Paramount Presents: ORDINARY PEOPLE [1980 / 2022] [Blu-ray] [USA Release]
Everything is in its proper place . . . Except the past!
Winner of 4 Oscars® including Best Picture, Robert Redford made his directorial debut with this beloved powerful drama. Based on the acclaimed novel by Judith Guest, ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ is an intense examination of a family being torn apart by tension and tragedy. The top-notch cast includes Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Elizabeth McGovern, and Timothy Hutton, whose Oscar® win (Best Supporting Actor) made him the youngest to ever win in that category. This limited-edition Blu-ray debut has been remastered from a new 4K film transfer overseen by Redford, and features new interviews with author Judith Guest and actor Timothy Hutton. This limited-edition Blu-ray debut has been remastered from a new 4K film transfer overseen by Redford, and features new interviews with author Judith Guest and actor Timothy Hutton. Collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film's theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment is proud to spotlight a new line of Blu-ray releases for collectors and fans – PARAMOUNT PRESENTS. From celebrated classics to film-lover favourites, each title comes directly from the studio’s renowned library, spanning over 100 years of storytelling. The films have never looked better on Blu-ray – each lovingly remastered from 4K film transfers, featuring never-before-seen bonus content, and exclusive collectable packaging.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1980 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards: Win: Best Film. Win: Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton. Win: Best Director for Robert Redford. 1980 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Win: Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton. 1980 National Board of Review, USA: Win: Best Film. Win: Best Director for Robert Redford. Win: Top Ten Films. 1980 New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Win: Best Film. Nominated: Best Director for Robert Redford. Nominated: Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton. Nominated: Best Actress for Mary Tyler Moore. 1981 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Picture for Ronald L. Schwary. Win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Timothy Hutton. Win: Best Director for Robert Redford. Win: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for Alvin Sargent. Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role for Mary Tyler Moore. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Judd Hirsch. 1981 Directors Guild of America: Win: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Robert Redford, Ronald L. Schwary, Michael Britton and Steve Perry. 1981 Golden Globes: Win: Best Actress in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Mary Tyler Moore. Win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Timothy Hutton. Win: New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture for a Male for Timothy Hutton. Nominated: Best Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Donald Sutherland. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Judd Hirsch. Nominated: Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture for Alvin Sargent. 1981 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Nominated: Silver Ribbon for Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero) for Robert Redford. 1981 National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA: Nominated: Best Actress for Mary Tyler Moore. Nominated: Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton. 1981 Writers Guild of America: Win: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium for Alvin Sargent. 1982 BAFTA Film Awards: Nominated: Best Actress for Mary Tyler Moore. Nominated: Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for Timothy Hutton. 1982 Awards of the Japanese Academy: Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film.
FILM FACT No.2: 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. The film's prominent usage of Pachelbel's Canon, which had been relatively obscure for centuries, helped to usher the piece into mainstream popular culture. Robert Redford asked not just the crew, to “leave Tim alone and let him be a little isolated.” It was smart, and extremely helpful. It was an incredible gift that he gave me. – Actor Timothy Hutton on ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE.’
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, Fredric Lehne, James Sikking, Basil Hoffman, Quinn K. Redeker, Mariclare Costello, Meg Mundy, Elizabeth Hubbard, Adam Baldwin, Richard Whiting, Scott Doebler, Carl DiTomasso, Tim Clarke, Ken Dishner, Lisa Smyth, Ann Eggert, Randall Robbins, Cynthia Baker Johnson, John Stimpson, Liz Kinney, Steven Hirsch, Rudy Hornish, Clarissa Downey, Cynthia Burke, Jane Alderman, Paul Preston, Gustave Lachenauer, Marilyn Rockafellow, Don Billett, Ronald Solomon, Virginia Long, Paula Segal, Estelle Meyers, Stuart Shiff, Rose Wool, Douglas Kinney, Constance Addington, Edwin Bederman, Bobby Coyne, Michael Creadon, Randy De Troit (uncredited) and Michael T. Weiss (uncredited)
Director: Robert Redford
Producer: Ronald L. Schwary
Screenplay: Alvin Sargent (screenplay), Judith Guest (novel) and Nancy Dowd (uncredited)
Costume Design and Wardrobe Department: Bernie Pollack (Costume Design), Robert M. Moore (Wardrobe: men) and Rita Salazar (Wardrobe: women)
Cinematography: John Ira Bailey, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 2.0 Dolby TrueHD Stereo Audio
German: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Japanese: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, German, Spanish, French and Japanese
Running Time: 124 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ [1980] The Jarretts family are an upper-middle-class family in suburban Chicago trying to return to normal life after the accidental death of their older teenage son Buck, and the attempted suicide of their younger and surviving son, Conrad Jarrett [Timothy Hutton], who has recently returned home from a four-month stay in a psychiatric hospital, feels alienated from his friends and family and begins seeing a psychiatrist Dr. Berger [Judd Hirsch] who learns that Conrad Jarrett was involved in the sailing accident that took the life of Buck, whom everyone idolized. Conrad Jarrett now deals with post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor's guilt.
