MovieChat Forums > Field of Dreams (1989) Discussion > Terrance Mann

Terrance Mann

posted 13 years ago by btemple-3
6 replies | jump to latest

Ok I've watched this movie a thousand times and it's one of my favorites. But something for the first time hit me when Shoeless Joe asks Terrance Mann if he would like to join them in the cornfield or whatever is beyond the cornfield. Is it possible that Terrance Mann himself was also a ghost? And that he was brought there to fulfill his dream of once playing at Ebbets field or something like that? Notice how he disappeared in the corn like the rest of the ghosts. Also it would explain why Ray wasn't asked to go with them, because he's not dead.

The only thing that would contradict this theory is that Ray showed Terrance the newspaper in the motel room showing that his father reported him missing. But then of course when Ray goes for his walk he is suddenly back in 1972. Any thoughts???

[–] williampum 13 years ago

Very good observation btemple-3, as you could certainly be onto something.

I thought when I 1st saw this movie, that he was brought to Iowa because he was going to play a greater part of Rays Dream of Baseball.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 5 years ago

Just as Mann inspired Ray & Annie with his writing when they were young, so now Ray & Annie are essentially repaying him by re-inspiring & bringing his own lost passion back to life. Ray gets his own true heart's desire, reconciliation with his father, because he has willingly helped others along his journey. And one of those willing acts is helping Mann realize that he can become a meaningful writer again.

[–] strntz (12675) 5 years ago

Is it possible that Terrance Mann himself was also a ghost?

No. Newspapers don't publish stories that writers are "missing" if they're already dead, even if they're "ghostwriters".. [rimshot]. They can generally be found at a cemetery or in an urn on someone's mantle..

[–] Dionysus481 (148) 2 years ago

Yes I was wondering this too. It's kinda of logically in limbo. Throughout the whole movie, it is as if he is currently alive, but at the end, when they talk about him going out with the others, and then him disappearing, it made me think, is he a ghost too?
But as mentioned, with him being reported as missing in the paper, he is still alive most likely. And the ultimate goal for him is that he gets to write again, about a passion of his. But the film kind of muddles it here at the end. Not sure if that is intentional or not (plot hole)? But I will lean to think he is not a ghost, and was allowed a magical peek into the other world.

[–] PaladinNJ (21593) 2 years ago

That was the impression i got as well. Terrence died alone sometime in the past. This was his chance to reconcile his unresolved issues and pass over peacefully.

[–] strntz (12675) 2 years ago

That doesn't explain about the guy at the gas station who knew where he lived and it doesn't explain why his apartment was untouched unless he died *right* before Ray arrived. It doesn't explain how Terrence doesn't know he's dead. It doesn't explain how Terrence called his father from Minnesota to tell him he was still alive. It doesn't explain how Annie's brother Mark sees Terrence when he doesn't see any other ghosts. Most importantly, there's nothing in the story that suggests Terrence Mann is a ghost.