Talk:Field of Dreams

Background information
I added a lot of the background information on this film because I live in the area where the film was made, and have lived here most of my life. So many of the locations shown are familiar to me. I've also been to the actual field a couple times, and was able to walk around the field. I've driven over many of the local highways shown in the film. JesseG 04:52, 10 May 2004 (UTC)

I think it's erroneous to categorize this film as a "sports" film. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.60.108.67 (talk) 01:36, 13 June 2010 (UTC)

Images
I was out in the Dyersville area today, so I stopped and took a number of pictures of the baseball field. I added them to the article, I hope you enjoy them. JesseG 01:36, 20 May 2004 (UTC)

Article about the book
Someone might want to right an article on the book Shoeless Joe, since one doesn't exist. -Rmpfu89 00:23, July 29, 2005 (UTC)
 * I'll get write on it. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 04:42, 2 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Haha, that was a good joke rite there --Crackettt (talk) 03:05, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Wright yew R. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 08:55, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Voice at end of file
at the end of the film, "the voice" is credited as "himself." who voiced this role? 28 November 2005
 * I think they're being funny, as they did with the "Clean Shaven Umpire" joke. You should check the DVD, but I think it was Costner himself who whispered, "If you build it, etc."

"Himself" may be referencing the James Stewart film Harvey. At the end of that film Harvey is credited as "Himself". You will remember of course that Karin is watching Harvey on TV in one of the scenes of this film. VirtualDave (talk) 09:35, 25 October 2010 (UTC)

First paragraph
I was just noticing the statement in the first paragraph, "The film is a fantasy that is meant to remind viewers of a more innocent and pleasant time." I don't think that's giving the story enough credit. Isn't it really about baseball as the American mythos? Kaleb70 18:20, 16 June 2006 (UTC)
 * What it's really about is fathers and sons. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 04:41, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

Final shot
Can anyone detail how the final shot of the movie was filmed? I remember something about a helicopter and the twinkling effect of the cars' headlights was the high beams being turned on and off, and something about having only one or two takes to get it right.
 * You're right. That's discussed on the DVD extras. Since you know about it, you could add it. Wahkeenah 14:00, 30 June 2006 (UTC)
 * This was actually already in the trivia section, which had a lot of salient and interesting facts edited out by a Wikipedia editor who notes only "chainsaw time :D" as the rationale for trimming it. I'll see if I can "unchainsaw" it and see how long it lasts. :-\
 * See WP:TRIVIA Jaranda wat's sup 21:49, 1 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I reinstated the trivia that you keep "chainsawing," Jaranada. You may wish to review this part of the style manual you linked to: "Do not simply remove such sections; instead, find ways to improve the article so that this form of organization is no longer necessary. It may be possible to integrate some items into the article text. Some facts may belong in existing sections; others can be grouped into a new section of related material. Convert bullet points to prose or narrowly-focused lists (such as "Cameos" or "Continuity errors"), as seems most appropriate."

Synopsis
I updated the synopsis, correcting errors of fact (such as the fact that Archibald "Moonlight" Graham played his one major league game in the 1920s, not the 1940s), and adding some detailed information. Having just watched the movie yesterday, these details are fresh in my mind.Enki Nabu 00:20, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

I attempted to update the synopsis, but TheOldJacobite rolls back the edits with no explanation. Other than it is, according to him/her, "ridiculous." I have no great stake in my own prose, and welcome edits to clarify or make what I have written more concise, but unilaterally rolling back what is to me, a genuinely useful addition to the plot synopsis just because someone doesn't like it, is antithetical to the spirit of Wikipedia. Ccspizzaguy (talk) 20:43, 30 October 2017 (UTC)

Terrence Mann
Terrance Mann redirects here, but there is no mention of this character anywhere in the article. Is this appropriate? RadicalHarmony (talk) 15:31, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * You mean like where the article says, "Ray hears the voice again, which prompts him to contact 1960s author Terence Mann"? Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 16:00, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Did Terrence Mann die during the movie? The scene where Ray returns a reluctant Mann to his apartment, only to do a U-turn then see Mann on the opposite side of the street has suggested to some that Terrence suffered a fatal heart attack right after he departed Ray's van, then his ghost immediately teleported to the other side of the street, now saying he wants to participate in the search for Archibald Graham. This also would suggest that the reason Shoeless Joe declined Ray an invitation to see "beyond the corn" was that Ray was still alive. USN1977 (talk) 13:27, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * No. That would be pure speculation, as there's nothing about it in the book, the movie, or any of the commentaries about the movie done by its creators. And keep in mind Ray took his time doing that U turn, so there was plenty of time for Terrence to walk across the street. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 17:39, 25 March 2010 (UTC)

Ford Mustang commercial
Maybe we should add the Ford Mustang commercial done around 2005-2006 where a farmer decided to built a racetrack for Steve McQueen and who was probably inspired by Field of Dreams, here the clip of this ad then I saw on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzXHq7gKN8 --Sd-100 (talk) 14:32, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

Crying
This film is known for its ability to make male viewers cry? Seriously? Why is that in here? --67.84.171.78 (talk) 02:23, 31 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Because men don't usually cry at movies. That's a "girl thing". ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:26, 31 October 2009 (UTC)

Existential undertones
In some courses and discussions at the University level, Field of Dreams is often used as example to demonstrate modern constructs in heaven, afterlife and a higher being (see Lisa Miller's book "Heaven"). Within this larger demonstration, Shoeless Joe becomes an anthropomorphic illustration of God; hence Shoeless Joe telling Kinsella that he's simply "not invited" to the cornfields, and Kinsella's final exchange with Shoeless Joe, "It was you!"

