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Ordinary People ()


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The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father and the guilt-ridden younger son.

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Awards:
  • Won 4 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 14 nominations.
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Cast verified as complete

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Calvin Jarrett
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Beth Jarrett
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Doctor Berger
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Conrad
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Salan - The Swim Coach
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Jeannine Pratt
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Karen
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Joe Lazenby
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Ray (as James B. Sikking)
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Sloan
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Ward (as Quinn Redeker)
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Audrey
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Grandmother
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Ruth
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Stillman
Richard Whiting ...
Grandfather
Scott Doebler ...
Buck
Carl DiTomasso ...
Van Buren
Tim Clarke ...
Truan
Ken Dishner ...
Genthe
Lisa Smyth ...
Gail
Ann Eggert ...
Mitzi
Randall Robbins ...
Bryce
Cynthia Baker ...
Ms. Mellon (as Cynthia Baker Johnson)
John Stimpson ...
John
Liz Kinney ...
Liz
Steven Hirsch ...
Mack (as Steve Hirsch)
Rudy Hornish ...
Ed
Clarissa Downey ...
Chris
Cynthia Burke ...
Annie
Jane Alderman ...
Linda
Paul Preston ...
Dennis
Gustave Lachenauer ...
Gus
Marilyn Rockafellow ...
Sarah
Don Billett ...
Philip
Ronald Solomon ...
Joel
Virginia Long ...
Choir Director
Paula Segal ...
Shopper
Estelle Meyers ...
Saleslady
Stuart Shiff ...
Waiter
Rose Wool ...
Waitress
Douglas Kinney ...
Actor
Constance Addington ...
Actress
Edwin Bederman ...
McDonald's Manager
Bobby Coyne ...
Young Buck
Michael Creadon ...
Young Conrad
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy De Troit ...
Man on Bridge (uncredited)
Jeff Lawrence ...
Passenger (uncredited)
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Extra (uncredited)

Directed by

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Robert Redford

Written by

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Judith Guest ... (novel)
 
Alvin Sargent ... (screenplay)
 
Nancy Dowd ... () (uncredited)

Produced by

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Ronald L. Schwary ... producer

Cinematography by

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John Bailey ... director of photography

Editing by

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Jeff Kanew

Editorial Department

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Jay Friedkin ... apprentice editor
Carol Ann Jackson ... assistant editor
Marilyn Madderom ... assistant editor
Kathy Orloff ... apprentice editor

Casting By

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Penny Perry

Art Direction by

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Phillip Bennett
J. Michael Riva

Set Decoration by

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William B. Fosser ... (as William Fosser)
Jerry Wunderlich

Costume Design by

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Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department

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Joel Israel ... hair stylist: Ms. Moore
Gary Liddiard ... makeup artist
Jean Burt Reilly ... hair stylist (as Jean Burke Reilly)
Kathe Swanson ... hair stylist

Production Management

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Ronald L. Schwary ... unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Michael Britton ... second assistant director (as Michael L. Britton)
Steve Perry ... first assistant director (as Steven H. Perry)
Tom Seidman ... dga trainee

Art Department

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Donald R. Abblett ... standby painter (as Donald Abblett)
Edward Aiona ... property master (as Eddie Aiona)
Richard Boris ... greensman
Herman Lowers ... construction coordinator (as Herman O. Lowers)
Willie Marceau ... head carpenter
William Powley ... construction painter
Chuck Stein ... construction foreman (as Charles J. Stein)

Sound Department

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Kathleen Korth ... assistant sound editor (as Kathy Korth)
Gregg Landaker ... re-recording mixer
Steve Maslow ... re-recording mixer
Kay Rose ... supervising sound editor
Jerry Rosenthal ... sound editor (as Gerald Rosenthal)
Victoria Rose Sampson ... sound editor (as Victoria Sampson)
Kenneth Schwarz ... boom man (as Kenny Schwarz)
Bill Varney ... re-recording mixer
Charles M. Wilborn ... sound mixer (as Charles Wilborn)
John S. Coffey ... sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Robert Davenport ... uncredited
Ken Dufva ... foley artist (uncredited)
Harry Keramidas ... dialogue editor (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers ... technical director of sound (uncredited)

