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Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786300271715 Format: Color, NTSC ISBN: 6300271714 Label: Warner Home Video Manufacturer: Warner Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Warner Home Video Release Date: April 27, 1994 Running Time: 115 minutes Sales Rank: 27368 Studio: Warner Home Video Theatrical Release Date: October 26, 1979
Amazon.com: Robert Duvall gives one of his most memorable performances in the title role of this 1979 drama about a hardcore Marine lieutenant named Bull Meechum (Duvall), a fighter ace who calls himself "The Great Santini" and compensates for peacetime inactivity by waging war on his intimidated children. His wife (Blythe Danner) lovingly tolerates his behavior, but his 18-year-old son (Michael O'Keefe) is working up the courage to defy the domineering patriarch, whose need for competition borders on maniacal. When push comes to shove (and shove they certainly do), the son earns his father's begrudging respect, and as it turns out, just in time. Military brats may recognize their own experience in this comedic drama, but anyone can relate to the Meechum family's patriarchal dysfunction. Writer-director Lewis John Carlino (adapting the novel by Pat Conroy) does a fine job of balancing humor with the kind of stressful anxiety that can either strengthen a family or tear it apart. Both Duvall and O'Keefe were deservedly nominated for Academy Awards. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - The agonies and ecstasies of family life, father v.s. son, etc.
Two films were released in 1979, "Apocalypse Now" and "The Great Santini," wherein Robert Duvall played essentially the same character -- a gung-ho, half-crazed Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps.
In "The Great Santini" Duvall plays fighter pilot commander Bull Meechum, who drives his family to his new base in Beaufort, SC (where the film was actually filmed). It's peace-time in the early 60s before the Vietnam War. Bull is ultra-charismatic but flawed. At any given time you either love him or hate him; you'll see this same struggle with his family members. He generally treats ... Read More
Rating: - "NOBODY TELLS YOU ANYTHING...DAD!" GREAT FILM NEEDS DVD UPGRADE!
'The Great Santini' is one of those great movies that has fallen between the cracks. It is an engrossing film about a renegade "cracker jack" pilot who is clueless on how to show any gentle emotion to his family or interaction with them or anyone! Is he a selfish controlling jerk? or is there more to the "Great Santini"? The excellent cast and story will keep you glued to the screen in this entertaining, but sad drama that has it's share of lighter moments. I deduct 1 star because of the no frills full screen only release.....why no widesreen was added is beyond me
Rating: - The Great Santini
This is a great movie, but like any movie...the book is better. Great acting.
Rating: - BEWARE! THIS DVD ISN'T WIDESCREEN!
Dear Film Company Jackasses,
Surely you know we already hate you for your greed - Why do you add insult to injury by taking fine films like "The Great Santini" and cutting them to Full Screen?
Yet another fine film marred, no doubt, by some big company's desire to cut corners. Burn, Hollywood, burn!
Rating: - Great Movie!!!
I hadnt seen this movie in years but watched it again last night and remembered just what a great movie it is. Its some of Robert Duvalls best work and thats saying a lot as Im a big Duvall fan. Glad to have this movie in my collection! A+++
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