| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Ragtime |  | |
Ragtime
Based on the popular novel by E.L. Doctorow, RAGTIME tells the story of four New York families at the turn of the 20th century. Starving immigrant artist, Tateh sets off to make his fortune in Hollywood, but along the way encounters showgirl Evelyn Nesbit who is at the center of a murder investigation. Meanwhile, an upper-class family finds their seemingly perfect existence ruined when black pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. begins to romance a pregnant girl living in their home.
Manufacturer: Paramount
Price Range: $4.25 - $9.98
 Ragtime
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| User Reviews |  | Engrossing
rating: 5
I very much liked the E.L. Doctorow novel and this movie over 25 years ago. Seeing the movie again, I enjoyed it just as much. Several reviewers have commented on the McGovern nude scene, as if that was the core of the film, but it isn't. Nor was it deleted from the DVD I received trom Amazon.
There are two connected stories here, somewhat ragged as the music for which this was named. First, there is the story of Evelyn Nesbit and the murder of Stanford White--which actually happened, pretty much as the film shows. Then there is the fictional story of Coalhouse Walker, a black piano player who only wants respect and justice. The connecting link is a young man who becomes enamored of Newbit, then takes up the cause of Walker.
The acting is very good throughout. The atmosphere of the Edwardian Age in New York feels right. There are wonderful side stories, such as the Jewish silhouette artist in the Lower East Side ghetto who becomes a "count" and a silent film director with Nesbit as his star. As an aside, she did make several such films in real life.
This is a movie worth seeing, if for the beautiful Elizabeth McGovern alone and her very natural and au natural acting. She plays the dim bulb Nesbit perfectly, far better than Nesbit was portrayed by Joan Collins in "The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing."
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"Genius--Right in the Kisser!"
rating: 5
I was entranced by Doctorow's book, and the following movie was not a disappointment. The weaving of the lives of famous and infamous people, accurately, with those of fictional characters makes for a believable and charming story that spans years, even decades. The highlights of the movie are the hijinks of Houdini and the Irish police comissioner. We get to see Jimmy Cagney in one of his last roles and he is perfect for the part--even better than in some of his more famous roles, I believe. If you have never read the book or seen the film, you owe it to yourself to indulge in this treat.
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Running Time Correction
rating: 4
After checking out the DVD against other Online stores carrying the same title, it is evident that the 115 minute running time previously posted by Amazon was a mistake. It's now been corrected and stands at 156 minutes - the original running time. Folks worried about this DVD version being cut by 40 minutes can put their minds at ease. It is the original version.
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RAGTIME
rating: 4
LOVE IT CAME IN MINT CONDITION. WAS NOT DECEIVING IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
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RAGTIME uncut on DVD
rating: 5
I can't understand why so many reviewers are claiming that the RAGTIME disc contains a cut version of this film, missing 40 minutes of footage. I picked up a copy recently, and it's definitely uncut, running exactly 155 minutes
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Ragtime
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