Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, written and directed by Rowdy Harrington, tells the biographical story of golf’s most amazing amateur.
In taking on the role of Bobby Jones, Mr Caviezel will again demonstrate his ample athletic intelligence.
Rowdy Harrington
Long-time film worker Rowdy Harrington has worked in the movie-making industry since about 1979, when he earned his first credit as an electrician. He’s also worked as a grip, gaffer and best boy electrician. His writing credits, including one for this film, go back to “Jack’s Back”, credit for which he earned in 1988.
His previous director credits include “Road House” and “Striking Distance”, which he also wrote. Harrington also earned television directing credits.
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Bobby Jones
With the given name of Robert Tyre Jones, Bobby Jones, who reportedly never had a formal golfing lesson, won his first club championship at age nine. He retired from competitive golf in his 20s after winning every possible cup; the first to win golf’s Grand Slam.
Jones went on to earn degrees in Law, English Literature and Mechanical Engineering, then set up a law practice in Atlanta, Georgia. For golf, he designed the Augusta National and collaborated to develop the US Masters Championship competition.
He is remembered warmly in golf circles, including the R&A clubhouse. A room in the USGA Museum is dedicated to his memory. When he returned to St Andrews in the 1930s to play a demonstration round, 3,000 townspeople showed up.
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Tidbits
Updated August 18, 2003
You can read more about Bobby Jones in the GolfEurope almanac.
Apparently according to Screen Daily, principal photography is due to begin at St Andrews August 24, 2003.
Updated August 21, 2003
If you can make it to St Andrews by Sunday, you may be able to play a role in the crowd scenes being shot that day, according to the Glasgow Daily Record.
Updated August 22, 2003
We learn from Reuters that Malcom McDowell joined the cast to play the role of O B Keeler, a trusted friend and sportswriter.
Updated August 25, 2003
Now we learn from The Toronto Star, that Claire Forlani has also joined the cast, to play the role of Bobby Jones’s wife.
Updated August 28, 2003, thanks to EI
Now for some background on the film from the Charlotte Observer. [registration required]
And a few tidbits about production that began last Sunday.
Updated August 31, 2003
From the [Glasgow] Sunday Herald, we learn more about how this project developed and is now finally this much of a reality.
Updated September 5, 2003, thanks to MW
And with information from the Rockdale Citizen, we learn more about filming locations and schedules.
Updated September 10, 2003
From the UK Daily Record, a little background on Claire Forlani, including some kind words about Mr Caviezel's work.
Updated October 13, 2003
From Melbourne’s daily newspaper, The Age, we learn more about the Bobby Jones story...and Mr Caviezel as a blonde?
Updated October 30, 2003, thanks to MW
Another lovely article about this film from the scotsman.com.
Updated December 1, 2003
Another nice background piece on the film, from golfweb.com.
We understand from PGA.com that ‘Stroke’ is scheduled to premier on March 17, 2004 in St. Andrews, Scotland, partly in commemoration of the 102nd anniversary of Jones’s birth.
Updated December 29, 2003, thanks to HT
You can see the trailers now on the official site [see FAQ], and they are nice to watch and hear. Go to the site and click trailers.
Updated December 29, 2003, thanks to NS
The ‘official’ site now lists several dates, including one for the Atlanta premier and the release date in America, which appears to be April 30, 2004, although the link disappeared.
Updated February 4, 2004
Thanks to MusicFromTheMovies.com, we learn that James Horner has taken on scoring music for this film.
Added February 15, 2004, updated March 2, 2004
If you do not subscribe, you can pick up the March 2004 edition of Golf Magazine, which contains a feature about Mr Caviezel’s participation with Malcom McDowell in this film. Both actors are shown in proper plus fours. Finally, it’s all true: you can see in the photos that Mr Caviezel did pass as a blonde.
Update Here is the link to the online site. It lacks the photos available in the physical edition.
In the article, Mr Caviezel comments that mastering the Bobby Jones swing “...has so many moving parts...[i]t was easier learning to fence for [Monte Cristo]”. Finally, he says that although he ‘was not a golfer’ before taking on the role, now he’s ‘hooked’.
Added March 2, 2004, thanks to EI
The independent film distributor Franchise Films and Bobby Jones Film, LLC reveals plans to release this film in approximately 800 theatres. From Box Office Profits, we learn these particulars about Bobby Jones.
“Over the course of a seven-year period beginning in the 1920s, the dashing and witty golfer became famous all around the world by winning an astonishing 62% of the national championships he entered. This impressive accomplishment included first place in 13 out of 21 tournaments, and reached its zenith when he swept the Grand Slam of the four majors in the summer of 1930, a feat that remains unmatched to this day. After winning the Slam, Jones retired and chose never to play competitively again.
“In addition to his impressive golfing resume, Jones also attained degrees in mechanical engineering, English literature and law. Eventually, after his retirement, he became crippled with a degenerative back disorder called syringomyelia. Never wavering, he designed and founded the Augusta National Golf Club with friends and originated its prestigious annual tournament, The Masters.”
Added March 13, 2004, thanks to EI
The sports industry media appreciates the way Mr Caviezel’s athletic intelligence shows up in this film.
