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The Natural (1984)

 -  Drama | Sport  -  11 May 1984 (USA)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 25,648 users  
Reviews: 149 user | 53 critic

An average baseball player comes out of seemingly nowhere to become a legendary player with almost divine talent.

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(novel), , 1 more credit »
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Title: The Natural (1984)

The Natural (1984) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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...
...
...
...
...
...
...
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The Whammer
...
Sam Simpson
...
Paul Sullivan Jr. ...
Rachel Hall ...
...
Ted Hobbs
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Storyline

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league in this magical sports fantasy. With the aid of a bat cut from a lightning struck tree, Hobbs lives the fame he should have had earlier when, as a rising pitcher, he is inexplicably shot by a young woman. Written by Keith Loh <loh@sfu.ca>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

He lived for a dream that wouldn't die. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sport

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

11 May 1984 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El mejor  »

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$48,000,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Director's Cut)

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Hobbs breaking the scoreboard clock with a home run was inspired by Bama Rowell of the Boston Braves doubling off the Ebbets Field scoreboard clock on May 30, 1946, showering Dixie Walker with glass. Though he'd been promised a free watch by Bulova for hitting the company's scoreboard sign, Rowell had to wait until 1987 to receive it. See more »

Goofs

When years later Hobbs makes just "one" pitch at the end of practice, ...the ball zooms across the plate and lodges into the net behind. You can clearly see a string attached to the ball as it lodges into the net. See more »

Quotes

Pop Fisher: [to his "best" pitcher who can't throw a strike] Come on, Fowler! Throw strikes!
Red Blow: Fowler's killing worms, Pop.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"STAR SPANGLED BANNER"
Performed by Kate Smith
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

My favorite baseball movie. Truly magical.
27 April 2004 | by (Blauvelt, NY) – See all my reviews

A wonderful, magical fairy tale, and morality play. This is the type of movie that as a new father, I cannot wait until my son is old enough to watch this with me.

I know much has been made about Redford being too old to play Roy Hobbs. But much of the story asks you to believe in incredible things, so to me, this is a minor issue.

Everything about this movie is first rate. The cast which includes Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley and a pair of terrific performances turned in by Robert Duval and Darren McGavin.

It is easy to see that all of the actors trust the material and believe in their characters.

Barry Levinson tells the story in a straight forward style, he doesn't try to build any false suspense or surprise twists. When you watch this movie you know exactly what is going to happen long before it does, but you don't care, because it unfolds intelligently and without pretense.

My two favorite components of this movie are the cinematography by Caleb Deschanel and the beautiful, moving score composed by Randy Newman. I first enjoyed Mr. Deschanel's work on "Being There", and felt Mr. Newman's score for "Ragtime" was the best score of 1981.

"The Natural" is so much more than a baseball movie. It is a story about faith, good and evil, right and wrong, fathers and sons. It is about all that is good in baseball and in life.

10 out of 10


51 of 54 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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