Conrad Jarrett's father, Calvin Jarrett [Donald Sutherland], tries to connect with his surviving son and understand his wife Beth Jarrett [Mary Tyler Moore] who denies her loss, hoping to maintain her composure and restore her family to what it once was. Beth Jarrett appears to have loved her older son more, and because of the suicide attempt, has grown cold towards Conrad Jarrett. Beth Jarrett is determined to maintain the appearance of perfection and normalcy. Conrad Jarrett works with Dr. Berger and learns to try to deal with, rather than control, his emotions. Conrad Jarrett starts dating a fellow student, Jeannine Pratt [Elizabeth McGovern], who helps Conrad Jarrett to begin to regain a sense of optimism. Conrad Jarrett, however, still struggles to communicate and re-establish a normal relationship with his parents and schoolmates, including Stillman [Adam Baldwin], with whom he gets into a fistfight. Conrad Jarrett cannot seem to allow anyone, especially Beth Jarrett, to get close. Beth Jarrett makes several guarded attempts to appeal to Conrad Jarrett for some semblance of normality, but she ends up being cold towards him.
Mother and son often argue while Calvin Jarrett tries to referee, generally taking Conrad Jarrett's side for fear of pushing him over the edge again. Things come to a climax near Christmas when Conrad Jarrett becomes furious at Beth Jarrett for not wanting to take a photo with him, swearing at her in front of his grandparents. Afterwards, Beth Jarrett discovers Conrad Jarrett has been lying about his after-school whereabouts. This leads to a heated argument between Conrad Jarrett and Beth Jarrett in which Conrad Jarrett points out that Beth Jarrett never visited him in the hospital, saying that she “would have come if Buck was in the hospital.” Beth Jarrett replies, “Buck never would have been in the hospital!” It is also revealed that when Conrad Jarrett attempted suicide, Beth Jarrett was more upset about him getting blood on their towels. Beth Jarrett and Calvin Jarrett take a trip to see Beth Jarrett's brother in Houston, where Calvin Jarrett confronts Beth Jarrett, calling her out on her attitude.
Conrad Jarrett suffers a setback when he learns that Karen [Dinah Manoff], a friend of his from the psychiatric hospital, has committed suicide. A cathartic breakthrough session with Dr. Berger allows Conrad Jarrett to stop blaming himself for Buck's death and accept his mother's frailties. However, when Conrad Jarrett tries to show affection, Beth Jarrett is unresponsive, leading Calvin Jarrett to emotionally confront her one last time. Calvin Jarrett questions their love and asks whether she is capable of truly loving anyone. Stunned, Beth Jarrett leaves for a while and goes back to Houston. Calvin Jarrett and Conrad are left to come to terms with their new family situation.
‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ is one of the best and most important pictures ever to portray an American middle-class family. Its relentless focus on the father, mother, and son reveals much about marriage, parenthood, and adolescence in the aftermath of traumatic loss. In particular, the film features performances by Mary Tyler Moore, cast against type as the emotionally frigid mother and wife, and Timothy Hutton as the distraught high-schooler that are among the best of their kind. Not incidentally, this film also presents one of the most appealing portraits of psychiatric counselling ever offered on the big screen. Finally, and remarkably, the film has lost none of its power in the forty years since its initial release. Very deserving of the Oscars awarded, and in another year Mary Tyler Moore would almost certainly have received her own deservedly statuette.
Showcasing the underrated talents of both Timothy Hutton and Elizabeth McGovern, not to mention Robert Redford’s supportive directorial skills, for the film ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ and is a bold family drama that is unafraid to tackle the emotional undercurrents affecting us all, it shows only too well the film’s impact upon those who came along afterwards and you will see that this film is for everyone. Absorbing and intimate, the film looks at a real family in crisis. The characters are believable and the emotions raw. Mary Tyler Moore is fantastic in the role of flawed middle-class mother who wants nothing more than things to be perfect. When they're not, she's not up to the task and lets everyone down. In the end, the mother gives up. All-in-all, well worth a watch... it will stick with you forever and become a real favourite. Sometimes using the phrase “one of the best films ever made” does not get used much especially regarding this film in particular.
