A Sense of Doubt blog post #1968 - "My God, It's Full of Stars!"
I was six years old in 1968.It's an interesting coincidence that I had been composing this post on Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's 2001, a Space Odyssey, which is film that came out in 1968, and another beloved event also occurred that year: the Detroit Tigers won the World Series.
And so, since I warned you readers that posts would begin to feature content related to the year of the post number, though not every day, that is what I am featuring today. Some 1968 content.
Comparing the Baseball photos and the city photos during more civil rights riots in Detroit in 1968, following the assassination of Martin Luther King, with the videos and images from 2001, a Space Odyssey shows incredible contrast. The vision of the future from the Kubrick film seems almost incapable of being made in the still predominantly black and white era of 1968 media.
So here's a tribute to the classic line "My God, It's Full of Stars" and the World Series win by the 1968 Detroit Tigers with some scenes from Detroit and the riots in particular mixed in.
Enjoy.
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MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF STARS!
https://wiki.c2.com/?MyGodItsFullOfStars
My God Its Full Of Stars
The famous line "My God, it's full of stars!" were Dave Bowman's final words as he entered the monolith in the book version of 2001: A SpaceOdyssey, in Chapter 39. That line did not occur in the original movie, although it was retrofitted to the various sequels, e.g., in the movie sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact as being uttered by Dave Bowman as he entered the monolith.note that the chat version, OMG it g0ts *s!!1!, was left on the editing room floor as "too improbable"...
ArthurCeeClarke wrote the book version as a protest against StanleyKubrick's obscurism and mysticism in the movie version; they had a major falling out over this. Clarke made sure the book was rushed into print in time for people to be able to read it before the movie came out. This is thus a slightly unusual situation; it's not just that the book and movie vary from each other somewhat randomly, or somewhat stupidly, as is the usual case, it's that the movie was based on Clarke's ideas, with additions by Kubrik, most of which Clarke went along with, but those that he did not agree with, are exactly where the book deviates from the movie. The two are otherwise a close match. In particular this complicated history means that it's not really possible to definitively call either the book or the movie version "the original".
Kubrik did not participate in later movies, which were based purely on Clarke's sequel books and production input.
I don't see "major falling out" over such majestic collaboration - both the book and movie are better than what either Kubrick or Clarke could have come up with alone. PairProgramming strikes again! -- PhlIp
I think it would be better to read the book first - the film is a bit hard to comprehend, but the book isn't. Both are brilliant.
KenMacLeod's ScienceFiction novel The Cassini Division (ISBN 0812568583) has the line 'My stars, it's full of gods!'. He put another Clarke in-joke in his later novel Engine City (ISBN: 076530502X).
And here I expected this to be a comment on typical CeeLanguage source.
cf: ThreeStarProgrammer
Dave Bowman opens an editor window and sees twelve-level-deep pointer indirections everywhere... "My mind is going, Hal; I can feel it."
Is this a variation on IsaacAsimov's "The sky! It's full of... stars!" (from his short story "Nightfall")?
2001 makes MUCH more sense if you read the book, which I highly encourage.
Yeah, but I would add, See the movie first!. Maybe you can work the message from the movie alone (all the info is there, in form of music and great directing skills). The book is just a by-product of the movie.
+1. the book is for engineers with a special need to dissect god. the movie is simply what the participants would experience, from their murky & befuddled point of view...
Not true at all, the two were written concurrently, with discussion between Clarke and Kubrick. Some stuff was missed in the movie - for instance, the trip to Saturn was much better for the story line, but the effects guys weren't up to it - and it doesn't make as much sense. On the other hand, the movie takes a different angle. Isn't this discussed on SpaceOdyssey? Anyways, I read the book first and enjoyed the movie more than most people I know, but to each their own.
Part of the 2001 audio book available from audible contains an interview with Clarke where he talks about the film and the book. They wanted to base the movie on a novel, but the original ideas where a mix taken from several of Clarke's short stories. The novel was written so the movie could be built around a solid plot.
A sample of this quote is buried in the background of the music in the tune "amber" on Banco de Gaia's Last Train to Lhasa cd. Which is a very cool cd, btw.
