Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Great Santini

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8K
YOUR RATING
Robert Duvall in The Great Santini (1979)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:41
1 Video
43 Photos
Workplace DramaDrama

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

  • Director
    • Lewis John Carlino
  • Writers
    • Pat Conroy
    • Lewis John Carlino
    • Herman Raucher
  • Stars
    • Robert Duvall
    • Blythe Danner
    • Michael O'Keefe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lewis John Carlino
    • Writers
      • Pat Conroy
      • Lewis John Carlino
      • Herman Raucher
    • Stars
      • Robert Duvall
      • Blythe Danner
      • Michael O'Keefe
    • 54User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Great Santini
    Trailer 2:41
    The Great Santini

    Photos43

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 36
    View Poster

    Top Cast69

    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Bull Meechum
    Blythe Danner
    Blythe Danner
    • Lillian Meechum
    Michael O'Keefe
    Michael O'Keefe
    • Ben Meechum
    Lisa Jane Persky
    Lisa Jane Persky
    • Mary Anne Meechum
    Julie Anne Haddock
    Julie Anne Haddock
    • Karen Meechum
    Brian Andrews
    Brian Andrews
    • Matthew Meechum
    Stan Shaw
    Stan Shaw
    • Toomer Smalls
    Theresa Merritt
    Theresa Merritt
    • Arrabella Smalls
    David Keith
    David Keith
    • Red Pettus
    Paul Mantee
    Paul Mantee
    • Col. Virgil Hedgepath
    Michael Strong
    Michael Strong
    • Col. Varney
    Bennett James
    Bennett James
    • Corp. Atchley
    • (as Bennett Liss)
    Joe Dorsey
    Joe Dorsey
    • Coach Spinks
    • (as Joe A. Dorsey)
    David Frankham
    David Frankham
    • Capt. Weber
    Jan Stratton
    • Mrs. Weber
    Paul Gleason
    Paul Gleason
    • Lt. Sammy
    W.K. Stratton
    • Ace
    Lew Horn
    Lew Horn
    • Capt. Brookout
    • Director
      • Lewis John Carlino
    • Writers
      • Pat Conroy
      • Lewis John Carlino
      • Herman Raucher
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews54

    7.28K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Great Santini' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
    Sign in to see this summary and all user reviews
    See opinions from fans, or write your own review.
    Sign in to IMDb
    This extra step helps us keep IMDb's reviews a space for genuine, human voices.

    More like this

    Tender Mercies
    7.3
    Tender Mercies
    The Apostle
    7.2
    The Apostle
    Tomorrow
    7.4
    Tomorrow
    A Civil Action
    6.6
    A Civil Action
    True Confessions
    6.3
    True Confessions
    Colors
    6.7
    Colors
    True Grit
    7.4
    True Grit
    M*A*S*H
    7.3
    M*A*S*H
    The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid
    6.1
    The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid
    The Outfit
    7.0
    The Outfit
    The Great Santini Brothers
    The Great Santini Brothers
    Sling Blade
    8.0
    Sling Blade

    Related interests

    Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
    Workplace Drama
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The movie was originally released directly to cable and airlines, under the title "The Ace." After the New York Times gave it a very favorable review, it was pulled from cable and released to theaters under the title "The Great Santini." When the 1981 Writers' Guild of America Strike halted new production, studios released previously shelved movies, including this one.
    • Goofs
      At a military funeral all personnel in uniform render a hand salute during the playing of Taps. In the movie the only personnel presenting arms are the firing detail.
    • Quotes
      • Mary Anne Meechum: Hey Dad, why do you love me more than your other children?
      • Bull Meechum: Beat it, I'm reading the sports page.
      • Mary Anne Meechum: Let's have a conversation Dad. Let's bare our souls and get to know one another.
      • Bull Meechum: I don't want you to get to know me. I like being an enigma, like a Chink. Now scram.
      • Mary Anne Meechum: Am I a Meechum Dad? Can girls be real Meechums; girls without jump shots? Or am a simple form of Meechum, like in biology. Mary Anne, the one-celled Meechum.
      • Bull Meechum: Mary Anne scram, I'm starting to lose my temper; Lilian!
      • Mary Anne Meechum: [falls to the ground] Dad, I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant by a negro Daddy. His name is Rufus, I didn't wanna tell you but since we're baring our souls to each other. Rufus is a pacifist; a pacifist homosexual.
      • Bull Meechum: Jesus H. Christ! Lilian, I'm going to the club. I'll see you all at the game! I can't stand it around here!
      • [storms off as Mary Anne follows him]
      • Mary Anne Meechum: But you'll get to like him after awhile Dad. Dwarfs are easy to like, especially when they're bald and cross-eyed... Dad... Dad... *Dad*!
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Divine Madness/Willie & Phil/The Great Santini/Ordinary People/Middle Age Crazy (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Fascination
      (uncredited)
      Music by Fermo Dante Marchetti

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    • Release date
      • October 26, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Ace
    • Filming locations
      • Tidalholm Mansion - 1 Laurens Street, Beaufort, South Carolina, USA(large house Bull Meechum rents for his family - aka the Edgar Fripp House)
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • Bing Crosby Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,702,575
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $83,527
      • Oct 28, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,702,575
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 55m(115 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.