ORDINARY PEOPLE MUSIC TRACK LIST
Canon in D major (Composed by Johann Pachelbel) (Arranged for mixed voices by Noel Goemanne) (Additional arrangement by Jean-François Paillard)
FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLO (uncredited) (Traditional) [Sung by all at the party]
(I Never Promised You A) ROSE GARDEN (1969) (uncredited) (Written by Joe South) [Sung a cappella a bit by Judd Hirsch]
WHAT I DID FOR LOVE (uncredited) (Music by Marvin Hamlisch) (Lyrics by Ed Kleban) [Portion Performed by Mary Tyler Moore and others at party]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – The ‘Paramount Presents’ Blu-ray release of ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation of the film from a new 4K film transfer overseen by Robert Redford, with its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. This newly remastered presentation looks spectacular as a whole and offers a clean, sharp and nicely detailed presentation from start to finish. Never suffering from any unexpected issues or troubles to be uncovered throughout, while still retaining plenty of grain and welcome elements of its original film source, it holds up splendidly and offers a rewarding presentation that never disappoints. Overall, this is a fantastic new high definition video presentation that should easily thrill fans of this outstanding film.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The ‘Paramount Presents’ Blu-ray release of ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ features a 2.0 Dolby TrueHD Stereo Audio soundtrack. This audio presentation delivers a clean, crisp and well balanced audio presentation throughout. It captures the music, dialogue and other auditory elements splendidly and keeps them from ever overpowering or contradicting one another; always ensuring that any dialogue or other key audio elements that might be occurring simultaneously with others remain clean, sharp and fully audible with no problems arising throughout. Overall, this is a very solid 2.0 Dolby TrueHD Stereo Audio soundtrack that delivers nicely across the board and shouldn’t disappoint in the slightest.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Swimming In The Rose Garden [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [10:55] In this new featurette, we get meet and hear from a much older Academy Award® winning actor Timothy Hutton reflecting about his experience in the ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ film, and appearing in the film as Conrad Jarrett and informs us that he was aware of the amazing novel “Ordinary People” by the author Judith Guest and after he had read the amazing novel, he heard that they were going to make a film of the novel, and also heard it was going to be directed by Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton’s agent called his to inform him they were doing auditions for the film and went along to the audition. Timothy Hutton then goes on to talk about his character Conrad Jarrett and was the same age as the character when filming started and felt the script was totally brilliant and very moving and also very disturbing, and he felt Robert Redford as a director was really great, because he felt Robert Redford was a great communicator and made you feel like a better communicator with his character, and Robert Redford did this with all the other actors. Timothy Hutton says that although everyday he would say hello to everyone on set, especially to the other actors, but got no reaction back from anyone, and did not feel connected to anyone and felt they were very distance. But of course Timothy Hutton later found out that Robert Redford told the other actors and some of the crew to isolate Timothy Hutton so he would get into his character, and that is why Timothy Hutton was able to portray his very trouble character Conrad Jarrett the way Robert Redford wanted the actor to be that character 100%. But of course out of this, Timothy Hutton was so grateful towards Robert Redford, as Timothy Hutton was able to act out his troubled character Conrad Jarrett as Robert Redford wanted from the actor. The only actor Timothy Hutton was in a lot of scenes with was Judd Hirsch and feels that Robert Redford wanted it that way because of the amount of screen time the two actors were together and of course relates to the story in a big way, and Timothy Hutton feels he had a great time and memories working with the actor Judd Hirsch. Timothy Hutton talks fondly about the actress Mary Tyler Moore and although acting with the actress was very formal and slightly detached, which again was due to Robert Redford asking the actress to not be emotional towards Timothy Hutton because of his character and of course it worked, it was when they finished filming Timothy Hutton got to know the actress Mary Tyler Moore much more personal and found the actress to be a very warm and kind person, but informed Timothy Hutton that she was very nervous playing her character, but again in real life found Mary Tyler Moore a really wonderful person. Timothy Hutton talks about the scene with his brother on the upturned sailing boat in the raging storm, but in reality it was filmed on the backlot of Paramount in a giant water feature, and of course in reality when filming that scene that all safety features were a priority. Timothy Hutton now talks about being at the 53rd Academy Awards ceremony and also a lot of the actors from the film were there also and it was like some kind of reunion as such, and remembers that Jack Lemmon and Mary Tyler Moore were up on the stage handing out the Oscar statues and said that at one point Mary Tyler Moore looked in the direction of Timothy Hutton and announced his name that he had won an Oscar and it is something he will never forget. Throughout the interview with Timothy Hutton we get clips from the film, as well still images with Timothy Hutton and direct Robert Redford and all in all this was a really lovely featurette with the actor Timothy Hutton and well worth a look.
