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Encyclopedia > Ordinary People
Ordinary People
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
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)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Ordinary People is an Academy Award-winning 1980 American motion picture drama and the directorial debut of Robert Redford. The story is about the disintegration of an upper middle class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the death of the oldest son. It was based upon the 1976 novel by Judith Guest. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links This image is of a DVD cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the DVD or the studio which produced the movie in question. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... Judith Guest (born March 29, 1936), in Detroit, Michigan) is an American novelist and screenwriter. ... Alvin Sargent (born in 1931 in Pennsylvania) is a multiple award-winning American screenwriter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the actress. ... Image:Timhut. ... Judd Hirsch (born March 15, 1935 in Bronx, New York) is an American actor, best known for playing the character Alex Reiger on the acclaimed television comedy series Taxi. ... Marvin Hamlisch (born June 2, 1944) is an American composer. ... John Bailey (cinematographer) (born 10 August 1942 in Moberly, Montana) is an award-winning American cinematographer and film director. ... Jeff Kanew (born 16 December 1944) is an American film directory, writer and editor probably best known for directing the 1980s film Revenge of the Nerds. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Ordinary People is Judith Guests first novel. ... John Legend (born John Stephens on 28 December 1978) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Ordinary People is a Grammy-winning song, which was released by John Legend in 2005. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The year 1980 in film involved some significant events. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... Vacations to destinations such as Hawaii, shown above, may be seen as a hallmark of the Upper-middle class. ... Incorporated City in 1861. ... See also: 1975 in literature, other events of 1976, 1977 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Ordinary People is Judith Guests first novel. ... Judith Guest (born March 29, 1936), in Detroit, Michigan) is an American novelist and screenwriter. ...


The film was a critical and commercial success, winning that year's Academy Award for Best Picture and various other major film awards. // The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Academy Awards, awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which are voted on by others within the industry. ...

Contents

Plot synopsis

The Jarretts, a WASP family from Chicago's North Shore, try to return to normal life after the attempted suicide of their teenage son, Conrad, who has recently come home following a long stay in a psychiatric hospital. Alienated from his friends and family, Conrad seeks out the help of a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger, who learns that the boy had been involved in a sailing accident that killed his beloved older brother, Buck. Calvin Jarrett, the father, awkwardly struggles to connect with his surviving son, who is tormented by clinical depression, survivor guilt, and post-traumatic stress disorder, but he struggles with his wife, Beth, who has shut off her emotions and vulnerability and has become obsessed with maintaining the appearance of perfection and normality. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, commonly abbreviated to the acronym WASP, is a term which originated in the United States. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... North Shore refers to more than one geographic area: North Shore, New Zealand, a city in the Auckland conurbation, New Zealand North Shore (Sydney), a suburban region of Sydney, Australia North Shore (Victoria), a suburb of Geelong, Australia North Shore (Lake Superior), the area of Minnesota, USA and Ontario, Canada... For other uses, see Psychiatrist (disambiguation). ... On the Threshold of Eternity. ... Survivor guilt, otherwise known as survivor syndrome, is the mental condition that results from the appraisal that a person has done wrong by surviving traumatic events such as combat, natural disasters, or even surviving a lay-off in a work place. ... Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a term for certain severe psychological consequences of exposure to, or confrontation with, stressful events that the person experiences as highly traumatic. ...


As Conrad successfully works with Dr. Berger and learns to allow himself to have feelings, he starts dating Jeannine, a kind and nonjudgmental girl from his school choir, and begins to regain a sense of optimism. But the suicide of a friend threatens to send him spiraling back into depression. It falls to Calvin to confront Beth over her rejection of Conrad, and to Dr. Berger to help the boy relieve himself of overwhelming guilt and anger.


Production

The film was shot in and around Lake Forest, Highland Park and Lake Bluff, and the school scenes were shot in Lake Forest High School. Libertyville High School was originally considered as the location for the school scenes, but it was decided that the Libertyville campus was too beautiful with its lakeside setting to be believable[citation needed], and the decision was made to film at Lake Forest High School because it was more realistic and appropriate for the story. However, all of the pool scenes were filmed at Lake Forest College, due to adequate space not being available at Lake Forest High School. Incorporated City in 1861. ... Incorporated City in 1869. ... Lake Bluff is a village located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Lake Forest High School, or LFHS, is a public four-year high school located in Lake Forest, Illinois, a North Shore suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Libertyville High School, or LHS, is a public four-year high school located in Libertyville, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Lake Forest College, founded in 1857, is a liberal arts college located in Lake Forest, Illinois. ...


