Robert Redford and the Film Ordinary People
Robert Redford directed the 1980 romantic drama film Ordinary People, based on a 1976 novel by Judith Guest. The film won the Pulitzer Prize for Best Picture and was one of the most successful films of Redford's career. The screenplay was written by Alvin Sargent. The film is an excellent example of a classic romantic drama with a unique storyline.
Judith Guest and the Novel Ordinary People
Judith Guest's first novel, Ordinary People, was published in 1976. It tells the story of the Jarrett family, a wealthy suburban family, as they try to cope with the aftermath of two traumatic events. The novel is a moving, sometimes comical portrayal of the human condition, and is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.
Guest, an author of women's fiction, lives in Edina, Minnesota. Originally from Detroit, she attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 1958. She has lived in the Midwest for most of her life. Her most famous book, Ordinary People, was made into a movie starring Robert Redford. Although it did not become a commercial success, it did win a number of awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, an award for American women's fiction.
Mary Tyler Moore and her Role in Ordinary People
When she was a child, Mary Tyler Moore was obsessed with the world of show business. Her uncle, a successful agent, regaled her with stories of the life and times of stars. When she was nine years old, her family moved to California. Her father took a job with the Southern California Gas Company. At that time, she began taking dance lessons.
Though she's been a fixture of comedic television since The Dick Van Dyke Show, she never played a stereotypical character. But her portrayal of an insensitive suburban mom is refreshingly different from her more well-known roles. She plays a perfectly coiffed suburban housewife who is emotionally distant from her troubled son.
Donald Sutherland and his Career
Donald Sutherland is known for playing a variety of roles over his career, from villains to misfits. While the actor has always worked hard to overcome his shyness and self-consciousness about his looks, he has never shied away from speaking up about his personal experiences. Recently, he answered the questions of an interviewer, Anderson Cooper, on 60 Minutes.
During the 1970s, Donald Sutherland's career took off as a leading man in films such as Don't Look Now (a psychological horror film with Julie Christie). He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for his role in The Eagle Has Landed, a war film directed by Federico Fellini. In the same decade, Sutherland played the role of Mr. Bennet in Pride & Prejudice. He starred in the film alongside Keira Knightley. Sutherland later appeared in a few TV shows, including The Saint (2001) and Mike Binder's Reign Over Me (2007).
Alvin Sargent and his Writing Career
Alvin Sargent's writing career began in the sixties, when he worked on television shows. He won an Academy Award for his script for the Holocaust drama "Julia" based on the novel by Lillian Hellman. His next film, "Ordinary People," made him an Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay. The film depicted the disintegration of an upper-middle-class family after the tragic death of a child.
Before becoming an actor, Sargent worked as an ad salesman in Philadelphia. He also worked for a clothing company and drove props for CBS. He also briefly attended UCLA. After this, he decided to pursue a career in the movie business. In the 1960s, he became a television writer and landed roles in "Route 66," "Ben Casey" and "The Doctors and the Nurses." Sargent was married to Joan Camden from 1953 to 1975. His wife died in 2000.
Robert Redford's Directorial Debut
In his directorial debut, Robert Redford makes a surprisingly powerful statement with his dramatic film Ordinary People. Based on a novel by Judith Guest, this drama follows the life of an upper middle class suburban family and their struggles with guilt and mental illness. It also stars Timothy Hutton, who made his theatrical film debut.
This powerful film is a study of the forces of grief and the incommunicability that results from it. The characters are portrayed with restraint and sensitivity. We never see them crying or screaming; they just exist, in a state of tension.
