Ordinary People

Ordinary People

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film that marked the directorial debut of Robert Redford. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton. The story concerns the disintegration of an upper-middle class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the death of the older son in a boating accident. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent was based upon the 1976 novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning that year's Academy Award for Best Picture as well as three other Oscars, including one for Timothy Hutton. The...
more

quick facts
Release date:September 19, 1980
Directed by:Robert Redford
Rated:R (USA)
Runtime:124 Minutes
Producer:Ronald L. Schwary
Editor:Jeff Kanew
Music by:Marvin Hamlisch
Cinematography:John Bailey
Screenplay by:Alvin Sargent, Nancy Dowd
Estimated budget:$6,000,000
Adapted from:Ordinary People

Award-winners from Ordinary People

Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore
Character:Beth Jarrett
Born:December 29, 1936
Timothy Hutton
Timothy Hutton
Character:Conrad
Born:August 16, 1960

Cast of Ordinary People

Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland
Calvin
Born:July 17, 1935
Age:76
M. Emmet Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
Swim Coach
Born:March 22, 1935
Age:77
Adam Baldwin
Adam Baldwin
Stillman
Born:February 27, 1962
Age:50
Elizabeth McGovern
Elizabeth McGovern
Jeannine Pratt
Born:July 18, 1961
Age:50
James Sikking
James Sikking
Ray
Born:March 5, 1934
Age:78
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Berger
Born:March 15, 1935
Age:77

Honors and Awards

YearAward Won
1980 Academy Award for Best Picture, Ronald L. Schwary
1980 Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role, Timothy Hutton
1980 Academy Award for Best Director, Robert Redford
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Ronald L. Schwary
1980 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, Alvin Sargent
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Drama Film, Mary Tyler Moore
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Film, Robert Redford
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Film, Timothy Hutton
1980 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Robert Redford
1980 National Board of Review Award for Best Director, Robert Redford
1980 National Board of Review Award for Best Film, Robert Redford
1980 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Picture, Robert Redford
« Prev  Next »
YearAward Nomination
1980 Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role, Judd Hirsch
1980 Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role, Mary Tyler Moore
1980 Academy Award for Best Director, Robert Redford
1980 Academy Award for Best Picture, Ronald L. Schwary
1980 Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role, Timothy Hutton
1980 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, Alvin Sargent
1981 BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Mary Tyler Moore
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Drama Film, Donald Sutherland
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Drama Film, Mary Tyler Moore
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Film, Timothy Hutton
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Film, Judd Hirsch
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Film, Robert Redford
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Film, Ronald L. Schwary
1980 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, Robert Redford
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, Alvin Sargent
1981 BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer, Timothy Hutton
« Prev  Next »

Film director of Ordinary People

Robert Redford
Robert Redford

Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
more

TitleReleasedRatedGenre
The Company You Keep 2012 Thriller
The Conspirator 2010 PG-13 (USA)
Lions for Lambs 2007 R (USA) Thriller
The Legend of Bagger Vance 2000 PG-13 (USA) Comedy
The Horse Whisperer 1998 PG-13 (USA) Western
Quiz Show 1994 PG-13 (USA)
A River Runs Through It 1992 PG (USA)
The Milagro Beanfield War 1988 R (USA) Comedy
Ordinary People 1980 R (USA)
« Prev  Next »

Music contributors for Ordinary People

Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only eleven people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is...
more

Filming locations for Ordinary People

Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. The city has around 2.7 million residents. Its metropolitan area, sometimes called "Chicagoland", is the third largest in the United States, with...
more

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q:
    Who was the director of the motion picture "Ordinary People"?
  • A:
    Robert Redford was the director of the motion picture.
  • Q:
    Which locations were shown in the movie Ordinary People?
  • A:
    The motion picture's featured locations include Chicago.
  • Q:
    "Ordinary People" is in what genre?
  • A:
    The movie is classified as... Family Drama, Coming of age and Drama.
  • Q:
    What was the estimated budget for making the movie "Ordinary People"?
  • A:
    $6.0 million was the budget for this movie.
  • Q:
    What is the approximate runtime of the film "Ordinary People"?
  • A:
    The runtime is 124 minutes.
  • Q:
    What was the tagline for the movie, Ordinary People?
  • A:
    The film's slogan was, "Everything is in it's proper place-except the past!"
  • Q:
    Which awards did the motion picture "Ordinary People" receive?
  • A:
    The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award for Best Director and .
  • Q:
    Who was the producer of "Ordinary People"?
  • A:
    Ronald L. Schwary produced the movie.
  • Q:
    Who wrote the music for the film Ordinary People?
  • A:
    Marvin Hamlisch composed the music for the film's soundtrack.
  • Q:
    Who wrote the script for the film Ordinary People?
  • A:
    Judith Guest, Alvin Sargent and Nancy Dowd performed the film's screenwriting.

Awards & Accolades

  • Academy Awards for Best Picture
    1981
  • Best Adapted Screenplay
    1981
  • Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture - Drama
    1981
  • NBR Best Movies of the 1980's
    1980
Ordinary People
Top of Page © 2012 Juggle, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Encyclopedia & Reference Resource
Some of the content on this page was provided by other sites, including
Freebase Icon (Ordinary People) or others licensed under Creative Commons