Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford in his directorial debut. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Judith Guest. The film follows the disintegration of a wealthy family in Lake Forest, Illinois after one son dies in an accident and the other son attempts to die by suicide. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. Released to theaters by Paramount Pictures on September 19, 1980, Ordinary People met commercial and critical success. The film grossed $90 million on a $6.2 million budget. Reviewers praised Redford's direction, Sargent's screenplay, and the performances of the cast. The film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 1980, and had six nominations at the 53rd Academy Awards, winning four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Hutton (the youngest recipient at age 20). In addition, the film won five awards at the 38th Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, Best Actress (Moore), and Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year – Actor (Hutton).
Plot The Jarretts are an upper-middle-class family in Lake Forest, a wealthy suburb north of Chicago. They are trying to return to normal life after experiencing the accidental drowning of their older teenage son, Buck, and the attempted suicide of their younger and surviving son, Conrad. Conrad has recently returned home after spending four months in a psychiatric hospital. He feels alienated from his family and friends and seeks help from a psychiatrist, Dr. Tyrone Berger, who learns that Conrad was involved in the sailing accident that killed Buck. Conrad is now dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and is seeking help to cope with his emotions. Conrad's father, Calvin, attempts to connect with his surviving son and to understand Beth, his wife and Conrad's mother, who denies her grief, hoping to maintain her composure and restore her family to what it once was. She appears to have favored Buck, and has grown cold toward Conrad due to his suicide attempt. Beth is determined to maintain the appearance of perfection and normality, but her efforts only serve to further alienate Conrad. Conrad continues to work with Dr. Berger and begins to learn how to deal with his emotions. He starts dating a fellow student, Jeannine, who helps him regain his optimism and confidence. However, Conrad still struggles to communicate and establish normal relationships with his parents and schoolmates in the shadow of recent events. Meanwhile, Calvin tries to referee the tension between Beth and Conrad, generally taking Conrad's side for fear of pushing him over the edge again. Tensions escalate before Christmas when Conrad becomes furious with Beth for refusing to take a photo with him, swearing at her in front of his grandparents. Soon after, Beth discovers that Conrad has been lying about his whereabouts after school and has quit the swim team. This leads to a heated confrontation between Conrad and Beth in which Conrad points out that Beth never visited him in the hospital; Conrad argues that if Buck had been hospitalized in his place, she would have gone to see him, to which Beth curtly replies that Buck would never have been in the hospital in the first place. Beth and Calvin then take a trip to see Beth's brother Ward in Houston, where Calvin presses Beth about her evasive attitude. At home, Conrad suffers a setback when he learns that Karen, a friend from the psychiatric hospital, has taken her own life. A cathartic breakthrough session soon follows in the middle of the night with Dr. Berger who allows Conrad to stop blaming himself for Buck's death and accept his mother's limitations. However, when Conrad tries to show affection after his parents arrive home from Houston, Beth is unresponsive, leading Calvin to emotionally confront her one last time. He questions their love and asks whether she can truly love anyone. Stunned, Beth packs her bags and goes back to Houston. Calvin and Conrad are left to come to terms with their new family situation, affirming their father–son bond, love, and support for one another.
Cast
Casting Gene Hackman was originally cast as Calvin Jarrett but then later dropped out when he and the studio could not come to a financial agreement. A then-unknown Michael J. Fox, who had just moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, auditioned for the role of Conrad Jarrett but reportedly did not impress Redford, who flossed his teeth during Fox's audition. Natalie Wood was also considered for the role of Beth.
Reception
Box office The film was a box-office success, grossing $54.8 million in the United States and Canada and approximately $36 million overseas for a worldwide gross of $90 million.
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