Movie and Aging Project by Crystal Ammons,Andrea Isbell, Laura Sullivan, and Regina Wallace.
Henry Fonda: Norman Thayer, Jr., a retired professor.
Katharine Hepburn: Ethyl Thayer, Norman’s wife.
Jane Fonda: Chelsea Thayer, Norman and Ethyl’s divorced daughter.
Dabney Coleman: Bill Ray, a dentist and Chelsea’s love interest.
Doug McKeon: Billy Ray, Jr., Bill Ray’s 13 year-old son from aprevious marriage.
Directed by Mark Rydell, the film received great acclaim with Fondaand Hepburn both winning Oscars for leading actor and actress.
On Golden Pond tells the story of Norman and Ethyl Thayer, an elderlymarried couple who are visiting their vacation home on Golden Pond tocelebrate Norman’s 80th birthday with their daughter Chelsea, her loveinterest, and his son. Norman is a grumpy old man obsessed with dyingwhile Ethyl is happy and full of positivity. Norman suffers from heartissues and is faced with a dwindling memory and the inability torecognize things that have always been familiar to him. The Thayer’ssummer cottage sits on Golden Pond and the family has been visiting itfor years, seeing it change much like they have. This year is specialbecause Norman is reaching a milestone birthday and Chelsea, whohasn’t visited her parents in several years, will be there to take part. Theappearance of her boyfriend Bill and his 13 year-old son Billy, Jr. takesthe plans of the family in a different direction than expected and onethat will change the relationships of all involved. After celebratingNorman’s birthday, Chelsea and Bill leave the following day to visitEurope for a month. Billy, who has been uprooted from his free-spiritedCalifornia life with his mother is left to spend the time with Norman andEthyl on the Pond. Seeing this is as a negative experience, Billy puts upa shield of attitude and firmly tells Norman that he’s not going to letthem ruin his time there by telling him what to do. To the curmudgeonlyNorman, this is presented as a challenge.
The Thayer’s summer cottage sits on Golden Pond and the family has beenvisiting it for years, seeing it change much like they have. This year isspecial because Norman is reaching a milestone birthday and Chelsea,who hasn’t visited her parents in several years, will be there to take part.The appearance of her boyfriend Bill and his 13 year-old son Billy, Jr.takes the plans of the family in a different direction than expected andone that will change the relationships of all involved. After celebratingNorman’s birthday, Chelsea and Bill visit Europe for a month leavingBilly, who has been uprooted from his free-spirited California life withhis mother, to spend the time with Norman and Ethyl on the Pond.Seeing this is as a negative experience, Billy puts up a shield of attitudeand firmly tells Norman that he’s not going to let them ruin his timethere by telling him what to do. To the curmudgeonly Norman, this ispresented as a challenge. Billy’s time at the pond ends up being verydifferent than he expected. Norman uses his wits to get Billy involved inlife on Golden Pond and soon teaches him to fish. A bond is forgedbetween the two, one that Norman never had with his own daughter.Throughout the film, the two are on a hunt to catch “Walter”, a gianttrout who keeps eluding Norman.
Director Mark Rydell uses the search for“Walter” as a metaphor for Norman’s searchfor peace near the end of his life.