Layering fascinating characters with the riotous events of early 1900s America, the best-seller by E.L. Doctorow became a cinematic epic under the direction of two-time Oscar winning director Miloš Forman. From the emerging New York suburb of New Rochelle to the flashy spectacle of Atlantic City, a family faces racial tensions, scandals and violence that will test everything they believe in. Newly remastered from a 4K film transfer for its 40th Anniversary, RAGTIME features an unforgettable music score by Randy Newman, and an incredible all-star cast that includes/ James Cagney in his first (and final) role in nearly two decades, Donald O’Connor, Mandy Patinkin, Mary Steenburgen, Debbie Allen, Elizabeth McGovern, Moses Gunn, Pat O’Brien, Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher, John Ratzenberger, Michael Jeter, Norman Mailer, and Samuel L. Jackson.
While Houdini plays a sizable role in the Ragtime book and stage musical, his role in the film is reduced to newsreel footage and a suspended straitjacket. However, I still consider it part of the larger Houdini filmography. There are no extra Houdini scenes in the cut footage, but I did learn from the commentary track that James Randi served as technical adviser for the straitjacket escape, which actor Jeffrey DeMunn performed himself.
I also learned that Robert Altman of M*A*S*H and Nashville fame was initially attached to direct Ragtime from a script by E.L. Doctrow himself. This is likely when John Belushi was in the mix to play Houdini, as the role would have been much larger. I have to say, I love the idea of a Robert Altman-directed Ragtime. He would have kept the ensemble and the sprawl. But I still enjoy the film that we have, especially the score by Randy Newman.
Purchase the Ragtime 40th Anniversary Blu-ray at Amazon.com.
By the way, I learned about this Blu-ray from the below interview with Charlotte Barker, Director of Film Preservation and Restoration at Paramount Pictures, who championed this release. It's a good interview worth a watch.
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