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| Overcoming a sickly early childhood, Bobby Jones' earned recognition as a sports phenomenon by the age of 14. Triumphing over his own spirited temper, self-imposed perfectionism and the barbs of public scrutiny, he often endured pain and grueling physical strain to achieve victory on the golf course. |
(2004) Film Review by Benn Becker |
| This page was created on April 24, 2004
This page was last updated on
May 8, 2004
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
—Forum
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| CREDITS |
| Directed by Rowdy Herrington
Screenplay by Rowdy Herrington and Bill Pryor
Cast (in credits order)
Jim Caviezel .... Bobby Jones
Claire Forlani .... Mary Jones
Jeremy Northam .... Walter Hagen
Malcolm McDowell .... O.B. Keeler
Connie Ray .... Clara Jones
Brett Rice .... 'Big Bob' Jones
Aidan Quinn .... Harry Vardon
Larry Thompson .... John Malone
Produced by
Jason Behrman .... co-producer
Kim Dawson .... producer
Rick Eldridge .... executive producer
Rick Eldridge .... supervising producer
Tim Moore .... line producer
Tim Moore .... producer
Dave Ross .... executive producer
Jim Schmidt .... co-producer
John Schmidt .... co-producer
John Shepherd .... producer
Original Music by James Horner
Cinematography by Tom Stern
Film Editing by Pasquale Buba
MPAA: Rated PG for language.
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG |
| TRAILERS AND CLIPS |
| —Trailers, Photos |
| CD |
Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius
James Horner
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| BOOK |
Bobby Jones--Stroke of Genius
by David Sobel
For some competitors the ultimate victories come through a stroke of luck. But for Robert Tyre ("Bobby") Jones, it was about a Stroke of Genius. Revered as perhaps the greatest golfer of all time, Bobby Jones (played by Jim Caviezel) had a style that set him apart from all others: skill in the face of daunting challenges, impeccable integrity, unrivaled intensity, a dashing smile, legendary wit and intelligence, and an epic passion for life that was born out of unique adversities.
He became a champion because of the trophies he won, including an unprecedented sweep of the Grand Slam tournaments of his day in 1930. But he became a hero around the world because of the character he showed as he pursued what one sportswriter called "the most triumphant journey traveled by any man in sport."
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| SYNOPSIS |
 For some athletes, the ultimate win comes through a stroke of luck, but for Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., "Bobby Jones," it was truly a stroke of genius. His natural skill and uncanny passion for the game of golf earned him the title of "The Best Golfer
in the World." But it was his style that set him apart. A dashing smile. Impeccable integrity. Unrivaled intensity. Legendary wit and intelligence. An epic passion for life, born out of adversity. For a brief moment in time, this incredible man became an American hero. Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius tells the story of that man.
Overcoming a sickly early childhood, Bobby Jones' earned recognition as a sports phenomenon by the age of 14. Triumphing over his own spirited temper, self-imposed perfectionism and the barbs of public scrutiny, he often endured pain and grueling physical strain to achieve victory on the golf course. Of the 13 titles that he collected during his short career, four of them - the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, the British Amateur and
the coveted British Open - were won within four months of the same year, earning him the title of Grand Slam Champion, a record that has never been broken. The next year he retired from competitive golf. He was 28.
The film stars Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, The Thin Red Line), Claire Forlani (Meet Joe Black, The Rock), Jeremy Northam (The Singing Detective, Gosford Park, An Ideal Husband) who are joined by an ensemble cast of some of today's most compelling actors including Connie Ray (About Schmidt, Stuart Little, Hope Floats), Brett Rice (The Punisher, Monster, Remember the Titans) and Malcolm McDowell (The Company, Between
Strangers, A Clockwork Orange) as O. B. Keeler. Making their screen film debut are Devon Gearhart as 6-8 year old Bobby Jones and Thomas Lewis as 14 year old Bobby.
—More here
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 Review by
BENN BECKER
Benn has an undergradute degree in Finance from the University of Nebraska and is working towards a masters in both Business and English. He owns some farmland and is currently writing a novel. He lives in Lincoln, NE. |
 Golf is THE most spiritually relevant sport (see THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE for a wonderful example). Sometimes
you are competing with others, but often the battle is against yourself and the golf course. A round of golf is similar to the life journey. Everyone starts on the first tee (birth) and ends on the 18th green (death); however, the journey along the way varies for each person. Golf is a game of recovery -- if you make a poor shot you have to leave it behind, put it out of your mind, understand where you find yourself currently, and determine where and how you are going to proceed. Often
the best golf is played when you ignore everything around you, “get out of your own way,” and just play the game as it presents itself to you. So it goes in life.
 BOBBY JONES: STROKE OF GENIUS follows the life of golfing legend Bobby Jones from his youth to his retirement from the sport. He is perhaps the most revered of all golfers. “From 1923 to 1930 Bobby
Jones captured an amazing 62 percent of the national championships he entered, winning 13 of 21 tournaments. He won five out of eight U.S. Amateur Championships, and finished second in another. He won one of the two British Amateurs he played in. In
eleven of the last twelve open championships he entered, he finished no worse than second, winning seven times. In 1926, Jones became the first player ever to capture the 'Double,' winning the U.S. and British Open Championships in the same year. In 1930, he accomplished the Grand Slam, winning the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open, and U.S. Amateur all in the same year” (www.bobbyjones.com/record.html).
 Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. (played by Jim Caviezel) survived a sickly childhood and was a quick study when it came to golf, never taking formal lessons. He regularly beat older opponents
in his youth. The film demonstrates Bobby’s successes and failures and how he grows as a golfer and as a person, while making us aware of the historical environment. He was a humble man and known as a gentleman and academic. Jones was not a fan of fame and the difficulties it brought. He was particularly plagued by stress and sometimes lost 15 pounds during a tournament. One of his weaknesses was his temper. Sportswriter Grantland Rice said Jones had “the face of an angel
and the temper of a timber wolf" (bobbyjones.com/biography.html). At age 19 his low point came at the 1921 British Open at St. Andrew’s in Scotland where he quit during a poor round. It is not uncommon to hear today’s American golfers condemn the Old Course where golf basically began--high winds and steady rain are not uncommon and the long rough and deep pot bunkers can be unfriendly to American players
accustomed to benign weather and manicured courses. After maturing, Jones eventually learns to appreciate the Old Course.
 Experience is sometimes the only way we learn in the world. “Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” We see Jones grow into the legend many have heard about today. He calls a penalty on
himself. He refuses to turn pro to make a living at the sport because “I play golf because I love it. … Once you play for money, it’s not love anymore.” After much success, he eventually gives up the game at age 28 to raise his family and practice law. “When the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”
 The film was solid, although it felt more like a TV movie than a feature film. Caviezel’s acting was a little restrained, not portraying the internal struggles of Jones’s character as effectively as I thought they could
have been. However, I would still recommend this film about a true gentleman of the game of golf, especially for those who have heard about the legend but aren’t completely familiar with his story. The ending (which I won’t reveal) left me with goose bumps.
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BJ FILM COMPANY ANNOUNCES
THE MAKING OF A FEATURE FILM ABOUT
LEGENDARY GOLFER BOBBY JONES
STROKE OF GENIUS
PRESS RELEASE: October 30, 2002
Atlanta, GA- The life story of legendary Atlanta golfer, Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones, Jr. will be made into a major motion picture, according to Bobby Jones Film, LLC. The film, which will be styled in a manner similar to the epic Chariots of Fire, will be set in the year 1930, during which Jones achieved the Grand Slam, a momentous feat, which has yet to be repeated. Bobby Jones Film, LLC has reached an agreement
in principle with the heirs of Bobby Jones and are working to finalize the details of that agreement.
Bobby Jones Film, LLC is headed by producer Kim Dawson of Orlando, Florida; executive producer Rick Eldridge of Charlotte, North Carolina; and consulting producer Tom Crow, the founder of Cobra Golf and a past Australian Amateur Champion. The heirs of Jones are working with the film's producers to ensure the authenticity of Jones' character depictions throughout the film. It is anticipated that portions of the film will be
shot at venues where Jones learned and played the game. A percentage of the proceeds from the worldwide box office will benefit the East Lake Community Foundation and The Jones Scholarship Trust. Production will begin in the Atlanta area on Jones 101st Birthday, St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
Jones was considered a "hero for the ages" when he accomplished the seemingly impossible task of winning the Grand Slam with an energizing style, capturing the British Amateur at St. Andrews Scotland, and The Open Championship at Hoylake followed by the U.S. Open at Interlachen, Minnesota, and the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf and Cricket Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Since Jones played only as an amateur, his accomplishments
were all the more amazing. After his final victory in 1930, at Merion, he retired from competition. The personalities and the "stories behind the story" are riveting and full of intensity, romance, humor, and a powerful sense of conviction that the producers believe will be an inspiration to millions of viewers for many years to come.
"This will be an historic film that no serious golfer will want to miss, but which will have very broad appeal as well. It will be crafted with careful attention to the nuances, emotions and triumph of the game during an extraordinary period of world history. It will inspire anyone with a fire for winning and a passion for life," Dawson explained.
The film is budgeted in the $15 million range. It will be cast with a mixture of prominent Hollywood actors and some new faces, who will be identified in a nationwide casting search. "Deals will be set in the coming weeks for the director, writers, and other key personnel," Dawson noted. The film is being financed by The Private Consulting Group, a wealth advisory firm based in Portland, Oregon, and Net Fusion of
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
BJ Film's producers and investors have created a unique model for producing and distributing the film, incorporating a pre-release strategy like that of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where special local screenings will be used to build word of mouth about the film. This will involve a pre-release screening at selected golf clubs across the country to benefit charitable causes, followed by a worldwide theatrical release, first
in the US and then, abroad. The producers are also negotiating for an exclusive worldwide broadcast premiere as part of the release schedule. Announcements about the production details and distribution schedule are forthcoming at a formal event planned for next month in Atlanta.
"We're going to implement a unique marketing campaign targeting the world's growing golf community, and leverage the film's anticipated success to facilitate a host of outreach programs befitting of the legacy of Bobby Jones," said the film's executive producer, Rick Eldridge. This will include educational and community initiatives that will underscore Jones' philanthropic career as an amateur golfer, attorney,
and prominent citizen of Atlanta and St. Andrews.
Producers Dawson, Eldridge and Crow bring an extensive list of credentials to the project, including production roles for Disney, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC Sports, Viacom, ESPN, PAX, and others. Dawson served as producer of one of the all-time most profitable and successful independent films, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Tom Crow, consulting producer for Stroke of Genius, promises that "audiences will cheer, laugh, cry, and applaud when they see this film. We are determined to create a film that balances old- fashioned storytelling with state-of-the-art filmography. The quality of this effort will be appropriate to the stature of the man whose story we will tell."
—More here
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OFFICIAL SITE
Publicity information and images © 2004 Bobby Jones Film Company. All Rights Reserved.
No other uses are permitted without the prior written consent of owner. Use of the material in violation of the foregoing may result in civil and/or criminal penalties. Credits and dates are subject to change. For more information, please visit their official site.
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