On Golden Pond is a film that delves into the relationship between daughter and father, which mirrors Henry and Jane Fonda's real-life relationship to some degree (according to Jane). It's warm, beautiful, and sentimental in a good way. Interestingly enough, Henry Fonda will win an Academy Award for his work, but passes away not long after his daughter Jane accepts it at the Academy Awards. Beautifully photographed in a wonderful area in central New Hampshire and in a real house on the lake, altered for the film, then kept by the owner after the production concluded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Golden_Pond_(1981_film)#:~:text=Anthony%20Michael%20Hall%20auditioned%20for,Lake%20in%20Holderness%2C%20New%20Hampshire.

A beautiful film with great acting, fine direction, a bucolic setting and a gorgeous score. The only criticisms are about the theme, because the movie is intentionally sentimental and moving. I find that view puzzling. Horror movies are intended to be scary, comedies funny and sappy tearjerkers are supposed to be sappy tearjerkers. I personally feel these criticisms are coming from people who are simply uncomfortable with being moved to tears. Many people are. Some people called this movie “manipulative.” That’s taking it a bit far, but they aren’t exactly wrong. The movie is deliberately sad and moving. If it was absurd, or wasn’t realistic or believable, those criticisms would make more sense. It’s almost as if the movie being successfully moving is precisely what some viewers didn’t like. Henry Fonda is perfect as cantankerous octogenarian, Norman Thayer. The cast is excellent, and the realism generated by Jane Fonda and her father in many ways portraying their own relationship is memorable. I love the lake. I grew up visiting a lake every summer with my family and now I live part time at the same lake. I may adore this movie in part because I see myself in Norman Thayer, retiring to the calm beauty of the lake in 20 years.

What can you say everything about it was perfect from the setting on a lake, a star laden cast and reuniting Henry and daughter Jane in a movie. Hepburn as usual made it all work softening any negative elements plus providing her usual spark of energy. Jane a star in her prime melding effortlessly in a lesser role to the two powerhouses because it was necessary to make it all work.

On Golden Pond transcends the boundaries of conventional storytelling, offering a profound exploration of life's intricate tapestry through the intertwined journeys of its two legendary leads, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Their on-screen chemistry elevates the film, capturing the tender realities of aging, memory, and the enduring nature of human connection. Henry Fonda delivers a performance imbued with quiet introspection—a blend of strength and vulnerability that invites the audience to reflect on a lifetime of experiences. Alongside him, Katharine Hepburn offers a portrayal that is both graceful and powerful. Her nuanced performance radiates warmth and wisdom, capturing the essence of a character who embodies both resilience and grace in the face of life's inevitable challenges. Beyond its superb acting, the film is a visual and auditory feast. The breathtaking scenery serves as a symbolic backdrop that mirrors the internal landscapes of its characters, echoing themes of time, transformation, and renewal. Complementing the visual narrative is a beautifully composed soundtrack, whose subtle yet evocative motifs deepen the emotional resonance of each scene. In essence, On Golden Pond is not merely a film—it is an immersive reflection on the human experience. With masterful performances from Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn, the movie invites viewers to ponder their own journeys through life, the passage of time, and the enduring impact of genuine human connection.

Slow, but a good story. Great acting

A heartfelt portrayal of advancing age and the realization of the value of relationships, and the sheer beauty of the simple wonders of life. Henry Fonda's performance is particularly wonderful; straightforward, humorous, discovering, wistful. Check your preconceived notions, use your imagination, and lose yourself in the rich moments and emotions.

Reading through reviews of this movie, there seem to be two sorts of folks who criticize it: those who are too cool to admit sometimes a story can be straight forward, sentimental, and simple and still work; and the sort of folks who are getting old, themselves, and seem to hate the film because it reminds them of that fact. I'm 60; no youngster by any means. But On Golden Pond doesn't scare me nor make me want to gag. I appreciate the simplicity. And in this day and age of franchises and the gulp of CGI swallowing verisimilitude whole and without shame, On Golden Pond reminds me there once was a time when people could sit still for a couple hours without their endorphin meters continuously pegged.

On Golden Pond came out the year after I was born. I remember watching it with my Grandmother from the time that I was around 4. I lost her just over a year ago, so On Golden Pond will forever be a reminder of her. It is such a funny, heartwarming film that will leave you longing for a simpler time when family and friends were more important than smartphones and celebrity gossip. You need to watch this before you crossover to the spiritual world. 😀

I hadn't seen this movie since it was first released and was too young to appreciate it. 42 years later, I'm a lot more appreciative of this wonderful film. Hepburn is superb and Henry Fonda shines in one of his greatest roles.

