The Greatest Game Ever Played
| The Greatest Game Ever Played | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster
|
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| Directed by | Bill Paxton |
| Produced by |
David Blocker Larry Brezner Mark Frost |
| Written by | Mark Frost |
| Starring |
Shia LaBeouf Stephen Dillane Peter Firth Elias Koteas |
| Music by | Brian Tyler |
| Cinematography | Shane Hurlbut |
| Edited by | Elliot Graham |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
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Release date
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September 30, 2005 |
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Running time
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120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million |
| Box office | $15.4 million |
The Greatest Game Ever Played is a 2005 biographical sports film based on the early life of golf champion Francis Ouimet. The film was directed by Bill Paxton; Shia LaBeouf plays the role of Ouimet. The film's screenplay was adapted by Mark Frost from his book, The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf. It was shot in Montreal, Canada, with the Kanawaki Golf Club, in Kahnawake, Quebec, the site of the golf sequences.
Set mainly in 1913, the film is about Francis Ouimet, the first amateur to win a U.S. Open. Amateur golf in that era was then a sport only for the wealthy, and Ouimet came from an immigrant family that was part of the working class. Ouimet watches an exhibition by legendary British golf pro Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) as a 7-year-old boy, and becomes very interested in golf. He begins as a caddy at The Country Club, a posh enclave located across the street from his home in suburban Brookline, Massachusetts, while making friends with the other caddies. He works on his own golf game at every chance, and gradually accumulates his own set of clubs. Francis practices putting at night in his room. He wins the Massachusetts Schoolboy Championship.
One day, a Club member, Mr. Hastings, asks Ouimet to play with him over The Country Club course, where caddies have almost no access of their own, and he shoots a fine round of 81 despite a 9 on one hole. His talent, composure, and good manners earn admirers and interest. With the help of Mr. Hastings and the Club Caddiemaster, Francis gets a chance to play in an upcoming tournament, the U.S. Amateur, the local qualifying for which is to be held at the very same Country Club course. However, his father Arthur (Elias Koteas) tells his son to quit golf and get a "real job". Ouimet needs $50 for the entry fee, and so agrees to get a real job and never play golf again if he could not qualify; his father lends him the money. On the 18th, Francis faces a three-foot putt that would secure him a spot in the championship, but he looks over and his father is watching. Ouimet is distracted, misses and falls one stroke short of qualifying for the championship proper.
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