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Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman ... see more see more... , William Lanteau , Chris Rydell

There's little that happens in On Golden Pond that isn't thoroughly predictable from the start, but the film is blessed with so much star power, charm and honest sentiment that everyone in the audienc... read more read more...e is willing to ignore the cliches and go the distance. In his last film, Henry Fonda plays Norman Thayer, a cranky 80-year-old retired professor, making his annual pilgrimage with his wife Katharine Hepburn (in her only teaming with Henry Fonda) to their New England summer cottage. Their solitude is interrupted when the couple's daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda) arrives with her fiance Bill (Dabney Coleman) and his son Doug McKeon in tow. It takes a while, but Jane Fonda and Coleman, about to go on a vacation of their own, persuade Henry Fonda and Hepburn to take care of McKeon. Henry Fonda and the kid dislike each other from Square One, and it looks as though this summer (which may very well be Henry Fonda's last) will be a depressing experience. Gradually, Henry Fonda and McKeon grow to love one another; their bond is strengthened during a near-fatal accident while fishing. It is through the warm relationship between Henry Fonda and the boy that the old man and his daughter Jane Fonda are at last able to display affection towards each other--the first time they've done so in years. Gorgeously photographed by Billy Williams, On Golden Pond is a wonderful valedictory for Henry Fonda, who died not long after the film's completion; Katharine Hepburn has less to do, but few can do so much with so little. Academy Awards were bestowed upon Henry Fonda, Hepburn, and screenwriter Ernest Thompson (who adapted the film from his stage play). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

84% liked it

19,532 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

23 critics

PG, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Mark Rydell

Release Date: December 4, 1981

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2001

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Stats: 1,054 reviews

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Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond On Golden Pond Jane Fonda, Henry Fonda & Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond On Golden Pond Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond Henry Fonda & Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond Jane fonda & Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond On Golden Pond Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond
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Flixster Reviews (1,054)

  • fb733768972
    August 29, 2011
    fb733768972
    On Golden Pond may have a very straight forward story about a couple growing old together as they now live on "Golden Pond", a quite little place on the water where family and friends come to visit. As their daughter brings her new fiance to visit, they are blessed with a 13 year... read more old grandson, who is a stubborn little kid at first sight, but as charming as anyone could possibly be on the inside. The performances are significantly brilliant and the actions of each character will have you in a universe of mixed emotions. For Norman Thayer, his life is not too far from finished and he will do anything with his arrogant comedic-like attitude to relive his childhood by becoming best friends with his grandson. This truly is a basic story, but the writing, the acting, the events, and the outcome is so touching and moving that I can call it a masterpiece. This is surely "cinema" in all it's glory.
  • FrizzDrop
    November 16, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    With the subject matter circulating around death, failed relationships, and troubled families it would seem that this would be a shouting match waiting to happen. Instead the plot plays coy, reeling you in with the calm wooded surroundings and the fraility of Ethel and Norman in ... read moretheir ripe old age. The underscored drama is just fodder for what is to happen: a coming of age bonding that supplements from Tuesday with Morrie to wow the audience with the family friendly fair all grown up. A wonderful film if ever I saw one.
  • arashxak
    April 10, 2009
    arashxak
    Nauseous feel-good wannabe crap
  • JennifairyW
    September 10, 2008
    JennifairyW
    "Everyone looks back on their childhood with a certain amount of bitterness and regret? It doesn't have to ruin your life darling!"
  • movieguru12
    July 28, 2008
    movieguru12
    An Exellent feel-good movie!
  • sainttom93
    March 1, 2008
    sainttom93
    talk about a tender movie -- this is the other side of Kate --
  • jennifxu
    September 15, 2007
    jennifxu
    Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn evoke that old-school Hollywood glamour that just charms the pants off this movie. Jane Fonda didn't impress me but I read somewhere that there were a lot of parallels between the father-daughter relationship of her character and her own life. Wh... read moreich was kind of interesting. Yay for Henry Fonda winning a well-deserved Oscar! Old poop.
  • danperry17
    August 23, 2007
    danperry17
    No one creates tension like Henry Fonda: everything he touches is so terse, as a viewer, you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is a good film - a little hoky, but a solid adaptation of the play, which always seems cornier. This was Fonda's last role, and what a way... read more to go out - starring with Katharine Hepburn (whose performance is also solid) and his daughter too - he won the academy award for best actor, and died within five months. Class ending for a class act.
  • binky013
    December 26, 2006
    binky013
    I think it might be true that the older you get the more this movie may mean to you. Fonda and Hepburn light up the screen. Minus one star for the harming of worms and fish. You'd think in a movie where impending death is a prominent theme that they'd be more sensitive to this... read more issue. Poor Walter. Catch and release is not kind.
  • deano
    November 15, 2006
    deano
    Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn made their great performance as the oldest and loving couple.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
June 7, 2011
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

When it sometimes seems the whole society has spiritually decamped for Tinseltown, the movie offers the hope that people can come home again-at least for a visit. Full Review

Variety Staff
February 4, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Without question, these are major, meaty roles for Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, and there could have been little doubt that the two would work superbly together. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Watching the movie, I felt I was witnessing something rare and valuable. Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

On Golden Pond is a mixed blessing, but it offers one performance of rare quality and three others that are very good. That's not half-bad. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The cinematic equivalent of shrink-wrapping, in which all of the ideas, feelings, characters, and images are neatly separated and hermetically sealed to prevent spoilage, abrasion, or any contact with... Full Review

Randy White
January 2, 2011
Randy White, Common Sense Media

Valuable lessons in loving one's family members. Full Review

February 4, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Fonda was 75 when this picture was made and must have known he didn't have much time. There could have been no finer final curtain for him than this. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 11, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

This family melodrama about aging, mortality, and reconciliation is more significant as a social than artistic event: It's the only teaming of Henry Fonda (who won an Oscar) with daughter Jane (who pr... Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Two of Hollywood's best-loved veterans deserved a far better swan song than this sticky confection. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
April 3, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Wonderful to get one last sweet visit with Mr. Fonda and Ms. Hepburn.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Ethel Thayer: Sometimes you have to look hard at a person, and realize he's doing the best he can.
    • Ethel Thayer: Come here, Norman. Hurry up. The loons! The loons! They're welcoming us back.
    • Ethel Thayer: Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!
    • Chelsea Thayer Wayne: Billy: I heard ya turned 80 today. Norman: That what ya heard? Billy: Man, that's....really old Norman: You should meet my father! Billy: Your father's still alive? Norman: No, but you should meet himk!
  • love, life, live
  • epic, love, warm, life
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On Golden Pond Trivia

  • "Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!"  Answer »
  • Top 100 Movie Quotes Which 1981 movie has the quote "Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!"?   Answer »
  • What is the last movie Henry Fonda is credited with acting in?  Answer »
  • In the film On Golden Pond (1981), Dabney Coleman and Doug McKeon played father and son characters called what?  Answer »
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