Golf in the Kingdom - The Movie

[Gary Daughters]

Tom D:

Someone told me the book on tape is quite compelling.  This was a reader who shared my opinion that the book itself can be a bit difficult.  Maybe it's the accents.  I haven't tried it yet but have been tempted.

[John Kavanaugh]

Jax, send me your address, you can have mine.

George,

Thank you but I am leaving tomorrow and now own a electronic reading on my Ipod.  I would send the book to Jordan if I were you.

[John_Cullum]

Huck,

I'm downloading the book as we speak.  The very idea of how much I'm going to hate it has put me in a very good mood.

That's probably a pretty good approach to forcing this one down. I would rate it above "The Good Doctor Returns" however. I tried to give my copy of the Good Dr. away one time, but alas, I failed.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Garland,

The other choice is Boston at a university that overlooks Fenway Park.  I'm not sure but I have a feeling the golf is better in Boston...and the one place on earth I might see a better baseball game than in St. Louis.

The best place to see a baseball game is The Cape Cod League.  Nothing else comes close.

[Todd Rohrer]

Geez, I can't believe that one of the first posts I'm brave enough to make in such illustrious company is going to disagree with Mr. Pazin...


Love or hate the book, it helped spawn the Shivas Irons Society.  They do some pretty decent things, and publish a decent Journal.  I would go out on a limb and say that something good came of the book.

And John's review will be a kick!

[Adam Clayman]

At least they had the good sense to use the best line in the book, in that promo. Shivas' toast in the bar.

Couple of things.

Murphy calls it fiction, yet relates the story (in the promo) as if it is non.

That guy calling them "Sand Traps". Wassup with that?

I'd also like to thak John Grothe. Tanks far noth'in.

Last I had heard about this film was close to ten years ago. Clint Eastwood was supposedly going to do the film.

Does anyone know the story from there?

[George Pazin]

Love or hate the book, it helped spawn the Shivas Irons Society.  They do some pretty decent things, and publish a decent Journal.  I would go out on a limb and say that something good came of the book.

You are most certainly correct with this, I had forgotten about them and their work.

Still, it did spawn a bunch of similarly non-impressive books like Bagger Vance and Co.

 

P.S. You are often in good company when disagreeing with me.

[RSLivingston_III]

Kind of expected more of this group to be fans of the book.
Reading that book (back in the late 80's) radically altered my understanding and appreciation of the game.

[Jim Sweeney]

I'm a big fan of the book, but ever since the talk of making it into a movie, I've wondered how it could be done well. First, it's not a long book, and if the movie is going to be more than an hour or so, there's going to have to be some filler, at that is when things get dangerous, especially when one is dealing with the metaphysics and new age spirituality.

Plus, it is very apparent that it is damn hard to make a good movie about golf. Has there ever been a good one? Pat and Mike (not really about golf)? Follow the Sun? Greatest Game? The one about Bob Jones. All good subject matter, but poor films.

I'm afraid this project is doomed from the start. I wish Mr. Murphy et al would leave well enough alone.

Adam: I did not read it all , but there are some mentions of Eastwood's involvement on the web site.

[Evan Fleisher]

JK and TH,

Actually, the books on tape of "Golf In The Kingdom" and the "Kingdom Of Shivas Irons" are both narrated by John Hannah, a Scottish actor...

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001314/

...whom you may remember from "Four Weddings And A Funeral" anf the "Mummy" series of films.  I thought his voice and accent were well suited for these talking books, but that's just me.

[Tom Jefferson]

Interesting thread and comments, as I was one who, having read the book back in the 70s, enjoyed and was altered by it.........meaning more open to the game within the game and the mysticism that any activity can encompass.  

Over the years some of the author's images have stuck with me.....Shivas leaping and kicking an object high above his head, reminiscent of Sam Snead and his supreme athletic ability, the dinner late into the night at the McNaughtons, each of the guests describing what the game meant to them.....and who among us hasn't done that over and over?....  The lesson about visualization on the first tee.... the episodes with Seamus and the Baffing Spoon down in the deepness of the land and the night.

Also interested in the thread as we at Bandon Dunes are engaged in a bit of work in advance of the filming here, and together are enjoying the in-house conversations and rumors regarding some of the actors who might have parts, where the scenes will be shot, etc.....

....Could be a very interesting February here at Bandon!

Coming out of a week of brilliant sunny weather here, into the other side...rain and wind.

Tom

[Anthony Butler]

It is a fascinating book but I cannot imagine trying to listen to it as a "book on tape".

That sends off alarm bells as to whether or not this book can be translated into a film. Having sold a script or two to Fox Icon (movies never got made) and spent many hours thinking about character development and narrative, the problem with golf movies and with 'action' scenes in these movies is the people making the movie think this is where the story moves forward and everyone watching thinks it's a break from the story to show a few nature shots.

Also, internal dialogue breaks the essential pillars of screenwriting:Story should be moved forward by action and character should be revealed through dialogue.

Not that this is a hard and fast rule (in fact several good movies have been made recently with a lot of V/0) but it is tough. For some reason, the drama inherent within boxing and football translate a lot better to the screen than golf...

[Ted Kramer]

I don't know which movie I think stands less of a chance, Golf in the Kingdom or Atlas Shrugged. I love both books and can't imagine either movie being worthy . . .

-Ted

[RSLivingston_III]

What are the best guesses on what course inspired Burningbush?
I have heard Crail, any others?

[Garland Bayley]

....Could be a very interesting February here at Bandon!

Coming out of a week of brilliant sunny weather here, into the other side...rain and wind.

Tom

Tom,

You remind me of Mrs. Bale (sp?) on As Time Goes By always ending with the shipping forecast.
 

EDIT: forgot the smiley

[Eric Olsen]

I am a fan of the book, and it feels most appropriate that the movie will be filmed at Bandon Dunes.   The variations in light and weather alone can be illuminating and mystifying in a single round of winter golf at Bandon, and I suspect that the surroundings and  the story will complement each other in such a way as to create a most interesting and satisfying film experience.      

[Tom Jefferson]

Garland;

I've been called a lot of names, but Mrs. Bale!! is a first!

I guess I got started with the weather report from here because the conditions at Bandon are so much a part of the experience, and so many conversations in this forum bring the subject up.

The weather here is a huge part of my work....the staffs seem to live and breathe the constant changes that the Pacific sends our way.  We are outfitted well.....that, and a sense of humor helps us through.

Regards,
Tom

[Michael Dugger]

What are the best guesses on what course inspired Burningbush?
I have heard Crail, any others?

I always heard St. Andrews.  Shivas drove the 18th green.