The Great Santini (1979)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Lewis John Carlino

Writers:

Lewis John Carlino (writer)
Pat Conroy (novel)

Release Date:

26 October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.

Plot:

As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.

Plot Keywords:

Marine | Locker Room | Toilet Bowl | Bitten To Death | Birthday Cake

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Lt. Col. 'Bull' Meechum
Blythe Danner	...	Lillian Meechum
Michael O'Keefe	...	Ben Meechum
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Mary Anne Meechum
Julie Anne Haddock	...	Karen Meechum
Brian Andrews	...	Matthew Meechum
Stan Shaw	...	Toomer Smalls
Theresa Merritt	...	Arrabella Smalls
David Keith	...	Red Petus
Paul Mantee	...	Col. Virgil Hedgepath
Michael Strong	...	Col. Varney
Bennett Liss	...	Cpl. Atcherly
Joe Dorsey	...	Coach Spinks
David Frankham	...	Capt. Weber
Jan Stratton	...	Mrs. Weber

Also Known As:

The Gift of Fury
The Great Santini (USA)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Bing Crosby Productions

Trivia:

On the morning of the Academy Award nominations in 1981, when the movie got nods for actor and supporting actor, author Pat Conroy received a phone call from him father who told him "You and me got nominated for Academy Awards, your mother didn't get squat".

Goofs:

Continuity: As Santini's family is waiting at the hanger for him to arrive, Lillian's hair changes. With the wind blowing, sometimes her hair is messed up, sometimes it is combed nicely.

Quotes:

Bull Meechum: There's those that has got 'em, Ben, and those that don't!
Ben Meechum: What?
Bull Meechum: Gonads, Son! Big brass ones!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Warehouse 13: Resonance (#1.2)" (2009)

The Great Santini

Duvall received a much deserved Oscar nomination as a Marine who runs his family like he runs his men... with vigor and power. He's a Patton without a war and Duvall plays it off beautifully. O'Keefe (also Oscar nominated) is fantastic as his son who's only wish is to please his father. There are many startling scenes in the picture, especially the basketball game where Duvall orders O'Keefe to put another player "on the floor" for obvious flagrant fouls. Duvall's Bull Meechum rules with a iron fist and screams at his son, "Put him down, or you don't come home tonight." The film is based on Pat Conroy's novel and also stars the always wonderful Danner, as Duvall's wife and Stan Shaw as a black man befriended by O'Keefe. Lewis John Carlino directs.