THE NATURAL
US, 1984, 116 minutes, Colour.
Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Barbara Hershey, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Robert Prosky, Richard Farnsworth.
Directed by Barry Levinson.
The Natural is based on a story by Bernard Malamud (The Fixer). It is a star vehicle for Robert Redford and has an excellent cast.
The film as directed by Barry Levinson, former screenwriter (the autobiographical Best Friends) and director: Diner, Young Sherlock Holmes, The Tin Men.
The film is set in the '30s and re-creates that atmosphere. It is a baseball film - although audiences not familiar with the sport will enjoy it. It has a realistic level as well as a symbolic level. On the realistic level, the film presents familiar material, the golden boy who doesn't make good, who makes a comeback, like a knight who succumbs to temptation, is brought to integrity. It also portrays big money interests and corruption.
On the symbolic level, the film uses the image of a knight. His team are the Knights. The agent of his downfall is a woman dressed in black. The agent of his recovery is his childhood sweetheart, dressed in white. He has a symbolic bat, made from a tree struck by lightning, the tree that killed his father. In the finale, the bat splits.
Critics were not enthusiastic about this blend of realism and symbolism. However, with the strength of its cast, The Natural is a piece of enjoyable and thoughtful entertainment.
1. A piece of American? Baseball? The American dream? Robert Redford vehicle?
2. The atmosphere of the '30s, decor and costumes, atmosphere? The American countryside? Chicago? The contrast of these two worlds? The bathing of the lyrical scenes in a golden glow? The musical score?
3. The plot on the level of realism? Credible? Interesting? On the level of the symbolic? Persuasive? Editing and pace? Roy Hobbs' dreams? Glories? The use of slow motion photography for the significant baseball sequences?
4. The work of Bernard Malamud? His place in American literature? Adaptation of his novel?
5. The strong cast? Robert Redford vehicle? The character actors and actresses?
6. The title and its focus on Roy? The scenes of his childhood, family? His father's love for him, training him at baseball? His skills? The lightning and the death of his father? The carving of the bat Wonder Boy? His love for Iris? The irony of her being pregnant and his not knowing for over 16 years?
7. The dream of going to the city to play baseball, the trip on the train, Max and his eye for talent? The trainers? The champion baseball player? Stopping the train, the game, Roy's pitching and irritating the champion? The encounter with the woman in black, her watching the confrontation between the two men?
8. Doyle's hopes, the encounter with the woman in black, the infatuation, the talk about the champions being shot with a silver bullet, his going with the woman, the confrontation, her shooting him, his reaction, her death?
9. The missing 16 years? mystery for the audience? Roy's reappearance? Wanting to play baseball? His wounds, time in hospital? Meeting with Pop and Red? Waiting? His age, the younger players? His self-image? His natural Wonder Boy bat, his hitting the ball strongly? Pop and Roy and their interest, his becoming part of thee Knights? and his watching? His relationship with the team? The mascot and his friendship?
10. The attractive blonde and her relationship with Gus, flirting with Roy, the affair, the effect on his play, her being in league with Gus and the judge, his decision to go against her, her violent reaction? her being linked with the group of evil characters?
11. The encounter with Gus, the bet about money, Roy's being able to be bought or not? his staying in the darkness, a prince of darkness? His interviews with Roy? Hold over Gus? The pressure on Roy to fail? Bets against him? The ownership of the team? Roy's defying them?
12. Iris' reappearance, her being dressed in white, standing amongst the crowd, inspiring him, the photo? Knights and white ladies? Her meeting him, their talk and the reminiscences of the past, his telling his story? Going to her apartment? The possibility of meeting the boy? Her support, going to the hospital?
13. The crises, the threats, his being poisoned, hospitalised, his old wounds, the decision to go to play?
14. Alfax and his being a journalist, cartoonist? Iris observing? His being in with the establishment? His pushing Roy? Pushing Iris? The confrontation with Roy? His being a theoretician and never having played? Roy's shot smashing the media booth?
15. Pop, Red, the old-timers and their love of the game? Lack of money? Ownership? The pressures of the competition? Locker-room sequences? Pep-talks (and Roy walking out of the salesmanship spiel)? On the bench?
16. The final game, his lack of success, his being wounded, the final hit, the use of slow -motion? The reaction of the crowd? The splitting of the bat?
17. The brief glimpse for the happy ending? Roy and Iris and the boy?
18. Themes of the American dream, hopes? Love of baseball? Good and evil? Love and hate? The skills and the gifts for the natural?
