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ON GOLDEN POND (1981) (****)

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A four star film to me is one that breathes new life into film or sometimes even life. This film touched on aging and coming to terms with death like no other film I've seen and did it with dignity, grace and a lot of humor. Before I saw this film, I thought it would be all serious and somber, but I was wrong. It's very funny. I laugh out loud more at this film then a lot of so-called comedies.

The plot is pretty simple -- Ethel (Katharine Hepburn, THE AFRICAN QUEEN) and Norman Thayer (Henry Fonda, GRAPES OF WRATH) are a old couple who spend their summers at their lake front home. Norman is turning 80 and Ethel has invited their estranged daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda, BARBARELLA), her boyfriend, Bill (Dabney Coleman, WHERE THE HEART IS) and his son, Billy (William Lanteau, TV's NEWHART) to Norman's birthday party. Tensions between Norman and Chelsea run thick and by the end of the weekend, she has asked her parents to take care of Billy for a month while she and Bill run off to Europe. Norman is pretty crotchety and complains a lot and Billy doesn't like the idea of being dumped with two old strangers for the summer. However, before too long, Norman and Billy strike up a friendship.

First and foremost, the dialogue in this film is a thing of beauty. The witty banter between Norman and Ethel is hilarious and often poignant. The dialogue alone would make this film a classic, but we're also treated to Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn working at the top of their game. There isn't a wrong note in either of their performances. Not for one moment do you believe that these are not two people who have been married for decades.

The film deals with a lot of complex issues in a natural way. Topics like father and daughter relationships, children's resentment of their parents, age gaps and the fear of losing a spouse after so many years of marriage. The fact that this film deals with all those heavy issues with grace and humor is a testament to how amazing this film really is.

Ernest Thompson (1969) adapted his stage play for the screen and most definitely deserved the Oscar he received. Director Mark Rydell (THE RIVER) has a masterpiece with this film that outshines anything else he did before or after. Though CHARIOTS OF FIRE was good I can't imagine how it beat this film for the Best Picture Academy Award. I've seen this film several times now and it only gets better. Now that's a quality of a classic.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks