Ragtime movie summary. Summary and reviews of Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow 2022-10-21

Ragtime movie summary Rating: 7,5/10 728 reviews

Ragtime is a 1981 American drama film directed by Miloš Forman and adapted from E.L. Doctorow's 1975 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of three diverse families living in New York City at the turn of the 20th century and their intersecting lives.

The film follows the story of Father (James Cagney), a wealthy white industrialist; Mother (Mary Steenburgen), a privileged housewife; and their young son, Edgar (Frederick Koehler). The family's lives are turned upside down when they take in a young black piano player named Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), who becomes the target of racism and violence.

Meanwhile, the story also follows the lives of Tateh (Mandy Patinkin), a Jewish immigrant and his daughter, and a young white woman named Sarah (Elizabeth McGovern) who becomes involved with both Coalhouse and Tateh. As the film progresses, the characters' lives become intertwined and they are forced to confront issues of racism, social inequality, and the changing political landscape of the time.

Overall, Ragtime is a powerful and thought-provoking film that delves into the complex social issues of its time. The film's strong performances and compelling storytelling make it a must-see for fans of historical dramas.

Summary and reviews of Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

ragtime movie summary

Obsessed by this event, Coalhouse will indirectly cause the death of his fiancee who was killed when trying to expose Coalhouse's case to the Vice-President in election campaign. The newsreel is accompanied by ragtime pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. Evelyn Nesbit and Mother's Younger Brother make love often, but find little to speak about otherwise. A lecture by Booker T. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. After the ill-fated rally Tateh with the Baby go aimlessly.

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Ragtime

ragtime movie summary

Doctorow employs a narrative technique that partly reflects their attitudes and partly employs Doctorow's own ironic tone. The little girl becomes ill, and Evelyn cares for her. Coalhouse is then shot as he surrenders to the authorities. An immigrant family, consisting of Mameh, Tateh, and the little girl, live in the Lower East Side in utter poverty. On the ocean, their ship meets transatlantic liner full of immigrants. Soon he dies in Rome.

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Ragtime (film)

ragtime movie summary

The immigrants: Mummy, The famous model Evelyn Nesbit is involved in the trial of the murder of her former lover, architect Stanford White. He arrives at Mother's house, where he has heard that a Black woman is living. This sight acts on father depressing. Coalhouse with his comrades enters the Morgan Library and threatens to destroy it. . His protests end with the racist policeman placing him under arrest for parking his car illegally. Also en route to New Rochelle, Coalhouse is harassed by a racist fire squad led by chief Will Conklin, who taunt him for driving his own car.

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Ragtime Summary

ragtime movie summary

Passing through the Lower East Side, Evelyn encounters street artist Tateh, who throws out his unfaithful wife. After Coalhouse continues to call on her every Sunday, Sarah finally accepts his proposal for marriage. And so he goes on the warpath - explodes two fire stations. But beneath its peppy, bracing rhythms sound the neat, sad waltz of Gatsby and the tunes of betrayed promise. Washington and Emma Goldman, and entertainers such as Harry Houdini and Evelyn Nesbit, who has been catapulted into fame by the murder of her wealthy lover Stanford White by her millionaire husband Harry K. That evening, Delphin and his assistant counsel Richard Griffiths interrupt one of Evelyn's sexual trysts with Younger Brother and inform her that Thaw will be suing her for divorce on the grounds of infidelity, offering her a much smaller divorce settlement, which she takes. Even though the film presents four or five secondary plots, RAGTIME is primarily about the sad story of Coalhouse Walker Jr.

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Ragtime (1981)

ragtime movie summary

Harry Thaw is released from an asylum. Father recommends him to turn to a lawyer. Morgan, who is abroad at the time. Mother's Younger Brother, having secured the use of Coalhouse's Model-T, travels all around the country and soon to Mexico, where he joins revolutionary forces and dies about a year later. He sends men to retrieve Walker Coalhouse's infant child, but Mother refuses to give him up.

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Ragtime Part I, Chapters 10

ragtime movie summary

Commissioner Waldo is disgusted by Conklin and his racist attitude, who he calls "a piece of slime," and announces to Conklin that he will be brought up on criminal charges, but the Commissioner yet cannot submit to terrorist demands. Younger Brother and the rest of Walker's supporters successfully escape in the car, eluding police surveillance, and Walker drives Father out the library soon after. After presenting Peary with a flag to place on the North Pole, Father soon returns to New Rochelle while the other members of the team proceed further north. Coalhouse and his followers break into the library of J. Goldman takes Evelyn to her. His assistant, Matthew Henson, supervises the training.

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Ragtime (novel)

ragtime movie summary

Sarah is killed in an attempt to aid him, and Coalhouse uses the money he was saving for their wedding to pay for an extravagant funeral. Meanwhile, Coalhouse Walker and his gang force their way into the Pierpont Morgan Library, holding the priceless collection of books hostage in exchange for Conklin and the car. Meanwhile, an unnamed upper class family resides in a comfortable suburban home in New Rochelle. Summary Chapter 10 Father writes every day during the winter from his expedition with Peary, an experienced explorer. Rather, he cannot sleep and becomes disheartened by his failure to experience what he has expected. After Sarah's funeral, a furious Coalhouse Walker assembles a group of African-American supporters where they ambush the volunteer firemen, killing several of them. Two hours later Coalhouse goes out with his hands up.

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Ragtime movie review & film summary (1981)

ragtime movie summary

But none of the lawyers wants to help Coalhouse. Their passive, sheltered existence is disturbed when an abandoned African American baby is found in their garden. Retrieved 30 March 2018. Now his concern is that the Baby forgot all their sadness. Subsequently, they establish an exclusive club, which finances certain searches.

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Ragtime Novel: Summary, Themes, & Analysis

ragtime movie summary

Cast Shelley Long Sam Jay Thomas Lester Waylin Perry King Jerry Blue Justin Cooper Barkley Blue Michelle Joyner Sarah Blue Kay Lenz Detective Hill Richard Brooks Agent Dooley George Murdock Captain Murphy Mike Starr Detective Lamaster Greg Dean Wills Robert Pine Fred Waters Zack Duhame Carter Blue Lindsay Felton Amy Blue Debbie Dixon Ringmaster Sebastian Massa Farmer Robyn Rice Heavyset Woman Lynda Duimovich First Woman Charlie Aslin Security Guard 1 Synopsis Ragtime is a miniature pet horse and the kids love him. He understands that is involved in a politically dangerous case. Mother's Younger Brother helps Evelyn search for Tateh and his little girl, but to no avail. Conklin demands a fictitious toll; Coalhouse refuses. Some time later, Coalhouse Walker arrives at the house in search of Sarah, driving a new model T-Ford automobile and acting in a brash manner unlike the subservient attitude expected of the African American community at the time.

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