When I saw the movie in the UnitedKingdom when it first came out (in Cinerama) those words were in it! Rumour has it that they were cut at the demand of the UnitedStates religious right, and since all critique seems to be from US sources that piece of history is unmade... It's not the only time Kubrick was the victim of the UK/US divide 'cos his version of ClockworkOrange is based on a US edition which lacked the final chapter - the ultimate horror of little Alex on the reproduction trail! But think about it. All those scenes of people (Dave B...) acting like automata in front of the beauty of space and in the face of threats to life, and then the humanizing revelation. It was a wonderful moment. Shame really. -- drnickjefferies@aol.com
I recall hearing that exact line in the movie when I saw it. I also remember the part in 2010 when he is listening to the words of Dave Bowman over and over saying "My God, it's full of stars." What is so funny is how when I rented the movie some 10 to 15 years later to watch it (synchronizing PinkFloyd's Echoes with the Jupiter And Beyond section of the movie), I was utterly confused when I did not hear those words in the movie. That would make sense though if the movie were to have been edited for religious reasons because I know that the first couple times I saw that movie, I remember that exact line from the movie. It really just jumps out at you and grabs you. Which is probably why the religious right would want to go so far as to edit one small phrase out of a movie. I'm glad to know that I am not the only one now who remembers that line being in the original movie. -- mbc@madbeatfactory.com
Rumor has it the East Indian version says, "My stars! It's full of gods!"
This quote can also be found at about 1:05 in the beginning of the track Be Serious by Etnica.
(Note: WardsWiki is not WikiPedia - we don't list every cultural reference for everything here on principle!!!)
"My God, its full of stars!" is used in Solarstone's "Rain stars eternal" track, which comes from their debut album with the same title.
Obviously they like using movie quotes: in their other famous classic track "Solarcoaster" they used words from "True Romance" movie with Tarantino's script:
I look back and I'm amazed That my thoughts were so clear and true; That three words went through my mind endlessly, Repeating themselves like a broken record... You're so cool You're so cool You're So cool
GregEgan's short story "Singleton" mentions "an anthology of cheesy “alternate (sic) history” stories from the '90s, entitled My God, It's Full of Tsars!". Does that actually exist? From the description I wouldn't be surprised if he made it up, but then I originally thought he'd made up Repo Man, too.
A LispLanguage programmer discovers the secret of the universe: http://xkcd.com/224/
Sample with the phrase ,"My God, it's full of stars", used on Billy Idol's Album, "Cyberpunk".
I just recently had the privilege to view an original road show 70mm print on July 11, 2010, it even had the "The Stylized Lion" MGM leo the lion logo. I don't remember hearing the line during that viewing. I could have just missed it, but I was pretty focused through the whole viewing... especially at the end, knowing what I was about to experience. Slitscan in 70mm :)
I recall that the phrase also crops up in The X Files (movie?) as a voice print password. I can't exactly place it though; anyone else?
Last edit June 19, 2011, See github about remodeling.
THE 1968 DETROIT TIGERS
The 1968 Detroit Tigers won the world series for just third time in franchise history (the others came in 1935 and 1945)
Winning pitcher Mickey Lolich jumps into the arms of catcher Bill Freehan after Freehan caught the final out of the 1968 World Series. (AP Photo)
https://www.mlive.com/sports/erry-2018/07/8ce59e63e88559/heres-what-your-1968-detroit-t.html
1968
Detroit Tigers: Five players that made the difference
The 1968 Detroit Tigers were a special team, uniting a fractured city with a World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Willie Horton, shown during his Tigers career, hasn’t visited his old stomping grounds much: “I’d just rather stay away because I’ve got too many great memories.” (Photo: Detroit Free Press file photo)
The slugger: Willie Horton
MLB’s 1968 season has been called “The Year of The Pitcher.” An expanded strike zone and pitching mounds that were 15 inches high (as opposed to the 10 inches they had been previously) gave pitchers a huge advantage over hitters, and batting stats plummeted. Just one American League batter hit above .300 and just three AL hitters cleared 30 home runs.
Amid this offense-starved environment, Tigers left fielder Willie Horton thrived. His .285 batting average was fourth in the league, and his 36 homers were second behind only Frank Howard’s 44 for the Washington Senators.
The Detroit Northwestern alum finished fourth in AL MVP voting behind Boston’s Ken Harrelson (third) and Detroit teammates Denny McLain (first) and Bill Freehan (second), getting 36 percent of the vote.
Horton’s most important contribution to the ’68 squad, however, came in the field, rather than at the plate. With the Tigers trailing 3-1 in the series and 3-2 in Game 5, Horton gunned down speedster Lou Brock at home plate to keep the Cards’ lead at one run.
"I knew from the scouting report that after the All-Star break Brock had a bad habit of trotting into home," Horton told the Free Press in 2011. "My job was to throw the ball right at (third baseman) Don Wert's head. Freehan knew the report and, when he saw Brock break his stride, he let the ball go through to him.”
Horton was dealt to the Rangers in 1977; he finished his Tigers career with 262 home runs and a .276 batting average over 15 seasons.
Al Kaline hit .287 in an injury-shortened 1968 season. (Photo: Detroit Free Press file photo)
The legend: Al Kaline
Kaline was already “Mr. Tiger” when the 1968 season began, with 13 consecutive AL All-Star appearances. His streak ended in 1968, however, when an errant pitch broke his arm in late May. Kaline missed just more than five weeks, finishing the year with a .287 batting average (which would have been fourth in the AL if Kaline would have had enough at-bats) and 10 home runs.
