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On Golden Pond
1981
Based on the play by Ernest Thompson, ON GOLDEN POND tells the deceptively simple tale of one family's summer. The story centres around the bickering but loving relationship between Ethel and Norman Thayer (Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda), an elderly couple who are spending their 48th summer at their New England country home .. Read more
| Starring | Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman |
|---|---|
| Director | Mark Rydell |
| Genres | Drama |
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On Golden Pond
Based on the play by Ernest Thompson, ON GOLDEN POND tells the deceptively simple tale of one family's summer. The story centres around the bickering but loving relationship between Ethel and Norman Thayer (Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda), an elderly couple who are spending their 48th summer at their New England country home and celebrating Norman's 80th birthday. When their independent, insecure daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda), and her new boyfriend, Bill Ray (Dabney Coleman), come for Norman's birthday, they also end up asking the couple to look after Billy Ray (Doug McKeon), Bill's teenage son, while they travel to Europe. Over the summer, Norman becomes closer to Billy Ray than he has ever been to his daughter, sparking Chelsea's long-repressed resentment when she returns. In this beautifully filmed story, there are many things going on along the surface of Golden Pond, including the presence of the loons--who represent all things wonderful about their summer house and their life to Ethel. Director Mark Rydell elicits deeply touching performances from his cast (particularly Henry Fonda in his final screen appearance), and the dialogue of Thompson's script is equally graceful. The odds were against this decidedly quiet, small ensemble piece when it was released in 1981, but the timeless material and the confident direction triumphed.
| Starring | Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, Doug McKeon |
|---|---|
| Director | Mark Rydell |
| Studio | PRISM LEISURE |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 44 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 19 Sep 2002 Production year: 1981 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Nominated for ten Oscars, this old-fashioned family melodrama won three — best adapted screenplay for Ernest Thompson and, more notably, Katharine Hepburn's fourth award for best actress and Henry Fonda's first as best actor. Considering neither was in the best of health, their performances are remarkable. The quiet authority of their acting is all the more apparent in their scenes with Jane Fonda, who overdoes the angst, particularly when opposite the father with whom she occasionally disagreed in real life. Complementing the subtle shades of performance are cinematographer Billy Williams's superb images, using to dramatic effect the changing light of the countryside in summer.
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A film remarkable not so much for what it is Ð a well-acted, decent screen presentation of a rather waffling and sentimental play Ð as for the fact that in the sophisticated eighties enough people paid to see it to make it a box-office record-breaker. Thi
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Most helpful member's review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Superb film
Hepburn and Fonda at their very best. I enjoy this movie more every time I see it. This movie offers an indepth look at love in old age and at ageing and the scenery in the film is beautiful.
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Most recent members' review
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On Gold Pond
A great film, great performances that bear watching again and again.
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On Golden Pond
Based on the play by Ernest Thompson, ON GOLDEN POND tells the deceptively simple tale of one family's summer. The story centres around the bickering but loving relationship between Ethel and Norman Thayer (Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda), an elderly couple who are spending their 48th summer at ...
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