Here’s the story behind the film.
Bull Durham (1988) writer-director Ron Shelton provides an in-depth look into the classic in his book, The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham: Home Runs, Bad Calls, Crazy Fights, Big Swings and a Hit (2022). He chronicles everything from developing the script to scoring financial backing to casting to shooting.
Like many movies, it was often on the brink of disaster. Indeed, the making of Bull Durham could be a movie in itself.
Shelton grew up in a church-going family in California. Early on, he found a new religion, making it all the way to AAA ball before hanging up his spikes for good at 26. In college, he’d been smitten by literature, and during his minor league odyssey, Shelton became increasingly enamored with movies. To beat the heat, Shelton and teammates camped out in air-conditioned movie houses. Ultimately, it was film school on the cheap.
Before Bull Durham, Shelton was essentially an unknown with a respectable resume, having written two produced screenplays (Under Fire, The Best of Times), both box office disappointments. When Shelton wrote what he knew, the magic happened.
Inspired by everything from The Wild Bunch to Lysistrata to Spaceman Bill Lee, he cranked out Bull Durham without an outline. Besides being original, it’s hilarious and has heart. And yes, there’s that female narrator.
But no studio would make it.
The studio heads explained that baseball movies didn’t sell tickets overseas. Besides that, as Shelton points out repeatedly, Bull Durham has a meager plot and no third act.
Enter Kevin Costner, who was landing on everyone’s radar. Shelton had considered Kurt Russell for the same role (Crash Davis), but Russell’s agents refused to give first-time director Shelton the time of day. Russell makes a surprise, hilarious cameo in Church. Even with Costner’s involvement, the studios passed. If Bull Durham didn’t get backing, Costner was all set to do Everybody’s All-American.
Orion Pictures stepped up with financing at the last minute after Costner earned raves for No Way Out. But there was no time for celebration. Shooting was scheduled to begin in Durham, NC, in mere weeks, and there were still two other leads to cast.
Susan Sarandon wasn’t on the studio’s list for the role of Annie, the aforementioned narrator. She had to campaign heavily for the role, even flying herself to LA from Europe for an audition. According to Shelton, her snug attire didn’t hurt her chances.
Tim Robbins, then an unknown, wasn’t the first choice for the role of Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, but fortunately, Charlie Sheen was tied up with Eight Men Out. Shelton’s inspiration for the nickname Nuke comes from an unlikely source: His hotel server. Church is chock-full of great nuggets like this.
The shooting was tense. Shelton was convinced that he was going to be canned, and one of the studio suits wanted Robbins replaced. Meanwhile, the film’s budget was rail-thin.
One night, extras had to be recruited from a nearby Pink Floyd concert. One of the producers knew the band and spread a false rumor that they would be at the ballpark for a post-show party.
In test screenings, audiences laughed heartily. Inexplicably, though, their post-screening feedback on comment cards didn’t appear to reflect their experience. Bull Durham could’ve easily been buried at Blockbuster. However, to Orion’s credit, they trusted their instincts and released it in theaters, where it drew an audience and eventually became a hit.
After almost four decades, Bull Durham still holds up, and fans of romance will be more than satiated.
____________
Jon Hart is the author of Unfortunately, I was available.