The 33-year-old also underwent a position change when he returned from the disabled list in late June, moving to first base for most of July to make way for Jim Northrup in right field. Kaline, who won 10 Gold Glove awards in the outfield, played 22 games at first base.
Despite playing in just 102 games, Kaline still drove in 52 runs and scored 49 with a .392 on-base percentage. (Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski led the AL with a .426 OBP; Baltimore’s Frank Robinson was second at .390.)
Still, by the time the World Series rolled around, Kaline was back in right, and his bat was back to normal. He hit .379 against the Cardinals, with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBIs in 29 at-bats. Kaline’s single in the seventh inning of Game 5 gave the Tigers the lead; the Tigers never trailed again in the Series.
In all, Kaline played 22 seasons with the Tigers, finishing with a .297 batting average and 399 homers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain went 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA in 1968 to win the American League MVP and Cy Young Award. (Photo: Detroit Free Press)
The ace: Denny McLain
McLain was just 24 when he had his breakout season in “The Year of the Pitcher:” 31 wins, 28 complete games, a 1.96 ERA and just six losses. The Chicago native finished first in AL Cy Young and MVP voting that season, winning both unanimously.
Surprisingly, McLain didn’t pick up his first victory of the season until April 21, in his third start. He finished the first half of the season with a 16-2 record and a 2.09 ERA, then went 15-4 with a 1.81 ERA in the second half.
Just four pitchers in the past 100 seasons have won 30 games: Jim Bagby (31 in 1920), Lefty Grove (31 in 1931), Dizzy Dean (30 in 1934) and McLain.
As good as McLain’s 1968 was, Cleveland’s Luis Tiant (1.60), Cleveland’s Sam McDowell (1.81) and Baltimore’s Dave McNally (1.95) had better ERAs in the AL. (Bob Gibson led the NL in ERA at 1.12.) McLain’s 28 complete games did lead the league, though.
McLain also struggled for the Tigers in the World Series. He made three starts, going 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA. His lone win, though, did come in a must-win Game 6 for the Tigers.
McLain’s tenure in Detroit didn’t last long. He repeated as CY Young winner in 1969, was injured in 1970 and dealt to Washington before the 1971 season. He was out of baseball by 1973.
Tigers catcher Bill Freehan puts the tag on Cardinals speedster Lou Brock at home plate in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series at Tiger Stadium, Oct. 7, 1968. (Photo: Associated Press)
The leader: Bill Freehan
Freehan entered the 1968 season as a four-time All-Star who had finished third in AL MVP voting in 1967. The Royal Oak native started the season red-hot, hitting .323 in 17 April games. Then, as the weather heated up, so did his power stroke; 23 of his 25 home runs came after May 1.
The catcher finished the year with 24 doubles, 85 RBIs and a .263 batting average. He also got plunked by pitchers 24 times, the first American Leaguer to be hit that many times since Kid Elberfeld was hit 25 times in 1911.
Freehan wasn’t a flashy player, but sportswriters took note of his performance that season. He finished second in MVP voting, behind McLain, with 58 percent of the vote. (Six different Tigers received MVP votes.)
St. Louis’ pitching gave him issues in the World Series; he went hitless in the first five games of the series and finished with an .083 batting average. Still, he was the player who recorded the final out of the Series, on a foul pop-up, followed by Mickey Lolich leaping into his arms to celebrate.
Freehan spent his entire career with the Tigers, hitting 200 homers with a .262 average over 15 seasons.
The bench: Gates Brown
Brown played in just 67 games for the Tigers in 1968, and just 16 of those were starts. Still, he played a big part in the team making the World Series.
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Gates Brown hit .450 as a
pinch-hitter in 1968.
(Photo: Detroit Free Press)
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The part-time left fielder made a name for himself as a pinch-hitting specialist. He hit .450 in 40 at-bats coming off the bench in 1968. (He hit .292 in his 16 starts.) No
Brown, nicknamed “The Gator,” came up in the clutch as well. He had six go-ahead hits in the eighth inning or later during the 1968 season, including walk-off game-winners in both ends of a doubleheader against the Red Sox on Aug. 11.
Jon Warden, a left-handed relief pitcher and teammate of Brown’s in 1968, told the Free Press in 2013: “He was by far the best pinch-hitter I have ever seen. He was a miracle worker, every time he came up to bat the game was on the line and he came through.”
Brown played in 1,051 games over 13 seasons with the Tigers, including 516 appearances as a pinch-hitter, and finished with a .244 batting average as a pinch-hitter.
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2007.08 - 10:10
- Days ago = 1832 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
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