Added March 13, 2004, moved to this page March 15, 2004
A truly unofficial and unacknowledged review of Mr Caviezel’s work in this film by one who admits ‘slipping into a screening’, reads:
“The film really belongs to Jim Caviezel, who does a wonderfully understated job as Bobby Jones. The film is being compared to ‘Seabiscuit,’ ‘Chariots of Fire,’ ‘The Rookie,’ ‘Radio’ and other feel-good movies, and it truly is in that genre. Running two hours, the time just flew. It had some sweet, humorous moments, a few laugh-out-loud scenes and is a good family film.
“The only caveat is that Jones swears on the course when he misses a shot. He doesn’t curse, but swears, using words like "b@st@rd" and "sh@t", often in quaint, old-fashioned terms. But he is shown trying to curb his temper, learning to stop swearing on the course after the golf association wants to ban him for improper action during a game (swearing and accidentally hitting a woman when he throws a golf club)”.
March 17, 2004
If you’re feeling charitable toward students seeking scholarships for their education—students with caddy experience, you can attend a pre-release screening of this film on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle. The film is scheduled for an evening screening on April 22, 2004.
April 3, 2004
Thanks to GolfWeb.com, an objective piece written by the PGA tour managing editor about the film, with revealing material about how Mr Caviezel prepared to play this role.
Also, according to the Oregonian, “Thousands of people in Atlanta this week paid $100 to $500...to watch Jesus play golf and talk about it”.
Mr Caviezel, apparently, stopped traffic in both directions as he arrived at the Fox Theatre for the charity screening. In his remarks, Mr Caviezel is quoted as saying...
“About 13 years ago, I was a waiter at a Hollywood party full of celebrities, and I talked to Jimmy Stewart to get advice,” Caviezel told the gathering. “He said, ‘Make good movies, make good movies.’ I think this is one of those things Jimmy Stewart was talking about.”
April 9, 2004
Thanks to Dorothy J. Poppe, the National Director of Development at The American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, Inc., who tells us that Mr Caviezel will be personally autographing books at the VIP reception for the New York City Premiere of ‘Stroke’ on April 26th. This is charity work that Mr Caviezel agreed to complete on behalf of this organization, because Bobby Jones suffered from syringomyelia, a spinal cord disorder.
April 10, 2004
From GolfWeb.com, we learn more about Mr Caviezel and his golf game.
April 15, 2004, thanks to HS
An informative article about the marketing campaigns around seeing the film at charity events.
April 21, 2004
We could call this the ‘nice sox’ story, but we won’t. Dear reader, you can learn about how Mr Caviezel mastered the Bobby Jones swing, and perhaps learn something about how to improve your own swing from this Golf Digest article.
Also, read this back story about the clubs used in the film, and how you can acquire your very own set.
And a late posting from Mr Caviezel’s sorta hometown paper, about his attending the recent Master’s tournament.
April 26, 2004
Another back-grounder that reveals more about why Mr Caviezel pursued the role of Bobby Jones.
April 29, 2004
The Jones grandchildren weigh in on the Harrington script, and about the story of their grandfather. Other storytellers’ motivations are also revealed.
Plus, more from Mr Caviezel about his motivation to take the part.
May 7, 2004
From Detroit, more details about the charities evolving around this film and how this writer believes that Mr Caviezel—s participation in the film shows his true character.
July 26, 2004
Stephanie Sparks tells her story about playing the role of Alexa Stirling in this film, and about working with Mr Caviezel.
August 7, thanks to all who sent it in
We have a general release time for this film on DVD, and it is estimated for December 2004, according to VideoETA.
December 2, 2004
Well, the December estimate was close: the DVD release date was November 30, 2004. And with it, a few more notes about the film.
The DVD special features include bloopers, deleted scenes, director commmentary and a ‘making of’ section. For worldwide appeal, subtitles are available in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese and Thai.
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Interviews
April 20, 2004, thanks to HS
Mr Caviezel, in his own words, talks about making this film.
April 26, 2004, thanks to GB from Austria
An excellent and informative interview given on the occasion of a screening in Spokane, Washington, Mr C’s home state.
April 29, 2004
From CBS The Early Show a video interview that also includes a few words about Mr Caviezel’s participation in the ‘Passion’, and meeting John Paul II.
May 3, 2004
An interview in Mr Caviezel’s close-to-hometown newspaper reveals more about Mr Caviezel, his background, and of course, his participation in this film. If you can pick up a copy of the April 30, 2004 edition of this newspaper, Mr Caviezel is featured prominently with this story on the front page of their Arts and Entertainment section, including a large photo from this film.
And from Honolulu, an interview worth reading.
And an interview with Rowdy Harrington.
[now available through the paid archives]
May 17, 2004
Mr Caviezel speaks from the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France about Bobby Jones and about his work in ‘Passion’.
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Reviews
May 3, 2004
From the DenverPost, one opinion.
And another from a Southern media writer.
May 3, 2004
The Scotsman review includes producing details of interest.
May 13, 2004
The Washington Times prints a review that we believe most closely reflects the story Mr Caviezel tells in this film. This critic delivers a satisfying review and does not feel forced to show us how much more he knows about films that we might. [ed.]
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FAQ
Question
Where can I find the official site?
Answer
Updated December 2, 2003, thanks to RW
Looks like this is the correct address for one of the official sites.
Added April 15, 2003
And here is a banner being used to promote the movie by way of the Internet.
Note In the spirit of full disclosure, please know that when you click the banner, you can help us win $250 if the most clicks come from ReelCaviezel. Any winnings will be donated to The American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, Inc.
As of July 15, looks like another site won this contest; enjoy the link from the banner!
In addition, here is the link to it in the Internet Movie Database.
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