In regards to the earlier question about the accreditation of "The Voice" to "Himself"--an obvious reference to God, even if the motivation for doing so is homage to an earlier actor--the realization at the end of the movie that the voice belonged to Shoeless Joe seems to vindicate the argument that he may represent God.

This is a more abstract post that I hope gets readers to consider and argue the possibilities of adding a "philosophy" section to this article. I'm not informed enough to make one, but maybe someone else is? 165.123.231.23 (talk) 22:41, 4 March 2011 (UTC)


 * The Voice as "Himself" is a little joke by the filmmakers. "Himself" or "Herself" is typically used when a character appears as himself; it doesn't mean "God". You're forgetting that in response to Ray's statement, "It was you!", Joe says, "No, Ray, it was you." The Voice was actually Ray. And of course, the reason he's not invited is because he needs to stay and play catch with his father. Having said all that, if you can find valid sources that discuss the philosophy of the film, that might work. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 07:01, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

Charlie Rose
RE: "He also admits that he had given a telephone interview with Charlie Rose during the road trip, which is what will prompt people to come."

I couldn't find the reference to Charlie Rose in the movie, or in Google. I looked in the online script, and the name isn't mentioned. The closest is "Rosebud". Mr. Rose was on CBS News at the time of the film so it is plausible, and I like the idea of Mann's involvement in the conclusion, but I don't see the reference. If someone could give a timestamp to make the conclusion less mystical, I'd be happy, but I don't think it's there. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.3.2.176 (talk) 06:22, 22 April 2011 (UTC)


 * I've seen the film many times, and there's no mention of Charlie Rose or of giving a phone interview during the road trip. I'm assuming whoever posted that mis-heard something. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 06:53, 22 April 2011 (UTC)


 * As I recall, he admits to giving an interview, which he initially denies. When they first meet, Ray quotes him from an interview on baseball, and Mann denies saying it. Later, he admits to giving the interview (Ray accuses him of lying, and Mann responds "you told me your finger was a gun!"). I don't remember whether Charlie Rose was ever mentioned, but either way, I don't believe it was in the context of "which is what will prompt people to come", but admitting Mann's connection with baseball, which is what causes Ray to seek him out in the first place. If I recall correctly, at least. Agreed that the original editor might have been confused and the line should come out, but I'm going to try to work in a mention of the plot point about the interview (the article currently says "Mann wrote", which is not exactly correct anyway). --Fru1tbat (talk) 12:42, 22 April 2011 (UTC)
 * The interview in question was given years earlier, to a newspaper or magazine, and that's already mentioned in the plot summary. Nothing to do with Charlie Rose, no phone interview on the road trip. The phone call he made on the road was to his father, who had been unable to reach him at his home. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:20, 22 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Yes, the interview is mentioned in the plot summary, but it was incorrect, or at least misleading (on the first mention, it said "Mann wrote", and never said it was in an interview. I already fixed it). I was merely stating what I thought the editor who added the disputed line might have been confused by. --Fru1tbat (talk) 17:18, 22 April 2011 (UTC)
 * I see, and you're right. :) ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:48, 22 April 2011 (UTC)
 * It's also worth pointing out (which I think the plot section does) that it was Gabby who first said, "People will come", and JEJ followed it up with more ideas of why they would come. With all the commentary, I don't recall anyone pointing out how the scriptwriters took a verbal shot. I guess because it was the kid who characterized Iowa City as "really boring", they could get away with it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:52, 22 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the edit, well phrased! I wrote that first question. The "interview" mentioned was that completely different plot point from earlier in the film, where Mann was shown to have an unfulfilled baseball dream. The "Charlie Rose" reference was just so specific, and the line of cars so mystical, that I thought I may have missed something. I'm glad I posted in Talk rather than just editing. Also, I was thinking Mann may not have phoned his father, since he didn't know "What do I tell him?", and he isn't shown in conversation, enabling Mann to disappear into the corn without police later coming to Mr Kinsella's door -- just a theory, nothing to add to the wiki. 174.3.2.176 (talk) 08:37, 25 April 2011 (UTC)
 * The phone call thing was a plot device, an excuse to get Ray out of the motel room and wander the streets, so that he could somehow go back in time to 1972 and meet Dr. Graham. The conversation between Terence and his father would likely have been boring stuff like, "Hi, Dad, I'm on an adventure. I'll get back to you." The lineup of cars I think was a single take that worked out very well. They had the entire town of Dyersville in their cars lined up back to town. The only ones actually moving were the first few in front, led by the Lansings and the Ameskamps who owned the properties containing the ballfield. The shot was made from a rising helicopter, and it was at sunset, so they had to get it right the first time. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 08:46, 25 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Another plot oddity is that the joke is on the folks in the line of cars, because the players had already left. Unless they were planning to come back for a night game. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 08:57, 25 April 2011 (UTC)

Additional music
Probably listed at the end of the closing credits. I'll check that sometime soon. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:23, 15 April 2012 (UTC)

Yep. Here it is: ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:34, 15 April 2012 (UTC)
 * "Crazy" - Written by Willie Nelson - Performed by Beverly D'Angelo
 * "Daydream" - Written by John Sebastian - Performed by the Lovin' Spoonful
 * "Jessica" - Written by Dickie [sic] Betts - Performed by the Allman Brothers Band
 * "China Grove" - Written by Tom Johnston - Performed by the Doobie Brothers
 * "Lotus Blossom" - Written by Billy Strayhorn - Performed by Duke Ellington