| 3rd | Top drama films |
| 30th | Top fiction set in Chicago |
| 26th | Top Christmas films |
| Ordinary People | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Robert Redford |
| Produced by | Ronald L. Schwary |
| Written by | Judith Guest (novel) Alvin Sargent (screenplay) Nancy Dowd (uncredited) |
| Starring | Donald Sutherland Mary Tyler Moore Timothy Hutton Judd Hirsch Elizabeth McGovern |
| Music by | Marvin Hamlisch |
| Cinematography | John Bailey |
| Editing by | Jeff Kanew |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 19, 1980 |
| Running time | 124 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6,000,000 (est) |
Ordinary People is a 1980 American film drama that marked the directorial debut of Robert Redford. The story concerns the disintegration of an upper-middle class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the death of the older son in a boating accident. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent was based upon the 1976 novel by Judith Guest.
The film was a critical and commercial success, winning that year's Academy Award for Best Picture as well as three other Oscars.
Contents |
The Jarretts, an affluent family, try to return to normal life after the attempted suicide of their surviving teenage son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), who has recently come home following a four-month stay in a psychiatric hospital. Alienated from his friends and family, Conrad, having left the hospital, chooses to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch), who learns that the boy had been involved in a sailing accident in which his older brother, Buck, died. Buck, more outgoing and athletic than Conrad, came first in everyone's estimation (including Conrad's). Conrad's father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland), awkwardly struggles to connect with his surviving son, who is tormented by depression, guilt, and the lingering trauma of the accident. His mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), who appears to have loved her elder son more, has now grown cold toward Conrad, fixated with maintaining the appearance of perfection and normality. In one telling scene, she overhears her husband telling a friend at a party that their son has been seeing a psychiatrist. Then, on their way home in the car, she berates him angrily for revealing something she thinks should be private.
As Conrad works through his minefield of emotions with Dr. Berger and learns to try and control his emotions less, he starts dating Jeannine (Elizabeth McGovern), a kind and nonjudgmental girl from his school choir. Conrad begins to regain a sense of optimism. However, the suicide of Karen (Dinah Manoff), a friend from the hospital, threatens to send him spiraling back into depression.
Eventually, Conrad is able to stop blaming himself for Buck's death, and realizes his mother's frailties as Dr. Berger advises him to accept her as she is. Calvin, aided by a session with Dr. Berger himself, finally begins to recognize the degree to which Beth has emotionally isolated herself, not just from Conrad, but also from Calvin himself. Calvin confronts Beth about his new feelings, telling her that he questions his love for her, and inquires whether she is capable of truly loving anyone. As Beth packs to leave, her facade is momentarily shattered by a sob, but she struggles to restore the mask.
As Conrad is awoken by a cab pulling away. He goes downstairs where his father tells him his mother has left. Conrad's first reaction is to blame himself. Calvin at first angrily rebukes Conrad for taking that attitude, but then regrets losing his temper. They talk and continue to work through their misgivings over their relationship. But now, both having achieved some level of understanding with regard to Beth's feelings toward them, father and son are finally able to truly connect with another, and they embrace.
Robert Redford was looking for his first job as a director. He read the novel, was immediately stunned by its plot and knew this was the movie to start his directing career. After meeting with the author, Judith Guest, he bought the rights to the novel to adapt it into a film. After that, he looked for a distributor. He met with Paramount Pictures, which offered to distribute the film and bankroll production on a very short budget ($6 million). He also acquired Academy Award-nominated producer Ronald L. Schwary.
Redford hired Alvin Sargent to adapt the novel into a screenplay. Sargent won an Oscar in 1978 for the screen adaptation of Julia and had been nominated previously for the screen adaptation of Paper Moon. Sargent kept the Ordinary People script faithful to the book, though he did somewhat augment the rather miminal character development found in the novel.
The movie was filmed where the story took place in Lake Forest, Illinois; the golf scene was shot in Apple Alley, California, and interior shots were filmed in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. The high school scenes were shot at Lake Forest High School. The shopping mall was in Northbook, Illinois. The storm sequence where Conrad's brother is killed was filmed at Paramount Studios. The movie was filmed 1.85: 1 surround sound with the screen inch of 35mm.
Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton both won Academy Awards for their respective debuts: Redford as Best Director and Hutton as Best Supporting Actor. The film marked Mary Tyler Moore's career breakout from the stereotype of the light-hearted comedienne. Moore's role was well-received and obtained a nomination for Best Actress. The film also won Best Picture for 1980.
Judd Hirsch's portrayal of Dr. Berger has also drawn praise from many in the psychiatric community as one of the rare times their profession is shown in a positive light in the movies,[1] although some consider his portrayal to be too positive, thus lending an air of one-dimensionality.[2] Hirsch was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, losing out to co-star Hutton. Donald Sutherland's performance in the film was also well received and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He was not nominated for an Academy Award along with his co-stars, however, which today is considered one of the worst acting snubs in the history of the Academy Awards. [3]
This was also the first of two times director Martin Scorsese (who directed that year's Raging Bull) lost the Academy Award to actors making their directorial debut (the other was ten years later with Kevin Costner on Dances with Wolves).
Ordinary People received very positive reviews from critics. A notable critic who gave the film a good review was Roger Ebert who gave it four star and calling it "one of the year's best films, probably of the decade" and later named it the fifth best film of the year 1980.
Pachelbel's Canon, used as thematic and background music, enjoyed a surge in popularity as a result. It has remained popular since then.
The film was a box office success, which grossed $54 million at theaters and $23 million in rentals.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kramer vs. Kramer |
Academy Award for Best Picture 1980 |
Succeeded by Chariots of Fire |
| Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama 1980 |
Succeeded by On Golden Pond |
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   | The Psychiatrist in Today's Movies: He's Everywhere and He's in Deep Trouble - THE PSYCHIATRIST IN TODAY'S MOVIES:HE'S EVERYWHERE AND IN DEEP TROUBLE - New York Times |
| | Psychiatry in the Media: The Vampire, The Fisher King, and The Zaddik - JMB 2.1: Pies, Psychiatry in the Media: The Vampire, The Fisher King, and the Zaddik |
| | ''Ordinary People'' at IMDB - Ordinary People (1980) |
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