“If you build it, he will come.” This short but significant quote from the movie Field of Dreams has grown a wide spread popularity all around the globe ever since 1989 when it came out in theater's. The historical baseball loving film has left a great effect on certain people. The other viewers that just think it’s a “good” or “okay” movie don’t know about the approach of historical facts behind the film, or how it’s been so successfully responded to by audiences all over.
People can “go the distance” and enjoy the film Field of Dreams much more once they’ve learned the historical background of it. The movie is about pursuing one’s dreams, no matter how much effort it took. It is also based on a book called Shoeless Joe Jackson comes to Iowa. The director Phil Alden Robinson wanted the setting to look just like the book described so readers and viewers could get all the connections. It was filmed in Iowa at a century-old place called Lansing Farm. The baseball field was constructed in three days and the filming lasted fourteen weeks. People do come to visit the farm, and the diamond created for the movie still has the same intentions as it did for the film, a place for peace, relaxation and dreams.
Another historic part of this film is the two men who played the part of legendary baseball star’s Shoeless Joe Jackson and Midnight Graham. Shoeless Joe Jackson played for the White Sox and was pulled away from the World Series for his “Black Sox Scandal”. In the film, Field of Dreams, he is described just as he really was in real life. A deadly hitter and one of the greatest left fielders in the history of baseball. Moonlight Graham, know as Archie Graham, played on the major league team the New York Giants. His story was unique because he retired from professional baseball the same day he made the team because he was the “rookie” and the manager pulled him out five minutes after the game started and he never got to bat against a big league pitcher. He then went on to pursue the rest of his dreams and become a children's physician. In the movie he finally did get his time at bat for just five minutes then when the
little girl gets sick and he becomes a doctor and saves her. Therefore, in the film it was shown on the field that he fulfilled both his dreams he had.
Viewers of this movie have responded greatly. The film became an Academy Award nominee for “Best Picture of the Year.” It was also acknowledged as the sixth best film in the fantasy genre. People come from all over to view the Baseball field movie sight in Iowa. There is even bumper stickers that are seen everywhere that say “Is this heaven? Iowa”. There are several other movies that refer to the certain line in the movie, “If you build it, he will come.” Of course all baseball fanatics have enjoyed this movie and have given it great reviews.
The historical approach to the film Field of Dreams was to honor old baseball legends in a unique way of bringing dreams to reality. It shows that when people believe in fate or signs they fight for something they believe in no matter how much it takes. In this case, it was for the love of baseball.
- Hannah Southern
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I was wondering how much of the story and film was based on actual historic occurrences. I can't say I've ever heard of Shoeless Joe but that might just be because of my general baseball ignorance. I wonder if there's any truth behind Terence Mann..
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ReplyDeleteIt is so true how the quote, "If you build it, he will come", has grown to be a well known movie quote. Ironically, right after Tuesday's class, I asked my peer advisor if he had seen the movie (Field of Dreams); right after I said the movie title he says, "If you bulid it, he will come." By him saying this famous quote, I figured he had seen the movie, but what he told me, was that he actually has never seen the movie and that-that quote is just very well known. He basically explained to me that the quote was something he had heard from around the way; therefore, this shows how popular this movie and quote has came to be.
ReplyDeleteI knew about the black sox scandal being from Cincinnat. It was also exemplified in a great movie Eight Men Out. Shoeless Joe was also a main character in that film. I agree with Hannah when she points out the major quote that is said in many places. Good Paper I like all the content and it flows greatly.
ReplyDeleteThe research done in this post on Field of Dreams was great. I knew Shoeless Joe was real, I didn't know about Archie Graham. I really liked the article and I thought it did a good job displaying some of the history behind Field of Dreams.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog it made me enjoy the movie that much more. It was a very inspirational movie and to find out that the people who this story was about were real people makes it that much better. Hannah did a good job at getting the history, and with a movie like this I think everyone should read the facts before they watch it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part about this movie is the fact that the movie was about true facts. Hannah did a great job explaining the history of the story and where the director got his inspiration. This is a great movie especially for people who truly love the sport of baseball.
ReplyDeleteI like how you found out some historical info and extra info about the film. I didnt know if any of the players were real along with the story of a gambling scandle.
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