Ragtime (1981)

Synopsis of Ragtime

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

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

155 mins

Director(s):

Milos Forman

Writer(s):

Bo Goldman, E.L. Doctorow, Michael Weller

Producer(s):

Bernard Williams, Dino de Laurentiis, Michael Hausman

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Adult Situations, Violence, Questionable for Children, Nudity, Adult Language)

• 1981 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Music Score

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