Trivia / On Golden Pond

• Channel Hop: This was one of a batch of films sold by ITC Entertainment to Universal for theatrical distribution after several box office bombs decimated their joint venture with EMI, Associated Film Distribution. Universal continues to hold theatrical distribution rights to this and other films, but other rights have reverted to ITV Studios, current owners of the ITC library.
• Dawson Casting: At one point Ethel states that she’s in her sixties but was portrayed by then 74 year old Katherine Hepburn.
• Enforced Method Acting: Jane Fonda was able to cry because Katharine Hepburn was hiding in the bushes shaking her fists to get her to emote.
• Real-Life Relative: Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda as Norman and Chelsea in the film version. It was their only joint screen appearance. Jane's son Troy Garity appears as the boy on the jetty.
• Reality Subtext: Chelsea and her father never got along, and she feels that he never gave her love or attention. This is how Jane Fonda felt about her father, and was the main reason she wanted to do the film in the first place.
• Self-Adaptation: Ernest Thompson wrote the film adaptation from his own stage play.
• Underage Casting: They celebrate Norman’s 80th birthday, but Henry Fonda was 76 at the time of filming. Sadly he died just a year later and never made it to 80.
• What Could Have Been:
  • James Stewart was interested in playing Norman Thayer.
  • Barbara Stanwyck was on call to replace Katharine Hepburn in the event Hepburn was unable to appear in the film due to the surgery she had undergone just prior to production. Greer Garson was also considered.

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