Who directed Ordinary People and was it their first film?
Ordinary People was directed by Robert Redford and was his first feature film as a director. It was released by Paramount Pictures on the 19th of September 1980.
Questions about Ordinary People
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many Academy Awards did Ordinary People win?
Ordinary People won four Academy Awards at the 53rd ceremony: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton. Hutton was 20 years old at the time, making him the youngest recipient of that award.
What is Ordinary People about?
Ordinary People follows the Jarrett family of Lake Forest, Illinois, as they struggle to recover after the accidental death of their older son Buck and the attempted suicide of their younger son Conrad. The film centers on Conrad's sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Tyrone Berger and the growing emotional divide between his parents, Calvin and Beth.
How much did Ordinary People gross at the box office?
Ordinary People grossed $90 million worldwide, including $54.8 million in the United States and Canada. The film was made on a budget of $6.2 million.
Who was originally cast in Ordinary People before the final actors were chosen?
Gene Hackman was originally cast as Calvin Jarrett but left the project after a financial dispute with the studio. Natalie Wood was considered for the role of Beth before Mary Tyler Moore was cast. A then-unknown Michael J. Fox auditioned for the role of Conrad Jarrett but did not impress director Robert Redford.
What is the significance of Pachelbel's Canon in Ordinary People?
Ordinary People used Pachelbel's Canon prominently on its soundtrack, and the film's wide audience helped bring the piece into mainstream popular culture after centuries of relative obscurity.