RAGTIME (DVD) WS ENHANCE 16X9/DOL DIG(ENG 5.1 SUR/ENG SUB) DVD

Ragtime
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

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 Hoolihan Burke as Brigit Edwin Cooper as Grandfather 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 Max Nichols as Little Boy Eloise O'Brien as Mrs. Thaw 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 Richard Griffiths as Delmas's Assistant Billy Mitchell as Delmas's Assistant Robert Arden as Foreman of the Jury Robert Boyd as Theodore Roosevelt 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 Patrick M. Hughes as Policeman Andreas Katsulas as Policeman Anthony Powell 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 Brian E. Dean as Fireman Josh Clark as Fireman Jake Dengel as Fireman John Ratzenberger as Fireman Sonny Abagnale as Evelyn's Driver Chaim Blatter as Rabbi Donald Bisset as J.P. Morgan John Alderson as Waldo's Aide Patrick Connor 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 Dave Griffiths as Thug Mike Potter as Thug Stan Simmons as Thug Barry Dennen as Stage Manager Natalia Dobrer as Woman Tony Sibbald as Stock Reporter Peter Witman as Stock Reporter Daniel Foley as Stock Reporter Richard Oldfield as Stock Reporter Gretchen Franklin as Elderly Woman Robert Henderson as Elderly Man Pavel Landovsky as Solomon Peretz Al Matthews as maitre d' Stuart Mulligan as Marksman Colette Hiller as Lawyer's Female Companion Elaine Ives-Cameron as Ina, Lawyer's Female Companion Nelly Polissky as Woman in Window 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 Twyla Tharp - Choreography Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer Michael Hausman - First Assistant Director Milos Forman - Director Antony Gibbs - Editor Anne V. Coates - Editor Stanley Warnow - Editor Randy Newman - Composer (Music Score) Randy Newman - Songwriter John Graysmark - Production Designer George DeTitta, Sr. - Production Designer Tony Reading - Production Designer Patrizia Von Brandenstein - Production Designer Miroslav Ondrícek - Cinematographer Michael Hausman - Producer Dino de Laurentiis - 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

Ragtime
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) in the 1982 awards. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
 

Anna Hill Johnstone: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Costume Design (nominated) Elizabeth McGovern: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Elizabeth McGovern: Golden Globe, New Star of the Year (nominated) George De Titta, Jr.: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) George DeTitta, Sr.: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Henry Rollins: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Henry Rollins: Golden Globe, New Star of the Year (nominated) Howard E. Rollins, Jr.: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) John Graysmark: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Mary Steenburgen: Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Michael Weller: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated) Milos Forman: Golden Globe, Best Director (nominated) Miroslav Ondrícek: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Cinematography (nominated) Patrizia Von Brandenstein: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Peter Howitt: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated) Randy Newman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Score (nominated) Randy Newman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Song (nominated) Randy Newman: Golden Globe, Best Original Song (nominated) Randy Newman: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Music Score (winner) Tony Reading: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Remembering Ragtime Commentary by director Milos Forman & executive producer Michael Hausman Deleted scene Widescreen version enhanced for 16:9 TVs Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround, English Restored Mono, French Mono English subtitles DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 155 min Part of Series: Paramount Widescreen Collection   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Nude Statue [6:10] 2. Abandoned Baby [1:09] 3. Murder in Madison Square [5:11] 4. The Thaw Defense [3:49] 5. Silhouette Maker [2:18] 6. Steady Work [3:15] 7. Escorting Evelyn [2:45] 8. The Baby's Father [2:00] 9. By Reason of Insanity [6:28] 10. Suing for Divorce [:04] 11. Mr. Walker's Intentions [4:29] 12. Emerald Isle Volunteers [1:26] 13. Legal Means [2:34] 14. Firefight [3:29] 15. Message to Coalhouse [1:07] 16. The Morgan Museum [4:56] 17. The Baron and the Movie Star [5:36] 18. Commissioner Waldo [:38] 19. Booker T. Washington [5:59] 20. Pictures From the Light [3:01] 21. Turning Over Willie [3:06] 22. Arranging a Swap [6:03] 23. New Model T [:19] 24. Coda [2:16]