Ragtime
“The passion, the violence, the birth of America's Gilded Age.”
Synopsis
A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence, and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-04-03
Top Cast
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James Cagney
New York Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo
Brad Dourif
Younger Brother
Moses Gunn
Booker T. Washington
Elizabeth McGovern
Evelyn Nesbit
Kenneth McMillan
Willie Conklin
Pat O'Brien
Delmas
Donald O'Connor
Evelyn's Dance Instructor
James Olson
Father
Mandy Patinkin
Tateh
Howard Rollins
Coalhouse Walker Jr.
Mary Steenburgen
Mother
Debbie Allen
Sarah
Jeffrey DeMunn
Harry Houdini
Robert Joy
Henry Thaw
Norman Mailer
Stanford White
Bruce Boa
Jerome
Hoolihand Burke
Brigit
Norman Chancer
Gent No. 1 - Agent
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 20, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 1, 1993
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Miloš Forman
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael Weller
- Original Score
- Randy Newman
- Original Title
- Ragtime
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 35m
- Production Studios
- The De Laurentiis Company, Sunley Productions Ltd.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Miloš Forman
Michael Weller , E. L. Doctorow
Randy Newman
Miroslav Ondříček
Stanley Warnow, Antony Gibbs, Anne V. Coates
Michael Hausman, Bernard Williams, Dino De Laurentiis
Department Leadership Roster
Miloš Forman
Director
Anna Hill Johnstone
Costume Design
Michael Weller
Screenplay
Dino De Laurentiis
Producer
Stanley Warnow
Editor
Antony Gibbs
Editor
Anne V. Coates
Editor
Miroslav Ondříček
Director of Photography
Tony Reading
Production Design
Patrizia von Brandenstein
Production Design
John Graysmark
Production Design
Randy Newman
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ragtime.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ragtime
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ragtime about?
A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence, and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.
Who directed Ragtime?
Ragtime was directed by Miloš Forman.
Who stars in Ragtime?
The principal cast of Ragtime includes James Cagney, Brad Dourif, Moses Gunn, Elizabeth McGovern, Kenneth McMillan.
When was Ragtime released and how long is it?
Ragtime was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 2h 35m.
Who composed the musical score for Ragtime?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ragtime was composed by Randy Newman.
Is Ragtime based on a book or true story?
Ragtime is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "E. L. Doctorow".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ragtime?
Ragtime holds official age classifications: FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).