Michael Elliott
Senior HTF Member
On Golden Pond
:star::star::star::star:/:star::star::star::star:
Studio: Artisan
Year: 1981
Rated: PG
Film Length: 109 minutes
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English
Retail Price: $19.95
On Golden Pond is a somewhat legendary film that has become legendary due to many things. For one, Henry Fonda won his only Best Actor Oscar for his performance, which teamed him up with his daughter Jane. Katharine Hepburn also won her fourth Academy Award for this film, which is a record she still holds to this very day. Finally on a sad note, this was the last theatrical film that the legendary Henry Fonda would ever appear in and as swan songs go, there isn’t a sweeter one out there.
Norman and Ethyl Thayer (Fonda/Hepburn) are an elderly couple who are going to spend the summer at their house down by the pond. They’ve been coming here for years but Norman feels that this could be his last trip to one of his favorite places on Earth. Norman was always a bitter man but over the past few years he has become even more bitter now that he is starting to think about death. His wife Ethyl on the other hand rarely thinks about death and is becoming quite angry at Norman for only thinking about it.
On his eightieth birthday their daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda) comes by for a visit and brings her new boyfriend (Dabney Coleman) as well as his 13-year-old son Billy (Doug McKeon). For Chelsea this is a return to hell because she has never gotten along with her father and Norman does his best to throw insults her way. Since Chelsea and her boyfriend want to travel to Europe, Norman and Ethyl agree to look after Billy for a month. At first the young kid isn’t too happy about spending time with an older couple but soon he and Norman become friends and the two start learning from one another.
From the opening credits of On Golden Pond the viewer should know every step this movie is going to take. They should expect the feisty old man to have a change of heart and they should expect a bunch of tender moments to go with the laughs. I really can’t say there’s anything new with On Golden Pond but from those opening credits to the close, this is without a doubt one of the sweetest and most enlightening films ever made. Everyone has their own ideas of beauty but I think this film captures all the spirits of life and rolls them together for one incredible movie that won’t be easy to forget.
Although the story is pretty predictable that really isn’t a negative comment because this is a showcase for its stars Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. These two legendary actors turn in some of the finest work in their careers, which is one of the most charming things about the picture. Fonda, in pretty much his swan song, turns in a performance that ranks right up there with classics like 12 Angry Men and Once Upon a Time in the West. There isn’t a false step to be spotted anywhere. From the opening scenes of him complaining about life to his rather mean spirited sense of humor, everything comes off without a hitch. This is a role an actor can really sink their teeth into and Fonda simply shines in one of his most unforgettable characters. The scenes with his character and Hepburn are wonderfully touching but most important they feel all too real. The stuff with the younger kid makes for some wonderful laughs because you’ve got a feisty old man and a feisty younger kid finding that they have something in common. Then there’s Fonda’s relationship with his daughter, which is the most predictable aspect of the film yet it’s also the most heartwarming. We see the ending coming from a mile away but because Fonda has created a full dimensional person we can’t wait until that ending comes and when it does tears will fill your eyes.
Hepburn on the other hand is the perfect companion and also gives her character a full dimension to her, which makes us know every little thing about her. Whenever she’s upset with her husband that anger shows through but instead of a boring monologue we can see exactly what she’s feeling just by looking at her eyes and her body movement. There’s a brilliant scene between her and Jane Fonda at the end of the film, which shows exactly why Hepburn was loved by so many. Jane Fonda also turns in a nice performance, although her character’s basically just here for the ending with her father. Seeing the real life father and daughter working together just makes the film seem all the more real. Doug McKeon also adds wonderful support and makes a perfect buddy to Henry Fonda.
On Golden Pond might not be the greatest film ever made but as I said earlier it’s one of the sweetest films and most of the most touching. What I enjoyed most about the film, other than the performances, was how natural the movie felt. There isn’t a single false moment in the film, which is something very rare especially in today’s world. The movie has a little bit of everything, which is exactly what life offers and that’s exactly what the film is about. There are tears, serious speeches, heartache, pain, laughs, good times and most importantly there are friends. On Golden Pond is wonderfully entertaining and most importantly it’s a movie that will keep a smile on your face throughout. Not too many movies can offer so much emotions yet they are all captured in this one little film about an old couple spending time at a cherished pond.
VIDEO---The movie is shown widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 TVs. The picture quality here is a slight step up from the previous release although there are still a few problems. The biggest problem is some dirt, which appears during a few of the brighter moments. Most of this is noticeable whenever the sky is shown. The darker scenes in the film look very good and the natural lighting makes for some solid blacks. The outdoor scenes also look wonderful with rich colors. There are a few speckles and a couple scenes have a few lines running down the frame but there’s no major damage to report.
AUDIO---We get the original Dolby Digital Surround (sounds like a pure Mono) plus a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of remixing everything ever created but Artisan has done a wonderful job with this 5.1 track. Right from the opening credits you fans will be in for a pleasant shock because the music score sounds wonderful coming from the speakers and the Surrounds perfectly show off some of the smaller noises like the birds. The dialogue is upfront and packs a nice little punch.
EXTRAS---First up is an audio commentary with director Mark Rydell, which was also on the previous release. The director is very soft spoken but he comments on all sorts of good things. The most interesting talk of course is when he speaks of Fonda and Hepburn. Up next is a second audio commentary with writer Ernest Thompson, which is also a fun listen. He talks a lot about the original script and his thoughts when all the talent was gathered. Up next is “Reflections on Golden Pond”, which is a thirty minute piece about cinematographer Billy Williams. This is a rather boring piece but there are a few interesting comments made about the filming of the movie. Finally we get “A Woman of Substance: Katharine Hepburn”, which runs fifteen minutes and is a nice little tribute. We get interviews with several directors that worked with her as well as film critic Richard Schickel.
The documentary that was on the previous disc isn’t included here for some reason, which is a shame considering it was one of the best out there. Another interesting note is that the theatrical trailer from the previous release wasn’t carried over to this. On the back of the cover they don’t list the director’s commentary but it is here. The press release I got didn’t have it listed either so who knows what was going on at Artisan. Hopefully there were right issues with the documentary and the studio didn’t just forget to add it.
OVERALL---This is easily one of the most memorable and heartwarming films ever made so on that level this is a must buy. Those with the old disc will want the upgrade due to the new and better anamorphic transfer and the wonderful 5.1 track. The new extras are nice but I would have preferred the documentary that was on the original release.
Release Date: December 16, 2003
