Introduction
Welcome to my corner! Last week, I shared my thoughts on the film How They Got Over. This week, I'm sharing my thoughts on the film Field of Dreams.
The TCM television channel will be playing Field of Dreams as one of their 'Weekend Features' on Saturday, June 28.
Enjoy!
Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American sports fantasy drama film written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, and based on Canadian novelist W.P. Kinsella's 1982 novel Shoeless Joe. The film stars Kevin Costner as a farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends, including Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) and the Chicago Black Sox. Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster (in his final film role) also star.
The film released on May 5, 1989. It received positive reviews from critics, and was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2017, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film registry by the Library of Congress.
Plot: 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 crop 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.
Acting: The acting throughout the movie was great.
Kevin Costner played Ray Kinsella. A familiar name to most I'm sure. I don't know what it is about him, but Costner generally rubs me the wrong way. I don't go out of my way to watch Kevin Costner movies, but this is a good one. Currently, his four most known movies are: The Postman, Dances With Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and The Bodyguard.
Amy Madigan played Annie Kinsella. I like her. I really liked her in this movie, especially that PTA meeting scene. That was GOLD! I recognized her right away from the Criminal Minds and Grey's Anatomy television series. She didn't play main characters, or major roles in either series. Her four most notable films (currently) are: Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Gone Baby Gone, and Streets of Fire.
Gaby Hoffmann played Karin Kinsella. She's still acting! You don't see that very often. Most kids that grow up in the industry want nothing to do with it when they're older. She was so cute in Field of Dreams. It looks like she's still doing well, too. The four films she's currently known for are Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Everyone Says I Love You.
James Earl Jones played Terence Mann. Who doesn't love James Earl Jones? No one. No one can say they dislike James Earl Jones. I won't accept it. He's the best! And that voice! He just died in 2024. His four most notable works were: The Lion King franchise, the Star Wars franchise, Field of Dreams, and The Hunt for Red October. My favorites of his are The Sandlot and The Lion King (1994).
Technical aspects: 20th Century Fox executive Sara Colleton first discovered and optioned Shoeless Joe in early-1980s. Colleton developed the project with producers Lawrence and Charles Gordon. Lawrence Gordon left Fox in 1986 and started pitching the adaptation to other studios. Universal Pictures accepted the project in 1987 and hired USC coach Rod Dedeaux brought along World Series champion and USC alumnus Don Buford to coach the actors.
The film was shot using the novel's title; eventually, an executive decision was made to rename it Field of Dreams. Robinson did not like the name, saying he loved Shoeless Joe, and that the new title was better suited for one about dreams deferred. Kinsella told Robinson after the fact that his original title for the book had been The Dream Field and that the publisher had imposed the title Shoeless Joe.
The role Of Ray was first offered to Tom Hanks but he turned it down. Amy Madigan, fan of the book, joined the cast as Ray's wife, Annie. The role of Moonlight Graham was offered to James Stewart but he turned it down.
In the book, the writer Ray seeks out is real-life author J.D. Salinger. When Salinger threatened the production with a lawsuit if his name was used, Robinson decided to rewrite the character as reclusive Terence Mann. He wrote with James Earl Jones in mind because he thought it would be fun to see Ray trying o kidnap such a big man.
The interior scenes were the first ones shot because the cornfield planted by the filmmakers was taking too long to grow. Irrigation had to be used to quickly grow the corn to Costner's height. Primary shot locations were in Dubuque County, Iowa; a farm near Dyersville was used for the Kinsella home; an empty warehouse in Dubuque was used to build various interior sets. Galena, Illinois, served as Moonlight Graham's Chisholm, Minnesota. One week was spent on location shots in Boston, most notably Fenway Park.
Scenes of the Kinsella farm were taken on the property of Don Lansing in Dyersville, Iowa; some of the baseball field scenes were shot on the neighboring farm of Al Ameskamp. Because the shooting schedule was too short of grass to naturally grow, the experts on sod laying responsible for Dodger Stadium and the Rose Bowl were hired to create the baseball field. Part of the process involved painting the turf green.
Final Thoughts: The ending snuck up on me I didn't think it was actually the end until the credits started rolling. I thought we would actually get to see the people come, not just the cars. I don't know that I really appreciated the ending. I felt like I needed a little more from it. I did like the movie! Definitely recommend watching if you haven't already!
Where to watch it: According to Google, Field of Dreams is currently available to watch on Netflix. Or, you can purchase or rent a digital copy for a few dollars. I've also donated a DVD copy of the film to the Emil M. Larson Library in Clark for you all to enjoy if you choose to.
That's it for this week! What were your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us! You can call us, email us, visit us at the office, leave us a comment or message on Facebook, or even mail us something. Keep the comments, suggestions, questions, submissions, etc. coming our way! We'd love to hear from you!