Conrad's lunch with Karen was filmed at the Original Pancake House in Wilmette. A picture of Redford taken during production still hangs on the restaurant's wall. US Baháí House of Worship in Wilmette Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. ...


Cal and Beth's lunch scene was filmed at the Zodiac Restaurant in Neiman-Marcus' Northbrook Court location. The scene of Beth riding an escalator is also shot in this same Neiman-Marcus location.


The house used as the Jarrett's is just around the corner from the house used in Risky Business two years later. Risky Business is a 1983 film written by Paul Brickman in his directorial debut; it is considered in retrospect to be the film that brought its male lead, Tom Cruise, to prominence. ...


The film's use of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D as its theme music boosted that piece's popularity considerably. Johann Pachelbel (IPA: [], [] or [][2]) (baptized September 1, 1653 – March 3, 1706) was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. ... The Canon in D major (full German title: Kanon und Gigue in D-Dur für drei Violinen und Basso Continuo or Canon and Gigue in D major for three Violins with Bass Accompaniment) is the most famous piece of music by Johann Pachelbel. ... The theme music of a radio or television program is a piece that is written specifically for that show and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits. ...


Reception

Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton both won Academy Awards for their respective debuts: Redford as a director and Hutton as an actor. The movie marked Mary Tyler Moore's career breakout from the stereotype of the light-hearted comedienne. The film also won Best Picture. Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... Image:Timhut. ... This article is about the actress. ... The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ...


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]


Cast

Ordinary People stars Moore, Hutton and Sutherland pictured with Richard Whiting in a supporting role (Grandfather)

Image File history File links Ordinary99. ... Image File history File links Ordinary99. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the actress. ... Image:Timhut. ... Judd Hirsch (born March 15, 1935 in Bronx, New York) is an American actor, best known for playing the character Alex Reiger on the acclaimed television comedy series Taxi. ... Elizabeth McGovern Elizabeth McGovern (born July 18, 1961) is an American movie and theater actress. ... Michael Emmet Walsh (born March 22, 1935 in Ogdensburg, New York) is an American character actor who has appeared in over 100 film and television productions. ... Dinah Manoff (born January 25, 1958 in New York City, New York) is an American stage and film actress. ...

Awards

Wins

// The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Academy Awards, awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which are voted on by others within the industry. ... The Academy Award for Directing is one of the awards given to directors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Image:Timhut. ... The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. ... Alvin Sargent (born in 1931 in Pennsylvania) is a multiple award-winning American screenwriter. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama has been awarded annually since 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture has been awarded annually since 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ... The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture - Drama was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951. ... This article is about the actress. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year. ... The Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries in the United States. ... The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. ... New York Film Critics Circle Awards are given annually to honor excellence in cinema worldwide by an organization of film reviewers from New York City-based publications. ...

Nominations

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. ... This article is about the actress. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Judd Hirsch (born March 15, 1935 in Bronx, New York) is an American actor, best known for playing the character Alex Reiger on the acclaimed television comedy series Taxi. ... The Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture - Drama was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as a separate category in 1951. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... Alvin Sargent (born in 1931 in Pennsylvania) is a multiple award-winning American screenwriter. ... The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organization that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ...

References

  1. ^ Martin, Linda B.; January 25, 1981; The Psychiatrist in Today's Movies: He's Everywhere and He's in Deep Trouble; The New York Times; retrieved September 13, 2006
  2. ^ Pies, Ron; 2001 Psychiatry in the Media: The Vampire, The Fisher King, and The Zaddik; Journal of Mundane Behavior; retrieved September 14, 2006.

The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ...

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Kramer vs. Kramer
Academy Award for Best Picture
1980
Succeeded by
Chariots of Fire
Preceded by
Kramer Vs. Kramer
Golden Globe for Best Picture - Drama
1981
Succeeded by
On Golden Pond

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