On Golden Pond          

By Tom Keogh

Writer Ernest Thompson, who came up with the original stage play of On Golden Pond and adapted it for film, is lucky to have two giants of the screen give dignity and breadth to his sometimes trite dialogue. Henry Fonda, in his last role, plays a prickly English professor at the disagreeable age of 80. Visiting his summer house by a Maine lake with his wife (Katharine Hepburn), the old man forges an unlikely bond with a lonely boy, comes to terms with his daughter (Jane Fonda), and suffers disorienting effects of mild dementia. Even playing a tired old man, Fonda is an absolute lion of a movie star, and Hepburn brings her special spirit to the part of his worried bride. The onscreen relationship between Henry and Jane Fonda naturally makes one think about their much-discussed difficulties offscreen, but that's a side benefit in a movie that is really just a celebration of simple human decency. Directed by Mark Rydell (Harry and Walter Go to New York).

Academy Awards

On Golden Pond received Academy Award nominations for Actor (Henry Fonda), Actress (Katharine Hepburn), and Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium; Ernest Thompson). It also received nominations for Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), Directing (Mark Rydell), Cinematography (Billy Williams), Film Editing (Robert L. Wolfe), Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Score; Dave Grusin), and Sound (Richard Portman, David Ronne).

Share Your Memories!

Is On Golden Pond one of your favorite movies? What do you remember about it? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)

		Your Memories Shared!

"I was a freshman in college and went to see this movie alone one Saturday afternoon to escape studying. I remember loving the cinematography, music and beautiful outdoor scenes. Even at 18, the movie evoked deep feelings and emotions of growing old and the fear of dying. It is a touching story about life. It has become a wonderful classic that I still enjoy today at 38." --Anonymous