A panoramic epic of the American melting pot and dealing with a middle class family formed by an upright father : James Olson , an attractive mother: Mary Steenburgen and her brother : Brad Dourif. The latter falls in love for an ex-dancer: ElizabethMcGovern married to a jealous millionaire : Robert Joy . As a little incident starred by an African American musician : Howard E Rollins triggers a series of misfortunes and distresses to a sad ending . This wrong act represents all the racist attacks on one man who refuses to back down this time .
A thoughful and provoking picture regarding New York American way of life describing racism, social injustices and status of the lower and upper classes . At the end takes place a thrilling siege of the Pierpont Morgan Library which ensues some exciting scenes, including James Cagney acting as the persuasively authoritative police chief Waldo and James Olson interceding between the militants and the massing police.This interesting film results to be an emotive drama with love stories , plenty of historical events and marvelous attention to period detail. From the E.L Doctorow novel , an overrated bestseller , but not nearly as complex. The picture concerns about historic deeds alongside major historical figures as Henry Ford, J Pierpont Morgan , Harry Houdini: Jeffrey DeMunn , Emma Goldman , all are written out of the screenplay. Features wonderful interpretations from Howard Rollins, Elizabeth McGovern, Mary Steenburgen , James Olson , Debbie Allen. Support cast is frankly extraordinary including famous and prestigious secondaries as Pat O'Brien, Jeff Daniels ,Moses Gunn, Mandy Patinkin, Robert Joy , Kenneth McMillan, Donald O'Connor and the writer Norman Mailer.And special mention for James Cagney in his last film performance.
It displays a colorful and adequate cinematography by Miroslab Ondriceck . As well as an atmopheric and evocative musical score by Randy Newman, including Ragtime music, of course.The motion picture was lavishly produced by Dino De Lurentiis and well directed by Milos Forman. Milos had directed very good movies as Loves of a blonde, Hair, One flew over the cuckoo nest, Amadeus, Valmont, Larry Flint , Man on the moon and Ragtime
It displays a colorful and adequate cinematography by Miroslab Ondriceck . As well as an atmopheric and evocative musical score by Randy Newman, including Ragtime music, of course.The motion picture was lavishly produced by Dino De Lurentiis and well directed by Milos Forman. Milos had directed very good movies as Loves of a blonde, Hair, One flew over the cuckoo nest, Amadeus, Valmont, Larry Flint , Man on the moon and Ragtime