How had I never seen On Golden Pond before? This is a movie from 1981 and for some reason, it had never come across my radar. I was looking at past Academy Award winners for best actor and it was Henry Fonda’s win that brought this to my attention. I watched the movie and I was honestly stunned by how great it was. The kind of movie that really does hit you in the feels.
How to Download On Golden Pond
On Golden Pond was released on December 4, 1981. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
I did some digging around after the movie ended as I wanted to know more about it. I learned that it was Jane Fonda (who is also in the movie but check her out also in 9 to 5) who wanted to bring this play to life for her father. She saw him as the lead character of Norman and I honestly could not think of anyone else who could have done this better. He won the Best Actor Academy Award and sadly, this would be his last theatrical role.
A Story of Family, Aging, and Second Chances
This is a drama about an elderly couple called Norman and Ethel Thayer. The Thayer’s have a place on a lake in New England where they spend summers and the movie sees us spending the summer with them. Ethel is like a bright light, very vibrant, chirpy, and trying to see the best in everything. Norman is a bit on the grouchy side and sadly, he appears to be in the early stages of dementia.
While at the lake, their daughter, Chelsea arrives with her boyfriend Bill and Billy, Bill’s 13 year old son. Things are a bit frosty between Chelsea and Norman, you can tell that there is some kind of history here. I will say that Jane and Henry Fonda playing an on-screen father and daughter is fantastic and these two work so well together.
A Bond Between Generations
Chelsea asks her parents if they can look after Billy for the summer as they want to go on vacation together and have some alone time. Billy is not happy about having to spend his summer with these old people that he does not know, but Norman says that he can stay.
At first, Billy and Norman clash, but they soon bond together while fishing as Norman tells Billy about a fish called Walter that is his arch nemesis that he has always tried to catch. Norman also introduces Billy to some classic books and we get to see a very nice relationship between the two of them blossom. Despite all this though, Norman’s aging body and dementia are always there in the background.
An Unforgettable Cast and Performance
Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn are just incredible as Norman and Ethel, they truly do feel like a real couple who have spent a lifetime together and you can tell that they really do love each other. Young Doug McKeon also gives a great performance and he has a fantastic chemistry with Henry Fonda. I was really surprised to see that Doug McKeon did not have this huge career after this, but I guess that is the case for many child actors.
Final Thoughts on On Golden Pond
I am not sure what else I can say about On Golden Pond apart from that I truly think it is as close to perfect as you can get. There is honestly nothing at all about this movie that I did not like! The acting is great, the story has a ton of heart and I loved the setting. I watched this on a free streaming service (with ads I might add) and I 100 percent am getting the Blu-Ray of this to add to my collection.
