1981: ‘On Golden Pond’ Debuts in Theaters

Jane Fonda purchased the screenplay rights to Ernest Thompson’s play, On Golden Pond for her to play alongside her father, Henry Fonda. The story involved a longtime rift between an elderly father and his daughter, something that was similar to the Fonda’s relationship in real life. The movie also starred Katharine Hepburn, Doug McKeon and Dabney Coleman. Directed by Mark Rydell, the film opened on this day in 1981. There is scene where the grandfather and grandson hit their boat against some rocks which damaged the boat, but the studio had to shoot the scene many times because the sturdy boat just wouldn’t break on cue. On Golden Pond was the second-highest grossing movie of 1981 following Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won three for Best Actor (Fonda), Best Actress (Hepburn) and Best Screenplay Based on Another Medium. It also won three Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture: Drama, Best Actor (Fonda) and Best Screenplay.