Ragtime

1981, Drama, 2h 35m

18 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

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Ragtime Photos

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Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Milos Forman
  • Producer:
    Dino De Laurentiis
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Paramount Pictures
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

James Cagney
Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo
Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Coalhouse Walker Jr.
Elizabeth McGovern
Evelyn Nesbit
Brad Dourif
Younger Brother
Moses Gunn
Booker T. Washington
Kenneth McMillan
Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien
Mr. Delphin Delmas
Donald O'Connor
Evelyn's Dance Instructor
James Olson
Father
Mandy Patinkin
Tateh
Mary Steenburgen
Mother
Debbie Allen
Sarah
Jeffrey DeMunn
Harry Houdini
Robert Joy
Henry "Harry" Kendall Thaw
Norman Mailer
Stanford White
Bruce Boa
Jerome
Jeff Daniels
P.C. O'Donnell
Fran Drescher
Mameh
Frankie Faison
Gang Member 1
Milos Forman
Director
Dino De Laurentiis
Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Ragtime

All Critics (18) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (3)
Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Full Review… Allison Rose FlickDirect Full Review… Peter Canavese Celluloid Dreams Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Full Review… Armond White National Review Full Review… Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News Full Review… Rick Chatenever Santa Cruz Sentinel Full Review… Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Full Review… David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan
View All Critic Reviews (18)

Audience Reviews for Ragtime

  • Apr 18, 2018
    Doctorow's novel is a tricky thing to adapt, especially with its deliberately elusive ideas about America. Inevitably a lot of materiel was cut or truncated in this movie but there is a lot to admire in Forman's vision here. His focus on the characters inspires a lot of empathy, more than usual in these kinds of period pieces.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 02, 2008
    It drags here and there but mostly a fine epic film
    jay n Super Reviewer
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