Great American Road Trip
Movie: Field of Dreams (1989)
Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta), “Is this Heaven?”
Ray Kinsella (Keven Kostner), “Nope, this is Iowa.”
You can still visit the real Field of Dreams in Iowa, near the town of Dyersville.
This is certainly the All American Movie–baseball, heartland, surviving against all odds, crazy optimism–yep, its American, all right. And although almost all of the movie stays put right on the farm where the unlikely baseball field was built, the main character (played by Kevin Kostner) does take a road trip. Another reason to pick this movie to represent Iowa.
Now, it might be somewhat controversial to choose a movie, since Iowa has more publishing companies and arguable has trained more fine American writers than any other state, but those books and authors will just have to get in line. This movie has Iowa corn fields, Iowa politics, and a beautiful Iowa farmhouse.
The wonderful cast includes the stentorian James Earl Jones, an actor I miss very much, Burt Lancaster.
How could you not love a movie that takes you back to the summer evenings, sitting in the soft warm light, listening to locusts in the surrounding fields and watching “the boys of summer” playing the all American game? The movie has given a phrase to us which threatens to be overused by people who don’t know its significance any more than Kevin Costner did when he first heard it in the movie–“If you build it, he will come.” Of course, the adaptation is usually “they” instead of “he” and unfortunately often applies to ill-thought-out plans for cities to build grandiose baseball stadiums to lure major league teams. Nevertheless, like that description of Iowa, it is stuck in our psyche where it rings true to American optimism.
Field of Dreams
Do you have memories of childhood evenings spent on baseball fields? Are you still a baseball fanatic? What’s your team? (Your comment enters you in the great Bella Italia Giveaway)
These gorgeous photos of Iowa come from Flickr, courtesy of the Creative Commons License. Pay the talented photographers a call by clicking on their pictures. Kerry Dexter, our musical partner for the Road Trip (I almost said our Disc Jockey) will have suggestions for music to play as you drive through Iowa. Click on over to Music Road and see what she recommends.
If my plans are still on track, I’ll be home today! But I have not missed a thing, have I??
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About the Author:
A freelance writer who loves to travel. When she is not traveling she is reading about travel. When she is not reading or traveling, she is sharing with the readers of A Traveler's Library, recreating her family's past at Ancestors In Aprons. She writes frequently for Reel Life With Jane and other websites. Also co-author of a biography, Quincy Tahoma, The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist. Contact Vera Marie by e-mail.
Vera Marie Badertscher – who has written 684 posts on A Traveler's Library.
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Tags: BlogSherpa, Burt Lancaster, Field of Dreams, Iowa, James Earl Jones, Kevin Kostner, Ray Liotta, Road Trip, travel movie, USA
Well, the film King Corn had the most amazing photography of Iowa’s corn fields that I have ever seen. And a good story is always that …
Nice post about Iowa and baseball. I enjoyed the movie and the way it attempted to capture the “magic” of the game. I love the photos as well.
Jason
In the early ’60s, when the Mets usually clinched last place by Memorial Day, I went to all their home games coutesy of coupons on milk cartons. Late in 1969 I moved to a new apartment in Cambridge, MA. That year, miraculously, my Mets went to the World Series. Knowing I was a jinx, I stoically abstained from watching any of the games. In the seventh game I couldn’t help myself and turned on the tv in the seventh inning. To my amazement and very vocal joy, the Mets won! While I was still dancing around, there was a loud and authoritative knock on my door. I opened it to two of Cambridge’s finest. My elderly neighbors had feared mayhem and called them. Embarrassed, I explained about the Mets and my history with them. With sad sighs, they warned me to be a bit more circumspect in my enthusiasm in future, but said they understood completely, being Red Sox fans. . .
Another note – The author in the book is Salinger. This was changed for the movie. I have never been clear how much of a baseball fan Salinger was … does anyone know? -r
I am not a huge baseball fan, but I appreciate the magic of the game. I take my children and my friend’s children as often as I can to our local minor league team. We usually have a great time, and both of my children own mitts to catch fly balls. And There is nothing like traveling to another city and catching a game! Thanks for sharing. -r