On Golden Pond

Released 1981
Stars Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman
Directed by Mark Rydell

Screen legend Henry Fonda passed away fifteen years ago in 1982 and in all the time that has passed since his death, he will be remembered by many in this generation for his last film which brought him his long awaited Academy Award for Best Actor the year he died and that film is director Mark Rydell's 'On Golden Pond'. At the 1982 Academy Awards celebrating the films of 1981 his daughter Jane (who herself retired from film acting in 1990 with 'Stanley and Iris') accepted on his behalf and truly delivered moments of gracious respect for her father and shared her father's feelings about the award and his appreciation in winning it. It is one of Oscar's finest moments in the last two decades.

Set at a summer lakefront home in Maine, 'On Golden Pond' tells the story of an elderly couple (Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn) who share time together at their summer retreat and await a visit from their daughter (Jane Fonda) who will join them in celebrating Henry Fonda's 80th birthday in the film. The relationship between the two Fondas in the film is a rocky one as she refers to her father on a first name basis and brings along the man she will marry (Dabney Coleman) and his young son (Doug McKeon). The film is centred primarily on the relationship between Henry Fonda and Doug McKeon as their 67 year age difference makes for an interesting and strangely compatible character study.

Summary by Walter Frith