Stunts

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Richard Epper ... stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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John D. Crededio ... gaffer: Chicago (as John Credidio)
James Glennon ... camera operator
Clyde Hart ... key grip
Tommy Magglos ... second assistant camera
Robert McLain ... key grip: Chicago (as Bob McLean)
Ronald W. McLeish ... gaffer (as Ronald W. McLeisch)
Lou Noto ... first assistant camera (as Louis Noto)
Marcia Reed ... still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Robert M. Moore ... wardrobe: men (as Robert Moore)
Rita Salazar ... wardrobe: women

Location Management

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Patrick Markey ... location manager

Music Department

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Scott Grusin ... assistant music editor
Marvin Hamlisch ... music adaptor
Jack Hayes ... orchestrator
Dan Wallin ... music scoring mixer
Larry Blank ... choral conductor (uncredited)
Dan Goldwasser ... soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Marvin Hamlisch ... composer: source music (uncredited) / conductor (uncredited) / music arranger (uncredited)
Malcolm McNab ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Julie Pitkanen ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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James Hogan ... co-captain: Chicago (as James P. Hogan)
Michael McDuffee ... transportation captain (as Mike McDuffee)
Gerald R. Molen ... transportation coordinator (as Jerry Molen)

Additional Crew

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Jack Hirshberg ... unit publicist
Mary Cay Hollander ... production coordinator
Patricia Matzdorff ... secretary: Mr. Schwary
Robbie Miller ... secretary: Mr. Redford (as Robbi Miller)
Patricia Newcomb ... publicity consultant
Phill Norman ... title designer
Grant Olson ... craft service
Dennis Park ... assistant accountant
Teresa Skinner ... associate: Wildwood
Bob Waits ... assistant: Mr. Sutherland
Rusty Warren ... production accountant
Jim Berkenstadt ... legal (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being supportive to Conrad. Calvin is trapped between the two trying to hold the family together. Written by John Vogel

Plot Keywords
Taglines some films you watch, others you feel. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Des gens comme les autres (France)
  • Eine ganz normale Familie (Germany)
  • Gente corriente (Spain)
  • Gent corrent (Spain, Catalan title)
  • Paprasti žmones (Lithuania)
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Runtime
  • 124 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $6,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Timothy Hutton's father, actor Jim Hutton, died prior to filming. However, Hutton stated he did not use his mourning as a basis for Conrad's depression. Also, actress Mary Tyler Moore's only son, Richie Meeker, accidentally shot himself a month after the film's release. Moore was also separated from her husband, producer Grant Tinker, during filming. See more »
Goofs The golf scene is set on the 18th hole of the golf course but they are seen leaving the practice green (multiple holes in the putting surface are visible). See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Give Me Your Answer True (1987). See more »
Soundtracks Canon in D major See more »
Quotes Beth Jarrett: Calvin? Why are you crying? Can I, uh... can I get you something?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I don't...
Beth Jarrett: What did you say? Calvin, what did you say? Tell me!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: You are beautiful. And you are unpredictable. But you're so cautious. You're determined, Beth; but you know something? You're not strong. And I don't know if you're really giving. Tell me something. Do you love me? You really love me?
Beth Jarrett: I feel the way I've always felt about you.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: We would have been alright, if there hadn't been any mess. But you can't handle mess. You need everything neat and easy. I don't know. Maybe you can't love anybody. It was so much Buck. When Buck died, it was as if you buried all your love with him, and I don't understand that, I just don't know, I don't... maybe it wasn't even Buck; maybe it was just you. Maybe, finally, it was the best of you that you buried. But, whatever it was... I don't know who you are. And I don't know what we've been playing at. So I was crying. Because I don't know if I love you anymore. And I don't know what I'm going to do without that.
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