This day honors 35mm film making from Thomas Edison, who created the camera to Eastman, who created the film that would be used in those cameras to make some of Hollywood’s classics. The first film shot on 35mm film was The Horse in Motion in 1878. 35mm film was consider the standard until the 2000s when digital became the replacement. Cinephiles gather in 2002 to form the Digital Cinema Initiative to preserve these classics.

The Natural, starring Robert Redford, is one of these movies and was based on a book of the same name by Bernard Malamud.

The Natural by Bernard Malamud

Follows the story of Roy Hobbs, a true natural in the game of baseball. When Roy travels to Chicago to try out for the Chicago Cubs, he meets “The Whammer” on the train. Roy brags that he can strike out “The Whammer” out using just three pitches, and he does just that. Back on the train a woman identified as Bird strikes up a conversation with Roy. Once they arrive at a Chicago hotel, she shoots Roy.

16 years later, Roy is back and is playing for the Knights, a team with a tremendous losing streak. Roy is the new right fielder. He provides that he is a natural fielder and hitter for the team, taking the place of a veteran player. He also falls in love with Memo, but he is warned that she brings bad luck to all she is involved with. Roy dismisses this warning.

Meanwhile, Roy leads the team on a 17 game winning streak, and they are only one game away from winning the National League pennant. After attending a party, Roy wakes in the hospital. He is told that he can play the game, but he must retire immediately after if he hopes to live. Wanting to marry and start a family with Memo, he knows that he needs to make this game count and earn a significant amount of money. Will he be able to live out his dreams?