The Field (1990 film): Difference between revisions
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Bull McCabe, an Irish farmer, dumps a dead donkey in a lake. It transpires that McCabe's son, Tadgh, killed the donkey after discovering it had broken into their field. The donkey's owner blames Bull McCabe for the death and demands "blood money". McCabe has a deep attachment to a rented field his family have cultivated from barren, to a very productive piece of land over a number of generations. The fields owner is a widow who, around the time of the 10th anniversary of the death of her husband, decides to sell the field. McCabe has been trying to buy the field from her for some time. She decides to sell the field by public auction rather than to McCabe directly. Unknown to McCabe his son, Tadgh, has been harassing the widow nightly for years. The widow believes McCabe is behind the harassment in order to force her into a sale. On hearing there will be an auction McCabe goes to the village pub and announces that nobody would dare bid against him for "my field". |
Bull McCabe, an Irish farmer, dumps a dead donkey in a lake. It transpires that McCabe's son, Tadgh, killed the donkey after discovering it had broken into their field. The donkey's owner blames Bull McCabe for the death and demands "blood money". McCabe has a deep attachment to a rented field his family have cultivated from barren, to a very productive piece of land over a number of generations. The fields owner is a widow who, around the time of the 10th anniversary of the death of her husband, decides to sell the field. McCabe has been trying to buy the field from her for some time. She decides to sell the field by public auction rather than to McCabe directly. Unknown to McCabe his son, Tadgh, has been harassing the widow nightly for years. The widow believes McCabe is behind the harassment in order to force her into a sale. On hearing there will be an auction McCabe goes to the village pub and announces that nobody would dare bid against him for "my field". |
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McCabe has constant doubts about |
McCabe has constant doubts about Tadhg's ability to safeguard the field. His older son, Seimi, committed suicide when he was 13. McCabe blames himself for the death, as he told Seamie the field could only support one family, and that Tadhg would have to emigrate when he grew up. McCabe and his wife have not spoken in the 18 years since the death. |
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An American, |
An American, William, whose ancestors are from the area, arrives in the village. He has plans to build a hydro-electric plant in the area and quarry stone for new "highways". Central to his plans is McCabe's field. At the auction William repeatedly out-bids McCabe, forcing the price up to 80 pounds, 30 pounds more than what McCabe can afford. Seeing the bidding war the widow stops the auction and insists there would be a new auction, with a reserve price of 100 pounds. Knowing he cannot out bid William and seeing his cattle thrown off the field, McCabe goes to the [[rectory]] to confront William, and the [[parish priest]] who has been supporting him. McCabe now discovers Tadhg's actions, expelling him from the meeting, and goes on to explain his deep attachment to the field. This includes the death of his mother while saving hay. Despite McCabe, William refuses to back down. In a desperate last attempt McCabe and Tadhg confront William at a waterfall he has just purchased, the night before the second auction. When Tadhg fails to defeat William in a fight, McCabe himself intervenes and beats both men in a rage. William is killed, and upon realising McCabe has a mental break. He confuses Peter with is dead son Seimi. Tadhg flees to the Travellers daughter he has fallen for. He tells her he has killed William. They plan to run off together. The Bird bids on behalf of McCabe and secures the field for 101 pounds at the second auction, unopposed. |
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A Traveller boy spots the dead donkey floating in the lake and a crane is brought in to recover it. It inadvertently recovers the corpse of |
A Traveller boy spots the dead donkey floating in the lake and a crane is brought in to recover it. It inadvertently recovers the corpse of William. At the same time Tadhg comes home to tell his father he is leaving with the Travellers daughter and says he never wanted the field. The Parish priest arrives to confront McCabe about the discovery of William. Having lost his son and with the corpse discovered, McCabe insanely herds his cattle to the cliffs. The Bird follows Tadhg and tells him his father has gone mad. Tadhg rushes to stop his father but gets driven over the cliff by the herd of cattle and is killed. Maddened with grief, McCabe attempts to drive the waves back from his dead son, while Tadhg's mother and the Traveller's daughter sob on the clifftop. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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''The Field'' starred [[Richard Harris]] as Bull McCabe, [[Sean Bean]] as Bull's son Tadhg, [[Brenda Fricker]] as Bull's wife Maggie, and [[John Hurt]] as Bird O'Donnell. Adaptations included changes to the cast; the town priest received an expanded role as Father Liam McDermot, played by [[Sean McGinley]], and English resident William Dee is replaced by the sympathetic [[Irish American]] |
''The Field'' starred [[Richard Harris]] as Bull McCabe, [[Sean Bean]] as Bull's son Tadhg, [[Brenda Fricker]] as Bull's wife Maggie, and [[John Hurt]] as Bird O'Donnell. Adaptations included changes to the cast; the town priest received an expanded role as Father Liam McDermot, played by [[Sean McGinley]], and English resident William Dee is replaced by the sympathetic [[Irish American]] William, played by [[Tom Berenger]].<ref>''[[The Irish Filmography]] 1896-1996''; Red Mountain Press (Dublin); 1996. Page 197</ref> |
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Filmed on location in Aasleigh and Leenane, County Galway, Ireland. |
Filmed on location in Aasleigh and Leenane, County Galway, Ireland. |
Revision as of 18:21, 20 March 2013
The Field | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jim Sheridan |
Screenplay by | Jim Sheridan |
Produced by | Noel Pearson |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Jack Conroy |
Edited by | J. Patrick Duffner |
Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Avenue Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 1:50:00 |
Countries |
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Language | English |
The Field is Jim Sheridan's 1990 film adaptation of John B. Keane's 1965 play of the same name.
