Ragtime is the first film role of Samuel L. Jackson.
Ragtime is a 1981 American drama film , directed by Miloš Forman , based on 1975 historical novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow . The film features the final film appearances of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien ; early appearances , in small parts , by Samuel L. Jackson , Jeff Daniels , Fran Drescher , Ethan Phillips and John Ratzenberger ; and an uncredited appearance from Jack Nicholson .