Ragtime

Ragtime summary of box office results, charts and release information and related links.

Overview of Ragtime, 1981, directed by Milos Forman, with James Cagney, Mandy Patinkin, Debbie Allen, at Turner Classic Movies

Milos Forman apparently made a basic decision very early in his production of E.L. Doctorow's best-selling novel, Ragtime. He decided to set aside the book's kaleidoscopic jumble of people, places, and things, and concentrate on just one of the several narrative threads. Instead of telling dozens of stories, his film is mostly concerned with the story of Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a black piano player who insists that justice be done after he is insulted by some yahoo volunteer firemen.

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Set in the early 1900s, an upper middle class family takes in a young African-American woman and her infant son. When the father of the child returns, everything changes.

A kaleidoscope of tales from E.L. Doctorow's eponymous novel evokes life in pre-World War I New York City. A white family find a black baby in their yard and takes on the mother as a maid. A black pianist, Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), returns for his woman and child after finding success in a Harlem jazz band. Firefighters, dismayed to see a black man own a Model-T Ford, deface it, and Walker demands retribution. The white family becomes involved in Evelyn Nesbit's trial.

Trailer for the 1981 film with James Cagney

76% Audience Score

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Ragtime (1981) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.

Directed by Milos Forman. With James Cagney, Elizabeth McGovern, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Brad Dourif. A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence, and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.

Ragtime is a 1981 American drama film, directed by Miloš Forman, based on 1975 historical novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the 1900s, including fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film features the final film appearances of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien; early appearances, in small parts, by Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher and John Ratzenberger; and an uncredited appearance from Jack Nicholson. The music score was composed by Randy Newman. The film was nominated for eight Oscars.