Field of Dreams (1989)

An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come.

Director:

Phil Alden Robinson

Writers:

W.P. Kinsella (book), Phil Alden Robinson (screenplay)

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Ray Kinsella
Amy Madigan	...	Annie Kinsella
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Karin Kinsella
Ray Liotta	...	Shoeless Joe Jackson
Timothy Busfield	...	Mark
James Earl Jones	...	Terence Mann
Burt Lancaster	...	Dr. Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham
Frank Whaley	...	Archie Graham
Dwier Brown	...	John Kinsella
James Andelin	...	Feed Store Farmer
Mary Anne Kean	...	Feed Store Lady
Fern Persons	...	Annie's Mother
Kelly Coffield Park	...	Dee, Mark's Wife (as Kelly Coffield)
Michael Milhoan	...	Buck Weaver - 3B
Steve Eastin	...	Eddie Cicotte - P

Storyline

Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his corn field tell him, "If you build it, he will come." He interprets this message as an instruction to build a baseball field on his farm, upon which appear the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series. When the voices continue, Ray seeks out a reclusive author to help him understand the meaning of the messages and the purpose for his field.

---

Plot Keywords:

iowa | farmer | baseball | hearing voices | ghost | 

---

Taglines:

If you believe the impossible, the incredible can come true.

---

Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Sport

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shoeless Joe

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$64,431,625 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gordon Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the PTA meeting when Ray and Annie crash into the lockers they are not exiting from the gym that they were originally in. They exit from the women's restroom at the school. There is not an exit from the gym that you could possibly crash into lockers.

---

Goofs

Young Archie Graham hits a fly ball into center outfield; another runner, which some have confused with Graham, is seen scoring from third (making Graham's play a sacrifice fly).

---

Quotes

Terence Mann: Ray, there was a reason they chose me, just as there was a reason they chose you and this field.
Ray Kinsella: Why?
Terence Mann: I gave an interview.
Ray Kinsella: What interview? What are you talking about?
Terence Mann: The one about Ebbets Field. The one that charged you up and sent you all the way out to Boston to find me.
Ray Kinsella: You lied to me.
Terence Mann: Well, you were kidnapping me at the time, you big jerk!
Ray Kinsella: Well, you lied to me!
Terence Mann: You said your finger was a gun!
Ray Kinsella: That's a good point.
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

...For Our Parents

---

Connections

Featured in Kisarazu Cats' Eye: Sayonara Game (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"China Grove"
Written by Tom Johnston
Performed by The Doobie Brothers
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
by Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

"...and the memories will be so thick they will have to brush them away from their faces."

It's American. It's corny (pun intended, I'm sorry). When I stop and think about it, it's laughable but the immutable truth is that this is naively beautiful on almost every frontier. I have watched this film so many times and though inside I know the ladled sentiment should be cringeworthy-especially for a cynic such as I...it somehow never fails to utterly absorb me.

Horner's musical score is haunting and mesmerising and adds so strongly to the whole ethereal feeling that this film exudes.

The acting is extraordinary in that they pull off corny lines without provoking me to laughter or cringing, with the possible exception of James Earl Jones speech "...the one constant is baseball...".

I even have to admit that Kostner is good (painful though it is).

You may not like or understand baseball...it doesn't matter. This is not a film about baseball. Its about relationships (particularly about father son relationships) and it tugs on every heart string.

There was a review of this film which first intrigued me enough to watch it several years ago. I cannot remember who said it but if memory serves me well his summation of Field of Dreams was this...

"Could you ever really love someone who didn't cry at this film, even just a little?"

Nuff said.