Conrack (1974)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Pat Conroy (novel)
Irving Ravetch (writer) ...

Release Date:

28 August 1974 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

One beautiful man. His story is true.

Plot:

A young, white teacher is assigned to an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina populated mostly by poor black families...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Teacher | School | South Carolina | Rural Setting

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Pat Conroy
Paul Winfield	...	Mad Billy
Madge Sinclair	...	Mrs. Scott (school principal)
Tina Andrews	...	Mary
Antonio Fargas	...	Quickfellow
Ruth Attaway	...	Edna
James O'Rear	...	Postman
Gracia Lee	...	Mrs. Sellers
C.P. MacDonald	...	Mr. Ryder
Jane Moreland	...	Mrs. Webster
Thomas Horton	...	Judge
Nancy Butler	...	Mrs. Ryder
Robert W. Page	...	Mr. Spaulding
Hume Cronyn	...	Mr. Skeffington (school superintendent)
Mac Arthur Nelson	...	Mac

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Brunswick, Georgia, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In a 2007 interview on the Dennis Miller Radio Show, Voight recalled a reunion that was held 20 years after the release of the movie, with all of the available actors. Of the 21 actors who portrayed students, at the time of the reunion, 18 of them were teachers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cat in the Hat (2003)

Soundtrack:

Fifth Symphony

Jon Voight's BEST performance

I first saw this film when I was in the 8th grade and I remember that it had a profound affect on me then. I saw in again about a year ago (I am now 29) and it still moved me in similar ways. This is a great movie that personifies the struggle of "principle vs. pragmistism". Voight's character is the idealist teacher that won't give in to any psuedo-racist leanings of the Superintendent, Mr. Skeffington. That story also personifies the struggle of how older people often resist change, and more specifically, cultural change. Often at the expense of children. When these battles finally come to a boil, Pat Conroy loses and pragmatism reigns triumphant. Or does it? The children that he has to leave are better off for knowing him, more exposed to the "real" world and to classical music. The other teacher at the school gained respect for him and he learned much about himself. A great film with a heart-breaking ending. I recomend that anyone who enjoyed the film to read the book, "The Water is Wide", by Pat Conroy. It will stay with you!