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Why was Robert Altman removed from the planned film adaptation of Ragtime?

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Film director Robert Altman stands with arms crossed in a yellow jacket and white cap among crew and equipment on the set of Thieves Like Us. — Robert Altman Robert Altman.

Robert Altman was removed from the planned film adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's novel Ragtime following the commercial and critical failure of his 1976 film, Buffalo Bill and the Indians; or, Sitting Bull’s History Lesson.1

Despite having his largest budget to date for that project, the film's poor reception led to the cancellation of his contract for Ragtime, which was eventually directed by Miloš Forman.1