Ragtime

 On this date in 1981, "Ragtime" was released.

The film is notable for introducing numerous actors for whom this was one of their first appearances in an American film: Samuel L. Jackson, Debbie Allen, Jeff Daniels, Andreas Katsulas, Ethan Phillips, Elizabeth McGovern, Stuart Milligan, and John Ratzenberger. Additionally, it was the final film of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. Cagney had not acted in a film for 20 years prior to his appearance in "Ragtime."

Director Milos Forman recruited Cagney, who he had met the year before at a private dinner in Connecticut. He offered Cagney any part he wanted, including (facetiously) Evelyn Nesbitt. According to Forman, Cagney initially agreed to play New York City Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo on two conditions: he would not sign a contract of any kind, and he reserved the right to change his mind and quit the film until three days before shooting began on his scenes.

Cagney had been advised by his doctors and caregivers that making a film at this point in his life was very important for his health. The actor never flew, so he and his wife took an ocean liner to London, where his scenes were filmed. Despite his numerous infirmities, he stayed on set during his fellow actors' close-ups to give them line readings. .Because of the presence of the ailing Cagney, in what became his final big screen appearance, the movie was officially exempted from the long-running actors' strike of the early 1980s. It was the only production to receive that honor.

Cagney was 81 when he filmed this movie. Commissioner Waldo, who he portrayed, was 32 at the time in which the movie was set.