The Natural is a mythic and mesmerizing movie about America's national pastime and the heroism of a lonely individualist. Some of the subject matter can be grim and mature in nature, but the PG rating ensures Levinson has delivered a contemplative fairy tale for the whole family to enjoy and learn from.

How old was Robert Redford in the movie The Natural?

Robert Redford was 47 at the time of filming. The filmmakers scouted the country for a stadium to use in game scenes. They needed something nondescript with a pre-World War II feel, and found it in Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium.

Did Robert Redford do his own hitting in The Natural?

I loved playing baseball and I loved the Boston Red Sox and Ted Williams and I wanted to go in that direction [as a ballplayer] if I could, but never could until this.” Johnson confirms that Redford did all of his own batting for the film, and made some solid hits.

Why did she shoot Roy Hobbs in The Natural?

In the novel, it is clear that she is insane and is obsessed with killing any athlete who does not play the game for the "right" reasons. She asks Roy why he plays, and this is a form of the heroes test which he fails and as a result she shoots and tries to kill Roy.

What was the point of the movie The Natural?

The Natural focuses on the redemption of Roy Hobbs, who figures out that he has something to prove - and sets out to do it. And, as he rounds the bases amidst a shower of sparks in a scene that could only happen in a Hollywood-born field of dreams, he knows he has accomplished his goal and fulfilled his dream.

The Natural (1984) Review Retrospective

Why does Roy eat so much in The Natural?

It is significant that after Roy decides not to pursue Iris, he suddenly develops a great craving for food. He is attempting to fulfill himself in a way that Memo and his own self-centered playing cannot; only Iris has the ability to provide the true fulfillment that would end his desire for both food and Memo.

Did Roy Hobbs actually strike out?

*OK, I'll spoil it for you: Hobbs does strike out in the book version. So maybe having the umpire say “strike” on that first pitch was Levinson's homage to the book. I should ask him about that. *There are those who point out that before 1950, the home team had the option to bat first.

Why does Roy cry at the end of the natural?

Roy Hobbs is perhaps unique among the Malamud heroes: he is left in tears, having learned his lessons too late. He decides to be a father to Iris's son, realizing that redemption is the work of a lifetime.

Did Memo poison Roy in the natural?

Not knowing that Memo poisoned him, he nonetheless realizes she's playing against him. Injured and recovering from the poison, Roy struggles during the play-off game for the pennant. Iris, in the stands with her son, sends him a note telling him he's the father.

Was Hobbs poisoned in the natural?

Gus informs Memo of his disappointment, who subsequently poisons the unsuspecting Hobbs with a tainted piece of food. This results in Hobbs being taken to a local hospital where he is laid up sick for three days.

What is the Wonderboy bat in the natural?

Baseball star Hobbs' signature bat, Wonderboy, was carved from the wood of a tree that was struck by lightning at the same time his father (Robert Rich III) suffered a heart attack. This bat is matched to the scene where Roy entered the dugout and placed the bat in its case.

Did Robert Redford quit acting?

'That's enough': Robert Redford announces his retirement from acting. Robert Redford is calling it a career after nearly 60 years as one of his generation's most iconic actors. Redford, 81, announced to Entertainment Weekly on Monday that his upcoming film, "The Old Man & The Gun," will be his final acting job.

Where did they film the natural?

Two-thirds of the scenes were filmed in Buffalo, New York, mostly at War Memorial Stadium, built in 1937 and demolished a few years after the film was produced. Buffalo's All-High Stadium, with post-production alterations, stood in for Chicago's Wrigley Field in a key scene in the film.

Was Robert Redford a good actor?

Redford was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, his first time winning an acting honour from that group (he had been nominated in 1969 for Downhill Racer).

Was Robert Redford a good baseball player?

Louis sportswriter Bob Broeg that Redford was a "pretty good ballplayer." Redford referred to Drysdale as his "old teammate." So the story spread that Redford had played high school baseball with Drysdale. He'd gone to the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship, only to drink his way off the team.

What is Roy's tragic flaw in The Natural?

Tragic Flaw

Roy struggles to be a hero, not realizing that his desire for success and women is destroying him. His ego—his unyielding lust for fame—proves to be his biggest flaw. Because he cannot overcome this flaw, his story becomes a tragedy. Roy's ego is first shown during his interaction with Harriet in Pre-Game.

Who is the bad boy in The Natural?

Savoy, played by George Wilkosz, was the bat boy in Redford's movie “The Natural.”

Is the story of The Natural true?

Yes—there truly was a Major League player referred to as The Natural who was shot by a strange woman in a Chicago hotel room…and almost died. The movie isn't really the life story of that player's life.

What does the ending of The Natural mean?

This is the tragic end of our hero. Roy's lost his honor and his self-respect. He can't look his fans in the face, and he surely can't go back to baseball. He finally realizes that it was his own mistakes that brought him to this point, but that realization is too little and way too late.

Does Roy Hobbs have a son in The Natural?

Finally, Hobbs has just found out from his old hometown girlfriend Iris (Glenn Close) that Hobbs is the father of her son Ted. With all that in place, here is the script to the final sequence in The Natural.

What happens in the end of The Natural?

At the end of the game, Hobbs sees he has a chance to win and wants to take it. He comes to bat against Herman Youngberry, a brilliant young pitcher similar to Hobbs at the same age. Youngberry strikes out Hobbs, ending the game—and with it, the season for the Knights.

Who does Roy Hobbs end up with?

We then follow the flight of the ball to Hobbs back home on the farm, playing catch with his carbon-copy blonde son as Iris (Glenn Close), presumably now his wife, affectionately looks on. Roy smiles, finally content.

Why did Roy Hobbs wear number 9?

Towne explained, “Some have asked if the on-screen Roy Hobbs was modeled after Ted Williams. In a way, yeah, but that was mostly because Williams was a hero of Redford's, and both were lefties, so Bob decided to wear number nine.

Who was the hardest player to strike out?

Over nearly 145 years of professional baseball, no player was tougher to strike out than Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Sewell. In 7,132 career at-bats, Sewell heard the umpire say “Strike three” just 114 times.