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Ragtime Details

FULL SYNOPSIS

Milos Foreman's cinematic adaptation of E.L. Doctrow's sprawling pop-culture epic Ragtime follows a variety of characters whose lives intertwine during the earliest years of the 20th century. Brad Dourif plays the meek young brother in a wealthy family who ends up helping Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins) when the proud black man stands up to the racism that surrounds him with a criminal act that leads to a standoff with a police commissioner (James Cagney - making his return to the big screen after fifteen years away). Secondary characters include a street artist (Mandy Patinkin) who gets his foot in the door of the nascent film business, and a flighty young woman (Elizabeth McGovern) who inspires men who desire her to violence. Randy Newman composed the score, which included a song that earned him his first Oscar nomination. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

  • Release date:November 20, 1981

Awards

Awarded by
Nominee
Category
Year
Status
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Henry Rollins Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 1981 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Henry Rollins New Star of the Year 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences John Graysmark Best Art Direction 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Michael Weller Best Adapted Screenplay 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Patrizia Von Brandenstein Best Art Direction 1981 Nominee
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Randy Newman Best Music Score 1981 Winner
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Randy Newman Best Original Song 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Randy Newman Best Score 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Randy Newman Best Song 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tony Reading Best Art Direction 1981 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Elizabeth McGovern New Star of the Year 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Elizabeth McGovern Best Supporting Actress 1981 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Mary Steenburgen Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 1981 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Milos Forman Best Director 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Howard E. Rollins, Jr. Best Supporting Actor 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Miroslav Ondrícek Best Cinematography 1981 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Peter Howitt Best Art Direction 1981 Nominee

Cast

James Cagney
as NY Police Commissioner Rheinlander
Brad Dourif
as Younger Brother
Moses Gunn
as Booker T. Washington
Elizabeth McGovern
as Evelyn Nesbit
Kenneth McMillan
as Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien
as Delmas
Donald O'Connor
as Evelyn's Dance Instructor
James Olson
as Father
Mandy Patinkin
as Tateh
Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
as Coalhouse Walker, Jr.
Mary Steenburgen
as Mother
Debbie Allen
as Sarah
Jeffrey DeMunn
as Houdini
Robert Joy
as Harry K. Thaw
Norman Mailer
as Stanford White
Bruce Boa
as Jerome
Jeff Daniels
as P.C. O'Donnell
Fran Drescher
as Mameh
Bessie Love
as Old Lady (T.O.C.)
Herman Meckler
as Vernon Elliott
Jenny Nichols
as Little Girl
Don Plumley
as Inspector McNeil
Ted Ross
as Black Lawyer
Norman Chancer
as Agent
Zack Norman
as Manager
Bill Reimbold
as Lawyer
Frankie R. Faison
as Gang Member
Samuel L. Jackson
as Gang Member
Calvin Levels
as Gang Member No. 3
Dorsey Wright
as Gang Member
Hal Galili
as Police Captain
Christopher Malcolm
as Police Captain
Billy Mitchell
as Delmas's Assistant
Thomas A. Carlin
as Vice President Fairbanks
Harry Ditson
as County Clerk
Robert Dorning
as Man with Stanford White
Norris Mailer
as Woman with Stanford White
Geoffrey Greenhill
as Police Guard (T.O.C.)
Douglas Lambert
as Police Sergeant
Ray Hassett
as Policeman
Nesbitt Blaisdell
as Policeman
Joel Cutrara
as Policeman
Jeff Harding
as Policeman
Andreas Katsulas
as Policeman
Joe Praml
as Policeman
Bob Sherman
as Policeman
Rodney James
as Sleek Male Dancer
George Harris
as Band Leader, Clef Club
George J. Manos
as Novelty Shop Storeman
Val Pringle
as Chef Club Manager
Ron Weyand
as Dr. Muller
John Clarkson
as Plainclothes Detective
Robert Hitt
as Plainclothes Detective
Jake Dengel
as Fireman
John Ratzenberger
as Fireman
Sonny Abagnale
as Evelyn's Driver
Donald Bisset
as J.P. Morgan
John Alderson
as Waldo's Aide
Derek Martin
as Waldo's Aide
Robert Coffin
as Desk Clerk
Guy Gregory
as Black Butler
Britt Walker
as Black Butler
Pat Gorman
as Thug
Stan Simmons
as Thug
Barry Dennen
as Stage Manager
Tony Sibbald
as Stock Reporter
Richard Oldfield
as Stock Reporter
Gretchen Franklin
as Elderly Woman
Pavel Landovsky
as Solomon Peretz
Al Matthews
as maitre d'
Colette Hiller
as Lawyer's Female Companion
Elaine Ives-Cameron
as Ina, Lawyer's Female Companion
Ethan Phillips
as Guard at Family House
John Sterland
as Library guard
Michael Jeter
as Special reporter
Jan Triska
as Special reporter
Burnell Tucker
as Reporter
Ed Wiley
as Conductor

Crew

Milos Forman
Director
Dino de Laurentiis
Producer
Bernard Williams
Producer
Michael Hausman
Producer
Michael Weller
Screenwriter
Bo Goldman
Screenwriter
Miroslav Ondrícek
Cinematographer
Randy Newman
Composer (Music Score)
Randy Newman
Songwriter
Stanley Warnow
Editor
Anne V. Coates
Editor
Tony Reading
Production Designer
Patrizia Von Brandenstein
Production Designer
John Graysmark
Production Designer
Bernard Williams
Executive Producer
Michael Hausman
Executive Producer
Michael Hausman
First Assistant Director
Steve James
Stunts
Twyla Tharp
Choreography
Jennifer Warnes
Musical Performer
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