Customer Reviews

Ragtime [VHS]

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I can't overemphasize the level of disappointment I have at the hack censorship Paramount management has engaged in with the DVD release of Ragtime. How they got Milos Forman to participate in adding commentary to that blatant smear of his efforts is is beyond me.

Does the studio actually think that diluting the film to "reposition" it (ergo, move it from an R to a PG rating) is going to dramatically grow its appeal? The core market for this DVD is the universe of film fans old enough to fondly remember seeing the original theatrical release in the early 1980s -- but what the studio is offering them (as many reviews here clearly state) is unacceptable.

I want to see Elizabeth McGovern's entire performance, Paramount - so I went to the secondary wholesale market and purchased a new old stock VHS copy, which contains the FULL original release.

Or put another way, one less DVD sale for you.

Because yes, while it's your right as the copyright holder, I won't purchase censored goods.

No question that Ragtime is a good movie, but there's also no question that for a significant number of people, Elizabeth McGovern is a major reason for buying this DVD. If so, and if the visual appeal is an essential part of that, then you should know that what is on this DVD is not what was in the theatrical release. I haveven't seen the VHS version, so I don't know if it was similarly butchered, but I really don't understand the point of this sort of stuff, and I find it irritating. I can understand adding scenes to a "director's cut" in a non-theatrical release, but under no circumstances does it make sense to me that scenes that were present in the theatrical release should be deleted in the non-theatrical releases. To make matters worse, the back of the box says "deleted scenes". There is a deleted scene that was not in the theatrical release, but it isn't worth watching, and it certainly doesn't make up the scenes that were present in the theatrical release and that have been cut out of this DVD. In this case, "deleted scenes" should be taken to mean, "scenes that you probably remember from the theatrical release have been cut from this version."

Anyone who objects to this sort of foolishness in principal should boycott this DVD. This isn't the first time that I have encountered this. It seems to me that the studios should feel some sort of sense of obligation to not do this, whether artistic or ethical.

If there were ever a movie that could be dubbed flawless, I think Ragtime is it. Milos Forman must have travelled back in time, bought ever little piece of the past, and carried it back with him to 1981. Everything is superb, from the costumes to the motor cars, from the buildings to the boardwalk, from New Rochelle to the Lower East Side.

I think one thing that may have been lost to some viewers, however, are the true historical characters and news events portrayed in Ragtime. Evelyn Nesbit (Elizabeth McGovern) for example, was a real person and most events in the film concerning her really happened in 1906, including the incident on the roof top cafe of the Madison Square Garden. Even the song played when the 'incident' occurred, I Could Love a Million Girls from the operetta Mamzelle Champange, is historically accurate. This, of course, is only an example of the host of real characters presented in the film, including Teddy Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington.

I'd have to say that my favorite aspect of the film would have to be the soundtrack. As a fan of orchestrated ragtime and palm court music I was relieved to hear music true to the era, rather than music true to OUR era. It should be pointed out, however, that while not imposing, music is heard during most of the film (A plus for some, a minus for others).

Historical accuracy, beautiful costumes, hundreds of old cars, historical buildings, exciting music, drama, as well as clever comedy supplied by a delightfully dim Evelyn Nesbit, combine to form a film that can only be classified as; An exciting, historically accurate, prestine, and superb film about everything turn-of-the-century.< ...I recently discovered that there IS a DVD version of Ragtime. Sadly, at least for now, it is only available in Europe, in the European DVD format...

This has long been one of my favorite films. The script, acting, cinematography and set pieces are all breathtaking. I have always felt that this should have been Howard E. Rollins' breakthrough film, but alas that was not to be. Also, seeing Cagney on the big screen once again, actually brought tears to my eyes in the theater. I have worn out my double VHS copy, so having this great film on DVD is a dream come true for me. Rent it or buy it, just watch it.

A complex, engaging, colorful, masterpiece. Milos Forman has never disappointed as a director. Typical of him, he captures America better than just about any American director. The cast is superb. Howard Rollins, Jr. is nothing short of amazing as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. Elizabeth McGovern, Mary Steenburgen, James Olson and Brad Dourif also give great performances.

I have admittedly not read the book, nor have I seen the Broadway musical. I don't know what EL Doctorow thinks about the movie of his book (I gather he is not crazy about it). But the film has a wonderful pace and the soundtrack is stunning as well.

I think it is a crime that the soundtrack is not available on cd and the movie not available on DVD!

Milos Forman's screen version of Doctorow's novel manages to capture the epic, sprawling quality of the film with a tighter narrative focus that brings the central stories to the forefront. The murder of architect Stanford White (Norman Mailer)provides the backdrop for Forman's version of Doctorow's tale. The story of Coalhouse Walker (Howard Rollins)a piano player, the destruction of his car by a racist and the resulting revenge that Walker exacts (along with others)provides the central focus of the film. All of these stories are drawn together by the a generic family consisting of Mother (Mary Steenburgen), Younger Brother (Brad Dourif)and Father (James Olson). James Cagney's role as the police commissioner that must bring Walker under control was written just for the film. While Forman pares away much of the sprawling narrative of Docotrow's novel, he keeps the essential stories of the novel intact.

