“Field of Dreams” A Cherished, Sentimental Classic

For last week’s edition, I took a look at a couple baseball-related movies that the whole family can stream together - “Angels in the Outfield” and “Rookie of the Year.” So, to wrap up my small MLB baseball series, I wanted to revisit one of the best films that has to do with baseball and so much more - the classic “Field of Dreams.”

When Iowa farmer Ray hears a mysterious voice one night in his cornfield saying “If you build it, he will come,” he feels the need to act. Despite taunts of lunacy, Ray builds a baseball diamond on his land, supported by his wife, Annie.

Afterward, the ghosts of great players start emerging from the crops to play ball, led by “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.

But, as Ray learns, this field of dreams is about much more than bringing former baseball greats out to play.

“Field of Dreams” is one of those films that I watch every year. Not only does it incorporate the sport of baseball into the story, it’s also a truly sentimental story that will always have you feeling moved (especially during the film’s final moments).

Not only is this 1989 classic a great baseball-themed film, “Field of Dreams” also discusses the topic of determining to follow your dreams. In this film, we see several characters have their dreams ultimately satisfied and find peace and closure through the creation of the baseball field and reconciling some past regrets.

Some of those moments where the characters think about satisfying those dreams can leave you feeling moved, such as the “Moonlight” Graham character, a former baseball player who never really had a chance to play professionally, gets the opportunity of his lifetime and fulfills the dream. And, of course, Ray Kinsella’s dream of connecting with his deceased father one last time and ends up repairing their relationship (still one of the best parts of the film).

In between all of the moving moments that are scattered throughout, “Field of Dreams” can also deliver a bit of humor. Now, while his quirky wife, Annie, can have a funny moment here and there, a couple scenes between Ray (Costner) and Terrence Mann (James Earl Jones) can be quite humorous, especially when they first meet).

You can currently find “Field of Dreams” on Netflix, among other PVOD rental services and let me know on my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook what your favorite baseball-related movie is. 

Trivia: The film was ranked No. 6 on the AFI’s list of the 10 greatest films in the genre “Fantasy” in June 2006. The movie’s line “If you build it, he will come” was voted as the No. 39 movie quote by the AFI (out of 100).

Actor James Earl Jones said that he had J.D. Salinger in mind, and worked hard to translate him into the black journalist character. The film was nominated for three Oscars in 1990: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. In 2017, the US Library of Congress selected “Field of Dreams” as one of its 25 annual additions to the National Film Registry.

MPA: Rated PG   (running time 107 minutes)

• "Shoeless" Joe Jackson remarks about Ty Cobb's desire to play at the Field of Dreams (1989), "None of could stand the son of a bitch when he was alive, so we told him to stick it." In real life, the players were very close friends. In Jackson's later life, when he ran a liquor store in South Carolina, Cobb stopped there to buy bourbon. During the sale, Jackson made no sign of recognition to Cobb, until Cobb finally said, "For God's sakes, Joe, don't you remember me?" Jackson somberly replied, "Well, sure, I remember you, Ty. I just didn't think anyone wanted to remember me anymore."

• After the movie was completed, test audiences didn't like the original film title "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, because they said it sounded like a movie about a bum or hobo. Universal called director and screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson to tell him that "Shoeless Joe" didn't work, and the studio changed the title of the film to "Field of Dreams." When Robinson heard the news of the change, he called W.P. Kinsella, the author of the book, and told him the "bad" news, but apparently he didn't care, saying that "Shoeless Joe" was the title the publishing company gave the book. Kinsella's original title was "Dream Field."

• There was an actual Archibald "Moonlight" Graham. The stories the men shared were actual stories about "Doc" Graham.

• Amy Madigan was offered a job as a bartender at a local bar during filming. The owner did not know Madigan was an actress.

• The last cinema film of Burt Lancaster. He was seventy-four at the time of filming.

• The movie's line "If you build it, he will come" was voted as the #39 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

• Phil Alden Robinson wanted to cast James Stewart as "Moonlight" Graham, but Stewart had not acted on-screen for almost a decade at that point. One scene shows Karin watching the James Stewart movie Harvey (1950) on television.

• The shot of the line-drive knocking over the bag of baseballs next to Kevin Costner was sheer luck off the bat of Ray Liotta.

• James Earl Jones decided to do the film after his wife read the script and became mesmerized by Mann's "People will come" speech. Both joked they had concerns that the scene would be cut from the film.

• For the final shot of the film, the local Dyersville Police Department was required to direct traffic for four hours from a wide spread of six miles after the aerial shots were complete.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut06d4dptWo