Ragtime
Ragtime movie poster
Directed by	Miloš Forman
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis
Written by	Novel:   E.L. Doctorow Screenplay:   Michael Weller   Bo Goldman (uncredited)
Starring	James Cagney Brad Dourif Moses Gunn Elizabeth McGovern Kenneth McMillan Howard E. Rollins, Jr. Mary Steenburgen Samuel L Jackson Jack Nicholson Fran Drescher Debbie Allen
Music by	Randy Newman
Cinematography	Miroslav Ondříček
Editing by	Anne V. Coates
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	November 20, 1981
Running time	155 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

Ragtime was a 1981 motion picture based on the historical novel Ragtime (1975) by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the first decade of the 1900s, and includes fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film was directed by Miloš Forman. The music was the first full feature score composed by Randy Newman. This was James Cagney's final feature film; he was ailing during the shoot.

Although ambiguous about the year of action within the storyline, architect and socialite Stanford White was actually shot in 1906 and the trial(s) of Harry K. Thaw for the murder took place in 1907 and again in 1908. Thaw's wife, Evelyn Nesbit had a previous intimate relationship with White while she was a teenager.

[edit] Featured cast

[edit] Awards

[edit] 1981 Academy Awards (Oscars)

The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards: ^[1]

• Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Howard E. Rollins Jr.
• Nominated – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Elizabeth McGovern
• Nominated – Best Achievement in Art Direction:
  Art Direction: John Graysmark, Patrizia Von Brandenstein, Tony Reading
  Set Decoration: George DeTitta, Sr., George DeTitta, Jr., Peter Howitt
• Nominated – Best Achievement in Cinematography: Miroslav Ondrícek
• Nominated – Best Achievement in Costume Design: Anna Hill Johnstone
• Nominated – Best Original Score: Randy Newman
• Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"
• Nominated – Best Adapted Screenplay: Michael Weller

[edit] 1981 BAFTA Film Awards

• Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"

[edit] 1981 Golden Globe Awards

• Nominated – Best Director - Motion Picture: Miloš Forman
• Nominated – Best Motion Picture - Drama
• Nominated – Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins Jr.
• Nominated – Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture: Mary Steenburgen
• Nominated – Best Original Song: Randy Newman for the song "One More Hour"
• Nominated – New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins Jr.
• Nominated – New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture: Elizabeth McGovern

[edit] 1981 Grammy Awards

• Nominated – Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Randy Newman

[edit] 1981 Image Awards

• Won – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Moses Gunn
• Nominated – Outstanding Motion Picture: Howard E. Rollins Jr.

[edit] 1981 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

• Nominated – Best Music: Randy Newman

[edit] 1981 Writers Guild of America Awards

• Nominated – WGA Screen Award for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: Michael Weller

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ragtime at the Internet Movie Database