The image and sound quality are outstanding. Paramount has transferred "Ragtime" in high definition and the sparkling cinematography of Miroslav Ondricek shines. There's little to few of the analog or digital blemishes that you tend to see in these older films (the lone exception is the deleted scene which is clearly from an editing workprint for the film).

This marvelous deluxe DVD reissue features a fascinating featurette with Milos Forman, co-producer Michael Hausman, actor Brad Dourif and others discussing how Forman brought this massive glimpse into the heart of America to life. The featurette discusses everything from Doctrow's ideas to adapting the film (he wanted to do them as ten separate stories almost as a mini-series), the casting of the brilliant Howard Rollins and how Forman convinced James Cagney from coming out of retirement for his last screen role.

The commentary by Forman and Executive Producer Michael Hausman touches on everything from the subtle touches the actors brought to their roles to the difficulties in putting together the locations for the film. While some of the commentary is duplicated in the commentary track, the bulk of the two filmmakers observations are quite different and more involved. The single deleted scene from the film features a scene involving Fran Drescher as a abused Jewish woman and a potential riot in the Jewish slums of New York. The ten minute sequence shifts from color to black and white (the cut sequence) as the original deleted scene doesn't exist in color any longer.

Featuring a terrific cast of unknowns (Samuel L. Jackson plays "Gang Member No.2, Michael Jeter is "Special Reporter")and up and comers (Jeff Daniels, Harold Rollins, Mandy Patinkin)and Hollywood royalty (Donald O'Connor, Pat O'Brien and, of course, James Cagney), "Ragtime" captures the feel, texture and scent of America at a major turning point in her history. A marvelous film full of strong performances, Forman's abmitious production was nominated (but failed to win)for 8 Academy Awards including a nomination for Randy Newman's terrific score. Step into the turbulent world of "Ragtime" and get lost in America.

I'd like to add my voice to the chorus of cries bemoaning the fact that this wonderful film isn't available on DVD. Even worse, the soundtrack has NEVER been released on CD. Come on, you Hollywood hopheads, this is a major highlight of Randy Newman's long and illustrious career! Somebody please, pull some strings so we can experience these classic tunes in perfect pristine digital audio, the way God meant for them to be heard.

BEWARE: the VHS version is 156 minutes long - the DVD version is 115 minutes long. THEY DELETED 41 MINUTES FROM THIS.

The long version is worthy of 4.5 stars - this short version is useless.

This is a splendid and enjoyable film. Milos Forman directed this ensemble film about the beginnings of the so-called American "Melting Pot" with great sensitivity. The large cast is impressive, and full of the familiar faces of well-known television and independent film actors. The story reminds me of a Robert Altman film -- ten or twelve main characters, with several different stories which diverge and converge at seemingly random intervals. If I have one complaint, it is that too much time is spent on the story of "Coalhouse Walker," and educated black pianist driven to terrorism to revenge injustices visited upon him by racist firemen. The stories of a Jewish immigrant in New York city, a rich WASPy family in New Rochelle, and of showbiz star Evelyn Nesbitt are somewhat neglected, due to the fact that Forman had to trim his lengthy but rich film to make it more multi-plex friendly. In a side not, he hopes to release the extra footage on DVD someday. At any rate, although the plot and cast are very solid, the true reason to see this film is to enjoy its rich period detail -- the costumes, ragtime music, corsets, petticoats, and opulence of turn-of-the-century New York are captured magnificently. This films was nominated for eight Oscars, but only one two minor ones, for music and costumes. But the film is still a winner.

If you missed seeing "Ragtime" back in 1981, it wasn't your fault because you probably didn't even know it existed. Much like Terry Gilliam's "Adventures of Baron Munchausen", this truly great movie was poorly distributed and miserably publicized and advertised when it was released. This is too bad because both films deserved much better. Anyway...

Milos Forman has time and again proven that he is not only one of the world's best directors but also one of the sharpest viewers of American culture and history. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The People vs. Larry Flint", and, to an extent, "Man on the Moon" have at their core an indictment of American society: its racism, its hypocrisy, its perversity, its corruption, and its insanity. However, Forman is by no means anti-American. In fact, these movies also have at their hearts a deep fascination with America and a yearning to make it better. And like few directors can do, he doesn't create a manifesto disguised as a film. His characters and dialogue are believeable, and his filming is gorgeous to watch.

Of all his films--and that includes "Amadeus"--"Ragtime" is perhaps his best, in my opinion. Its complex narratives are logically, fluidly and masterfully meshed together. But what I find fascinating about the movie is that all the complicated, volatile emotional reactions the characters experience--sometimes ending in violence--all start from simple wants. Coalhouse Walker, Jr. (powerfully played by the late Howard Rollins) wants the racists who vandalized his car to repair it. Harry Thaw (played by the underrated Robert Joy) is an erratic millionaire who simply wants a nude statue of his wife taken out of public view. A father (movingly played James Olson) simply wants to keep his family together. His brother-in-law (Brad Dourif in an extraordinary performance) simply wants the girl he loves to love him back. And a Jewish immigrant (a wonderfully manic Mandy Patinkin) simply wants to make it in America. It's when all these desires collide that the fireworks of "Ragtime" begin. And like the great American tradition of 4th of July fireworks, "Ragtime" is dazzling to watch.