MovieChat Forums > The Natural (1984) Discussion > This makes no sense

This makes no sense

posted 18 years ago by LionHearted99
30 replies | jump to latest

Hobbs has been poisoned and recuperates in the nearest hospital. The doctor informs him his playing days are over because his stomach is in bad shape and can rupture at any time. He, of course, has to play in the last game if they are to win the pennant. At his last at bat, he begins to grimace in pain and we see blood stains appear on his jersey. If he is bleeding internally, how can we see blood on his jersey? Even as a metaphor it's far fetched. Thoughts, anyone?

"Why you don't beat that girl...." "No! She's full of education and it's a delicate commodity. Night Meg." "Night father."

[–] vanhalen242 18 years ago

he...had..stitches

[–] actionwolf83-1 18 years ago

Easy, when you are bleeding internally you cough up blood. So he put his hand over his mouth, got blood on his hand and wiped it on his jersey.

[–] JR541 18 years ago

vanhalen242 is right. He had an operation to remove the bullet. He was bleeding from the stiches.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] CharlieGordon 18 years ago

No, they said they found the bullet when they pumped his stomach.

[–] JR541 18 years ago

But they may have had to perform some procedures on his stomach after that leaving some stitches. I am no medical expert but they may be a logical reason for the bleeding that the layman may not know.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] AstroCreep 18 years ago

I always thought he coughed up blood and wiped his hand on his jersey. Mostly because the shot of him taking his swing, it looks like 3 finger marks in blood.

[–] parker57 18 years ago

I agree, he coughed up the blood and wiped it on his jersey.

[–] bluestriker 18 years ago

The blood was seeping from his shirt...he didnt cough it up...his hands would have blood on them....its obvious it was meant to be from his surgery

[–] JR541 18 years ago

sounds like a possibility.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] blakkdrache 17 years ago

I realize this thread is a few months old, but here's a thought:
The blood on his jersey could possibly relate to a Stigmata.
Afterall, Hobbs was a 'god-like' character with his abilities.

Just my two cents.

[–] jkpauley-1 17 years ago

Very good...but Christ-like.

[–] cornflakes_and_milk 17 years ago

he had surgery AND his stomach was pumped. the spot that had blood on it was the same spot he was shot.

the blood was shown to add to the drama. as a result, it could be viewed as a minor goof since the doctor did say the bullet was "pumped" out of his stomach. so yeah, could be a minor goof. but hey, suspend disbelief for a moment, still a good scene.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] ccfor 16 years ago

If it was internal bleeding he wouldn't be coughing it up unless it was a punctured lung. Internal bleeding of the stomach would show up as a grey area in the lower torso. It was most likely torn stitches. The blood was the wrong color to be coming from the stomach as it would be darker. I think there was 2 or 3 shots close up on the blood and each time it appeared to be larger(but thats just me).

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

probably should have gotten some better meds.

🎄Season's Greetings!🎄

[–] egg-n-chips 18 years ago

In a movie that features the cover being smacked off a baseball, a man dying from falling through a floppy old plywood barrier, a lot of conveniently dramatic thunder and lightning and lights that pop into pretty fireworks when one of them gets hit by a ball, and this is the part that you can't buy? Just out of curiosity, what makes this any harder to believe than the rest of it?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] turtletommy 17 years ago

Some of the stuff in the film is no more unbelievable than Randy Johnson and Dave Winfield nailing seagulls in flight with a thrown ball or an actual major leaguer running completely through an outfield wall, cartoon-like, that I've seen on sports bloopers shows a few times. Can't forget the infamous Jose Canseco flyball off his head and over the fence for a homer routine either.

[–] Molly-31 17 years ago

I agree with this... the first night The Cubs had lights, Andre Dawson smacked one right into them. Kablooey. No fireworks, though, and by that time they had the good sense to wire them so that only one bank of lights went out -- not the whole deal!

I assumed the bloodstains were from stitches, but you're right, he probably coughed blood and wiped his hand on his jersey.

[–] theoraclestar 17 years ago

I figured the blood was probably from the original wound from the bullet entry that had opened up again.

[–] cjr3559 17 years ago

I can't believe I'm replying to this mess, but this is a movie about FICTION. You may have learned about fiction back in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Geesh.

It's fantasy. It's supposed to be exaggerated. I mean, I suppose the fact that the realistic looking cinematography could possibly make people think that everything they're seeing could actually take place; but, if you just keep thinking to yourself that you can suspend all belief while watching this, you can make it to the end in one piece.

Is everyone here a Neanderthal?

[–] theoraclestar 17 years ago

I can't believe I'm replying to this mess, but this is a movie about FICTION. You may have learned about fiction back in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Geesh.

The OP just asked for people's thoughts on the subject because he was not satisfied with he had seen. Fiction or non-fiction, the people responded with what they thought might be the answer. And there was no need for you to be insulting.

[–] turtletommy 17 years ago

Yeah, no need to be insulting... fortunately I'm an Australopithecine so it's just water off my very hairy back....

[–] Cuneo 17 years ago

The only fiction that works is that kind which is based absolute realism, i.e., the little things that make up the whole. What I found interesting about the bullet is that it was perfectly formed, with no disfiguration from the force of impact after sixteen years in a body.

[–] rickert 17 years ago

I thought he had stitches as well. He grabs his side when taking batting practice. It's also possible that in the 30s or 40s, a "stomach pumping" wasn't down the throat, but out the side.

[–] SnoozeAlarm 13 years ago

>>> I can't believe I'm replying to this mess, but this is a movie about FICTION. You may have learned about fiction back in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Geesh.

And yet another dimwit who doesn't comprehend that just because a movie is fiction doesn't mean that it violates the basic laws of science. Geesh.

http://tinyurl.com/cjsy86c

[–] jkpauley-1 17 years ago

"Even as a metaphor it's far fetched. Thoughts, anyone?"

It's not far-fetched if Roy is a Christ-figure.

[–] indieinvestment 14 years ago

Simple, stitches broke. You can't be out taking full swings and throwing from the outfield with brand new 1939 stitches.

Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion.

[–] AlWilliams-2 13 years ago

Of course they operated on him. How else could they have got the silver bullet out of him? And the stitches tore loose.

[–] 8 years ago

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