This film was average 🤏

"Oh, Billy is the happiest thing that's happened to Norman since Roosevelt. I should have rented him a 13-year-old boy years ago." How did that make it through the writing room without some kind of revision? As a film on aging, parts of On Golden Pond feel pretty solid, including a pair of legendary lead actors that still shine in their golden years and a few entertaining, biting zingers from Fonda's Norman, a man whose primary character trait is morose sarcasm. But the story and character development are wildly inconsistent, including a father-daughter rectification that is awkwardly dropped in at the end of the film, and a dynamic between Norman and Doug McKeon's Billy that swings back and forth between idyllic and laughably rocky without ever feeling very original. When Fonda and Hepburn are allowed to sweetly chastise each other with gentle familiarity, their dynamic really elevates the film, but the character arcs would have been less predictable and obvious if they were spelled out in six-foot tall neon letters. (2/5)

It's actually fascinating how such a simple story and plot can bring up several meaningful and relatable themes. I found myself really paying attention to Katharine Hepburn's words, as she is as compelling as ever. Jane and Henry are also endearing in their roles.

Fantastic story and character development. This film is one for the ages. We are always promised that true love means growing old together. Rarely do we see what that looks like. The chemistry of the entire cast is amazing.

A family drama about not hating each other but learning to like each other Directed by Mike Rydell and based on the play this is Henry Fonda's final film role as he stars next to the late Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda At a house near the lake Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend The most unexpected friendship blooms between this old man and this child So it might be the first step for Norman and Chelsea to repair their father/daughter relationship This elderly couple go back and forth about their seniority so it's totally relatable for any senior citizen at this point in their lives Plus with his daughter butting heads it makes for good banter, Chelsea has always been wanting his approval yet she's been too afraid and Norman has been too stubborn It takes time but parents and their children can learn to stop battling one another Both Fondas and Hepburn are spectacular; goes to show that old age can make us think twice about what to do and say before time runs out This film wonderfully explores the twilight years of an enduring marriage, the scenery is so lush and magical, the cast acts so realistically together, and the music has the right amount of emotions Just when there are moments to cry there's a moment to laugh A bit soppy in places but very moving

This was a really solid melodrama and an endearing old-people love story, but I found myself distracted by a medley of surprises for most of the movie's duration. I had only seen the primary actors in this from radically different time periods: the most recent Henry movie I'd seen was from 1943, Hepburn I'd seen in 1967 & Jane I had only seen in a 2018 movie, making all of their appearances/feebleness rather shocking to me, particularly Hepburn as she'd apparently aged quite rapidly after Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. However, the most surprising and disappointing thing of all is that the movie's film score was Oscar-nominated and is #24 on AFI's greatest scores because in my opinion it absolutely sucked. It was pervasive and noticeable in the way that I usually like but it gave an incredibly annoying TV-show feel with every scene transition done exactly like you hear when The Brady Bunch returns from a commercial break. I've heard plenty of bad or undistinguished scores before, but this one was done by a great, Oscar-winning composer and it was acclaimed when it absolutely should not have been, resulting in this being probably my least-favorite film score of all time. Just atrocious. Anyway, there is not a chance in hell I would let my estranged daughter pawn her boyfriend's kid off on me so that they could have a responsibility-free vacation when that's exactly what I'd been planning for myself presumably for months. In the end this was a memorable movie to me, but mostly for the appearances of the stars rather than for its merit.

I saw this in the theatre when it came out and my favorite part of the movie was Doug McKeon. I'll admit it, I had a crush on him. However, I've seen "OGP" many times since then and I've come to appreciate this movie so much. It's beautifully shot and the acting is great. But then again, when you have Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn in the title roles, how could it not be great? It's a sweet story and simply told. I guess as I've gotten older, I understand it a little more than I did when I was swooning over Doug McKeon. As for Doug, he plays his part really well and makes it believable. I like how he bonds with Norman and Ethel through the course of the movie. I didn't care for Jane Fonda but I really liked Dabney Coleman as her boyfriend, Bill. I had forgotten how funny "On Golden Pond" is, but I like the way the humor is placed within the drama.

What a great movie from 1981! Amazing performances by Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Both of them got well deserved Oscars. If you've never seen this movie, please check it out. It's also worth a repeat viewing if you haven't seen it recently. Right now it is streaming on HBO Max

Ok old movie that I'll forget about in 2 seconds.

A beautiful and poignant film, this 1981 classic stars two of cinema's most loved stars, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Supporting the wonderful cast is Henry's daughter, Jane Fonda. This heartwarming classic has the beauty and charm you can see in a great 1980s film, earning Henry Fonda a Best Actor Oscar and Katharine Hepburn a Best Actress Oscar. A wonderful and timeless film.

One of the most Overrated films of all time.