Plot
Bull McCabe, an Irish farmer, dumps a dead donkey in a lake. It transpires that McCabe's son, Tadgh, killed the donkey after discovering it had broken into their field. The donkey's owner blames Bull McCabe for the death and demands "blood money". McCabe has a deep attachment to a rented field his family have cultivated from barren, to a very productive piece of land over a number of generations. The fields owner is a widow who, around the time of the 10th anniversary of the death of her husband, decides to sell the field. McCabe has been trying to buy the field from her for some time. She decides to sell the field by public auction rather than to McCabe directly. Unknown to McCabe his son, Tadgh, has been harassing the widow nightly for years. The widow believes McCabe is behind the harassment in order to force her into a sale. On hearing there will be an auction McCabe goes to the village pub and announces that nobody would dare bid against him for "my field".
McCabe has constant doubts about Tadhg's ability to safeguard the field. His older son, Seimi, committed suicide when he was 13. McCabe blames himself for the death, as he told Seamie the field could only support one family, and that Tadhg would have to emigrate when he grew up. McCabe and his wife have not spoken in the 18 years since the death.
An American, William, whose ancestors are from the area, arrives in the village. He has plans to build a hydro-electric plant in the area and quarry stone for new "highways". Central to his plans is McCabe's field. At the auction William repeatedly out-bids McCabe, forcing the price up to 80 pounds, 30 pounds more than what McCabe can afford. Seeing the bidding war the widow stops the auction and insists there would be a new auction, with a reserve price of 100 pounds. Knowing he cannot out bid William and seeing his cattle thrown off the field, McCabe goes to the rectory to confront William, and the parish priest who has been supporting him. McCabe now discovers Tadhg's actions, expelling him from the meeting, and goes on to explain his deep attachment to the field. This includes the death of his mother while saving hay. Despite McCabe, William refuses to back down. In a desperate last attempt McCabe and Tadhg confront William at a waterfall he has just purchased, the night before the second auction. When Tadhg fails to defeat William in a fight, McCabe himself intervenes and beats both men in a rage. William is killed, and upon realising McCabe has a mental break. He confuses Peter with is dead son Seimi. Tadhg flees to the Travellers daughter he has fallen for. He tells her he has killed William. They plan to run off together. The Bird bids on behalf of McCabe and secures the field for 101 pounds at the second auction, unopposed.
A Traveller boy spots the dead donkey floating in the lake and a crane is brought in to recover it. It inadvertently recovers the corpse of William. At the same time Tadhg comes home to tell his father he is leaving with the Travellers daughter and says he never wanted the field. The Parish priest arrives to confront McCabe about the discovery of William. Having lost his son and with the corpse discovered, McCabe insanely herds his cattle to the cliffs. The Bird follows Tadhg and tells him his father has gone mad. Tadhg rushes to stop his father but gets driven over the cliff by the herd of cattle and is killed. Maddened with grief, McCabe attempts to drive the waves back from his dead son, while Tadhg's mother and the Traveller's daughter sob on the clifftop.
Production
The Field starred Richard Harris as Bull McCabe, Sean Bean as Bull's son Tadhg, Brenda Fricker as Bull's wife Maggie, and John Hurt as Bird O'Donnell. Adaptations included changes to the cast; the town priest received an expanded role as Father Liam McDermot, played by Sean McGinley, and English resident William Dee is replaced by the sympathetic Irish American William, played by Tom Berenger.[1]
Filmed on location in Aasleigh and Leenane, County Galway, Ireland.
The auctioneer's role is considerably reduced from the original play, while new additions include a family of Irish Travellers, despised by Bull McCabe for having lost their connection to the land. The ending was also changed for the film.
Reception
The Field was released to mixed reviews, with critics giving it generally negative reviews. It has been favourably reviewed by the public though.[2] It was a commercial failure, failing to recover its costs.[3] However Harris received Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for his performance.
In 1996 An Post, the Irish Post Office, issued a set of postage stamps to commemorate the centenary of Irish cinema; the 32p stamp featured an image from The Field of actors Harris, Bean, and Hurt standing against the backdrop of Killary Harbour.[4]
Notes
- ^ The Irish Filmography 1896-1996; Red Mountain Press (Dublin); 1996. Page 197
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099566/business
- ^ Detail of the 32p stamp. From europeanstamps.net. Retrieved July 15, 2006.
References
- "John B Keane". doolee.com. Retrieved March 17, 2007.