Ordinary People is becoming the newest addition to the Paramount Presents line with its Blu-ray release from Paramount Home Entertainment. The special features include new interviews, and we have an exclusive clip of star Timothy Hutton opening up on winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In the video, which you can watch below, Hutton details receiving the award from co-star Mary Tyler Moore, as well as how Robert Redford stopped him from falling on stage.
"The thing I remember is, Mary Tyler Moore and Jack Lemmon were presenting the Best Supporting Actor award," Hutton says in the clip, recalling the moment his name was announced as the winner by Moore. "Before she said my name, she was standing up on stage with Jack Lemmon, and before she said my name, she looked directly at me, and then said my name. And it's just something I'll never forget. It was kind of amazing."
The night could have gotten much more awkward if not for Redford. As Hutton also shares in the video, he caught his foot on a tiny step and came very close to falling down, a moment that would have certainly soiled his big win. Fortunately, Redford was there to catch Hutton at "just the right moment" to prevent that from happening, something else the actor can still very clearly remember.
Ordinary People pulled in three other Oscars beyond Hutton's award for Best Supporting Actor, also garnering Best Picture, Best Director for Redford, and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. The acclaimed movie's new 4K film transfer was overseen by Redford and the release comes in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. Joining Hutton to deliver new interviews about the film is Judith Guest, the author of the original novel that inspired the adaptation.
In the film, "alienated teenager Conrad Jarrett (Timothy Hutton) attempts suicide, tormented by guilt following the death of his older brother, Buck, in a sailing accident. Returning home following an extended stay in a psychiatric hospital, Conrad tries to deal with his mental anguish and also reconnect with his mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), who has grown cold and angry, and his emotionally wounded father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland), with the help of his psychiatrist, Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch)."
Ordinary People's Blu-ray Release Includes All-New Interviews
For Hutton, Ordinary People was special as it marked his feature film debut as an actor. The Oscar win for his role, which Hutton opens up on in the clip above, also established Hutton as the youngest person to win in the category. His performance, along with those of co-stars Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore, have been widely acclaimed.
The new special features in the Blu-ray release are listed below.
- Swimming in the Rose Garden — In this new featurette, Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Timothy Hutton reflects on filming Ordinary People and the intriguing approach director Robert Redford took to create a feeling of isolation on set.
- Feeling is Not Selective — Acclaimed American novelist Judith Guest discusses her novel and the process involved in adapting it for film.
- Theatrical Trailer
Ordinary People releases on Blu-ray on March 29, 2022, courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.