Special Feature: Feeling Is Not Selective [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:35] Here we get to meet the wonderful Acclaimed American novelist Judith Guest being interviewed in her home by the producer to talk about the film ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ and is asked “So you receive a letter one day in the mail . . .” and laughs out loud, and says, “Yes I did,” and thought it was a joke letter from Robert Redford, but then read it again, and realised the letter was for real and genuine, and also showed the letter to her teacher Julie about the project to make a film of her novel “Ordinary People,” and about a week later and was contacted by Robert Redford on the phone and still didn’t believe it was the real Robert Redford when Judith Guest spoke to him on the phone, and Robert Redford assured Judith Guest it was the real Robert Redford and informed Judith Guest that he was really keen to make a movie of her novel and he suggested he flies out to meet Judith Guest in person and was worried that she might not recognise Robert Redford at the airport, but of course when Robert Redford got off the airplane, Judith Guest actually recognised Robert Redford and felt slightly silly and embarrassed when she came face to face with Robert Redford and of course actually recognised it was the actual Robert Redford, and tells Judith Guest that movie is going to be big, and Judith Guest says, “He should know, because he is Robert Redford.” Judith Guest says that she was involved a great deal with the script writer Alvin Sargent and says that he was a great guy and got along with him a great deal and a lot of fun discussing ideas. What also happened is that Alvin Sargent suggested things to add to the script that was not in her novel, and Judith Guest liked that a lot and felt it added a lot to the film. Judith Guest thought Timothy Hutton was perfect for Conrad Jarrett and got on very well with the actor and they talked a lot and especially for Timothy Hutton to get his character right like in the novel and to honour Judith Guest’s novel, but Robert Redford had to again intervene and had to speak to Judith Guest and not to speak to Timothy Hutton anymore, as Robert Redford wanted the actor to be totally isolated so he gets into his character 100% so Judith Guest respected Robert Redford intervention and Judith Guest only spoke to Timothy Hutton now and again, but not about his character or anything to do with the movie. Judith Guest was invited by Robert Redford to view the first screening of the film, but it was the rough cut and when the film had finished, Robert Redford asked Judith Guest what she thought of the film she had just viewed, and to pull no punches and to give an honest answer of the film, and told Robert Redford that she really loved the film and thought it was great and Robert Redford was really surprised. But what Robert Redford was constantly getting fed up with hearing why didn’t he invite Judith Guest to the Academy Awards ceremony, but Judith Guest was oaky about it, and felt she would have been with a lot of strangers who also did not know who she was, apart from the director and some of the actors in the film, but Judith Guest did not miss out, because they had an Oscar party with all her friends and neighbours and had three televisions and had a really great time watching the 53rd Academy Awards ceremony, and all in all Judith Guest and friends had a really great night. But out of this, Judith Guest felt the film was a good translation of her novel and at that point in the interview ended and it was really great meeting Judith Guest as the novelist is a really lovely fun lady and also very interesting and is well worth viewing this special featurette.
Theatrical Trailer [1980] [1080i] [1.78:1] [2:29] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ and the film's original preview heralds “an extraordinary story of ordinary people.”
Finally, ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ is a very special and poignant film about growing up and family life that help us gain a fresh perspective on our own adolescence and adulthood. ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ is a hard-hitting film about emotional honesty. It's about the courage and emotional vocabulary that are necessary for the connections and intimacy we need to be able to survive challenges like the tragedy faced by this family. The characters represent a wide variety of approaches and abilities to emotional openness and “control.” Conrad and Calvin are both groping their way toward a better understanding of themselves and others and the ability to communicate. ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE’ is a film that works on several levels. It is a sensitive portrait of a young man struggling to regain his equilibrium after caving in to grief and guilt following his brother's death. The story also works as an incisive portrait of a hurting family — one in which surface calm conceals a real lack of communication, self-esteem, and mutual understanding. Finally, the drama presents an edifying example of humanistic psychology at its best. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
