stan Simmons - Thug; Barry Dennen - Stage Manager; Natalia Dobrer - Woman; Tony Sibbald - Stock Reporter; Peter Witman - Stock Reporter; Daniel Foley - Stock Reporter; Richard Oldfield - Stock Reporter; Gretchen Franklin - Elderly Woman; Robert Henderson - Elderly Man; Pavel Landovsky - Solomon Peretz; Al Matthews - maitre d'; Stuart Mulligan - Marksman; Colette Hiller - Lawyer's Female Companion; Elaine Ives-Cameron - Ina, Lawyer's Female Companion; Nelly Polissky - Woman in Window; Ethan Phillips - Guard at Family House; John Sterland - Library guard; Michael Jeter - Special reporter; Jan Triska - Special reporter; Burnell Tucker - Reporter; Ed Wiley - Conductor
Credit
Twyla Tharp - Choreography, Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer, Michael Hausman - First Assistant Director, Milos Forman - Director, Anne V. Coates - Editor, Antony Gibbs - Editor, Stanley Warnow - Editor, Michael Hausman - Executive Producer, Bernard Williams - Executive Producer, Randy Newman - Composer (Music Score), Randy Newman - Songwriter, Patrizia Von Brandenstein - Production Designer, John Graysmark - Production Designer, Tony Reading - Production Designer, George DeTitta, Sr. - Production Designer, Miroslav Ondrícek - Cinematographer, Dino de Laurentiis - Producer, Michael Hausman - Producer, Bernard Williams - Producer, Steve James - Stunts, Bo Goldman - Screenwriter, Michael Weller - Screenwriter, E.L. Doctorow - Screenwriter, Jennifer Warnes - Musical Performer, George De Titta, Jr. - Set Decorator, E.L. Doctorow - Book Author
Although ambiguous about the year of action within the storyline, the trial(s) of Harry K. Thaw for the murder of architect and socialite Stanford White, took place in 1907 and again in 1908.
Nominated – WGA Screen Award for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: Michael Weller
Other
One instrumental from the soundtrack, a lively number called "Clef Club Number 2", was later used as the theme tune for ESPN's "Inside Baseball" weekly magazine program hosted by George Grande.
