Released some thirty-two years after the novel was published “The Natural ” is based on a Bernard Malamud book which was written in 1952. The Natural was released in the year 1984 and it was directed by the American director, screenwriter and actor Barry Levinson. Apart from The Natural, Barry has also directed Bugsy and the Rain Man. The main character of the movie Roy Hobbs is played by Robert Redford.
The Natural is a wonderful mix of action, drama, sports and romance and it starts of with a child playing ball with his father on their family land. When he is still young Roy’s father passes away in proximity of a tree that is later struck by lightning. Roy decides to carve a baseball bat out of the tree that has been split up by the lightning and puts a lightning bolt mark on the bat. He then names the bat “Wonderboy.”
The plot of The Natural then jumps to years later when Roy is nineteen years old. He gets an invite from the Chicago club to try out for their team as a pitcher and Roy accepts. He gets on the train to Chicago and makes a stop at a carnival after which he reaches Chicago. At Chicago he is dared to strike out a batsmen who is better known as “The Whammer,” the character of the Whammer is believed to have been based on Babe Ruth, the all time baseball champion. After accepting the dare he does what he was challenged and a sports writer who had been sitting at the game. The writer, a character played by Robert Duvall, is impressed by the talent of Roy and decides to publish his story in the next days paper which portrays the entire events of the game.
On his train back he is charmed by a woman who calls herself Harriet Byrd. Harriet, played by Barbara Hershey, has been watching Roy and his game and wants to lure him into loving her but when they reach the hotel room she shoots Roy and kills herself by jumping out the window.
The plot continues to get more interesting and is a must watch for anyone who has a taste for good movies.
The Natural
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