Ragtime (1981)

November 20, 1981 (US) • Drama, History • 155m

Overview

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.

Director

Miloš Forman

Writers

E. L. Doctorow, Michael Weller

Top Billed

James Cagney

Keywords

new york city based on novel or book jazz singer or musician public murder racism class differences pianist ragtime revenge killing radical politics piano political scandal racial injustice 1900s social scandal new york city history

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Top Billed Cast

James Cagney

New York Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo

Brad Dourif

Younger Brother

Moses Gunn

Booker T. Washington

Elizabeth McGovern

Evelyn Nesbit

Kenneth McMillan

Willie Conklin

Pat O'Brien

Delmas

Donald O'Connor

Evelyn's Dance Instructor

James Olson

Father

Mandy Patinkin

Tateh

Howard Rollins

Coalhouse Walker Jr.

Mary Steenburgen

Mother

Debbie Allen

Sarah

Jeffrey DeMunn

Harry Houdini

Robert Joy

Henry Thaw

Norman Mailer

Stanford White

Bruce Boa

Jerome

Hoolihand Burke

Brigit

Norman Chancer

Gent No. 1 - Agent

Edwin Cooper

Grandfather

Jeff Daniels

P.C. O'Donnell

Fran Drescher

Mameh

Frankie Faison

Gang Member No. 1

Hal Galili

Police Captain No. 1

Alan Gifford

Judge

Richard Griffiths

Delmas' Assistant No. 1

Samuel L. Jackson

Gang Member No. 2

Michael Jeter

Special Reporter

Calvin Levels

Gang Member No. 3

Bessie Love

Old Lady - T.O.C.

Christopher Malcolm

Police Captain No. 2

Herman Meckler

Vernon Elliott

Billy J. Mitchell

Delmas' Assistant No. 2

Jenny Nichols

Little Girl

Max Nichols

Little Boy

Zack Norman

Gent No. 2 - Manager

Eloise Taylor

Mrs. Thaw

Don Plumley

Inspector McNeil

Ted Ross

Black Lawyer

Dorsey Wright

Gang Member No. 4

Robert Arden

Foreman of the Jury

Robert Boyd

Teddy Roosevelt

Thomas A. Carlin

Vice President Fairbanks

John Clarkson

Plainclothes Detective No. 1

Brian F. Dean

Fireman No. 1

Harry Ditson

County Clerk

Robert Dorning

Gent with Stanford White

Geoffrey Greenhill

Police Guard - T.O.C.

Ray Hassett

Policeman No. 12

Robert Hitt

Plainclothes Detective No. 2

Rodney James

Sleek Male Dancer

George Harris

Band Leader - Clef Club

George J. Manos

Novelty Shop Storeman

Val Pringle

Clef Club Manager

Ron Weyand

Dr. Muller

Sonny Abagnale

Evelyn's Driver

John Alderson

Waldo's Aide No. 1

Nesbitt Blaisdell

Policeman No. 5

Chaim Blatter

Rabbi

Donald Bisset

J.P. Morgan

Josh Clark

Fireman No. 3

Robert Coffin

Desk Clerk

Patrick Connor

Waldo's Aide No. 3

Joel Cutrara

Policeman No. 11

Jake Dengel

Fireman No. 2

Barry Dennen

Stage Manager

Natalia Dobrer

Woman No. 1

Daniel Foley

Stock Reporter

Gretchen Franklin

Elderly Woman

Pat Gorman

Thug No. 2

Guy Gregory

Black Butler No. 2

Dave Griffiths

Thug No. 1

Jeff Harding

Policeman No. 13

Robert Henderson

Elderly Man

Colette Hiller

Lawyer's Female Companion No. 1

Patrick M. Hughes

Policeman No. 7

Elaine Ives-Cameron

Lawyer's Female Companion No. 2

Andreas Katsulas

Policeman No. 3

Douglas Lambert

Police Sergeant

Pavel Landovský

Solomon Peretz

Norris Mailer

Lady with Stanford White

Derek Martin

Waldo's Aide No. 2

Al Matthews

Maitre D'

Stuart Milligan

Marksman

Richard Oldfield

Stock Reporter

Nelly Polissky

Woman in Window

Mike Potter

Thug No. 4

Anthony Powell

Policeman No. 9

Ethan Phillips

Guard at Family House

Joe Praml

Policeman No. 8

John Ratzenberger

Policeman

Bill Reimbold

Gent No. 3 - Lawyer

Bob Sherman

Policeman No. 10

Tony Sibbald

Stock Reporter

Stan Simmons

Thug No. 3

John Sterland

Library Guard

Jan Tříska

Special Reporter

Burnell Tucker

Reporter

Britt Walker

Black Butler No. 1

Peter Whitman

Stock Reporter

Edward Wiley

Conductor

John Carrafa

Dancer (uncredited)

Nancy Cohen

Female Diner (uncredited)

Harry Fielder

Cop (uncredited)

Jim Fitzpatrick

Bail Clerk (uncredited)

Robert Hallak

Phillip (uncredited)

Derek Lyons

Assassin's Best Friend (uncredited)

Louis Marino

Jimmy Boy (uncredited)

Cathy Munroe

Champagne Dancer (uncredited)

Chris Parsons

Lower Class Workman (uncredited)

Frank Patton III

Arresting Police Officer (uncredited)

Billie Perkins

Stroller (uncredited)

Judi Trott

Chorus Girl (uncredited)

Crew

Miloš Forman

Director

E. L. Doctorow

Novel

Patricia Churchill

Production Manager

Frank Bianco

Hairdresser

Peter Frampton

Makeup Artist

Michael Hausman

Executive Producer

Bernard Williams

Executive Producer

John Dapper

Art Direction

Leonard

Hairstylist

Malcolm J. Christopher

Production Manager

Bob Grimaldi

Hairdresser

Paul Engelen

Makeup Artist

Anna Hill Johnstone

Costume Design

Richard Brick

Assistant Unit Manager

Fred Sidewater

Associate Producer

Joe Cuervo

Makeup Artist

Stephanie Hall

Hairdresser

Michael Weller

Screenplay

Colin Jamison

Hairdresser

Max Henriquez

Makeup Artist

Mary Goldberg

Casting

Chris Kelly

Assistant Editor

Dino De Laurentiis

Producer

Stanley Warnow

Editor

Antony Gibbs

Editor

Anne V. Coates

Editor

Miroslav Ondříček

Director of Photography

Edward Drohan

Special Effects Supervisor

Michael Stevenson

Additional Second Assistant Director

Tony Reading

Production Design

Patrizia von Brandenstein

Production Design

John Graysmark

Production Design

Randy Newman

Original Music Composer

Randy Newman

Songs

Reviews

No reviews available.

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Ragtime (1981)

E. L. Doctorow, Michael Weller

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew