Description

A mighty actor-Robert Duvall-gets a role to match as a "top gun" Marine fighter pilot at odds with his family and peacetime America. Blythe Danner and Michael O'Keefe co-star. Year: 1979 Director: Lewis John Carlino Starring: Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe ... Read more

Reviews (26)

The best Conroy book adaptation
What made both the book and movie versions of this story, and with Conroy's other stories of Marine experiences, is that he presents both sides of the issues he talks about. Most of the time you would think he's got it in bad for them, and that he would rather see the institution torn down. But after awhile, criticisms aside, you see a genuine bonding and love also emerge from one who has experienced being part of the fraternity.

In "The Great Santini" this is played to the hilt. The film, which captures the book PERFECTLY, looks at the life of a Marine fighter pilot and his family from all sides. The most entertaining ones, of course, are the wild antics Marines are famous for. The opening scene, where Robert Duvall does creative things with a can of mushroom soup is priceless, and you see Marines as guys who work hard, but also expect to play hard as their reward. In fact, I have a theory that part of the reason that guys are willing to put their lives on the line for their country LARGELY for the right to party their butts off as part of the reward. Just a theory, but I've seen enough former military people to make a sound judgment on this.

But the love/hate thing is shown best in a fairly simple domestic scene. The tough-as-nails pilot, terrifically played by Duvall and based on Conroy's father, is playing basketball with a now grown son. He has never lost a contest of any kind with his family, but in this one, the son prevails, despite repeated attempts at cheating by Duvall. The father takes his defeat with as poor sportsmanship as possible, ruining the moment for everybody and verbally skewering the entire family. An act as childish and unforgivable as you can imagine. Right?

Well, the scene afterward shows the dimension and depth of the movie. While not exactly saying that what Duvall did was correct, the scene that follows at least tries to put him in a better light. You see Duvall practicing basketball for hours in the pouring rain, while the mother explains to the son the meaning of this act. You come away from it with a better understanding of the man after this scene. After the movie is done, you feel the same way. He may be an unforgivable pig much of the time, but he's our pig, and sometimes you have to accept the bad with the good.

Improved With Age
For those of you who are old enough, you probably know the feeling of disappointment whenever you view a film by which you were impressed many years earlier and find that it has not "aged" well. I was wary that that might be the case with The Great Santini because I had not seen it since it was released over twenty years ago. Instead, I found just the opposite for it remains an excellent film with excellent acting.

Has Robert Duvall ever given a less-than-superior performance? I'm sure not, and I was far more able to appreciate his portrayal of Bull Meechum the martinet head of the family for, with age, comes shades of gray not only in your hair but in your viewpoints. I hated Bull Meechum twenty years ago but am now better able to sympathize with this man who only knows how to express emotion through rage or bravado.

Blythe Danner as the strong-willed mother who is the emotional rock of the family is another excellent actor who is a treat to watch. She has such an enchanting quality. She truly exemplifies her name.

Michael O'Keefe as the older son torn between pleasing his father and acknowledging his own thoughts of independence gives a heart wrenching performance. He is probably best known in today's times as Fred on Roseanne, and a viewing of The Great Santini gives interesting insight into his acting talents.

The DVD is a disappointment in that it is in standard format for one of the many advantages of DVD's is that most are wide-screen format. The sound is nothing special, either. The DVD only costs two dollars more than the VHS version so it is worth the extra cost for improved picture quality, chapter search, etc. The Great Santini is a movie worthy of adding to one's private collection.

WOW
This movie is so touching, words cannot describe it! Rarely movies make me cry but this one did! There was such powerful acting and I was completey drawn to the characters. Robert Duvall was amazing and brilliantly displayed himself as the great santini. A marvelous job for O'Keefe as Billy. He definately moved me, what a great actor. This movie has got to be the most powerful i've seen in awhile! Wow!

Great film
Forget the unfortunate title: THE GREAT SANTINI is an unforgetable film. The fierce familial relationships--especially between father and son--are riveting and understandable. Robert Duvall, who has always been one of my favorite actors, turns in a performance so gritty that you hate and love him. The classic scene in which his son beats him in driveway basketball is uplifting, considering you are rooting for the boy. And then it turns into one of the most horrific--psychologically speaking--scenes I can remember.

Blythe Danner, always dependable, sparkles here, in spite of her less than enviable position. Filmed with care, written with the precision of an expert pilot, THE GREAT SANTINI is a unique film that will hold your attention and stay in your memory.

Hey, Sports Fan!
What a great performance by Duvall as the ultra-macho, hard-drinking fighter pilot who is at once loved & hated by his family. This is an incredible flick. You won't be disappointed... ... Read more

Amazon.com

As rites-of-passage films featuring a young man's sexual initiation inthe arms of a beautiful woman go, Class (1983) has plenty going for it,not least its attractive cast: Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan, Rob Lowe asGatsbyish best friend Skip, and Jacqueline Bisset as the beautiful woman who'sold enough to know better and just happens to be Skip's mother.

Lewis John Carlino's film has moments of insight, taking a few well-aimed shotsat the vaguely sinister network of private-school life. In the first reel itneatly subverts the bullying scenario that threatens when the geeky Jonathanarrives at the school, while offering the briefly intriguing sight of Lowe inscarlet bra and pants. And there's a subplot of deceit and complicity that bothstrengthens and threatens the friendship that rapidly forms between Skip andJonathan. In many ways, though, the most interesting element of thepicture--Skip's relationship with his dysfunctional family--is left unexplored.Jonathan's deflowering and subsequent interludes are merely titillating. AndBisset's Ellen, a desperately sad character, becomes superfluous once therevelation that she's the "teacher" sets the boys' friendship on the path tofraternal solidarity. --Piers Ford ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Brat Pack Movie
I must admit that this movie was one of the typical 'Brat Pack' movies. Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy are wonderful as two teenagers who are completely different. Skip (Lowe) comes from a very wealthy family and is expected to go to Harvard after finishing up at his prep school, Vernon Acadamy. Jonathan (McCarthy) on the other hand, comes from the city and is in the Middle-Class. He is not as 'smoothe' as Skip and learns the hard way how to get a woman.

The climax of the story is when Jonathan meets Skip's family. He has no idea that the woman with whom he has been sleeping with is Skip's mother! The reaction of the two is great.

This movie is filled with comedy, light drama, and minimal violence. It's fun to watch, even though it is a bit dated. For me though, seeing a young Rob Lowe was the thrill!

First exposure to the physical acts of love and enjoyed it!!
I remember when, at the age of 12, my babysitter(who strikingly resembled Catherine Mary Stewart)let me watch this film with her about a young college student who had an affair with his roommate's beautiful mother. Having been exposed to the act of lovemaking, ... physical love, or however people describe the emotional and physical act, I was impressed with how the film turned out. It may have an '80's version of the 1967 film The Graduate, but it was a joy to watch. British actress Jacqueline Bisset not only radiates her beauty, but she also radiates someone who is sad, if not depressed. Andrew McCarthy (in his first role) does an excellent job of playing a young man who changes from a nerd type to a suave and debonair ladies man. This film was, in many ways, one of the brat pack films, and starred many actors from that era who were just getting started in the industry. Not only are the ... love scenes between Andrew and Jacqueline convincing, they are beautiful and moving. The rest of the film is also enjoyable to watch. If you enjoyed the era of the 1980's and older, beautiful, and sophisticated women characters, then you'll enjoy this hilarious, if not moving film.

*Andrew McCarthy stated in an interview that he must have been doing something right when he was offered the role. This was after he had filmed his love scenes with Jacqueline Bisset.

*As always, rumors of the love scenes between the two indicated that they were real and not just acting.

Excellent
I was a bit apprehensive about this movie when I bought the DVD. Already there were so many movies dealing with Oedipus complex. But this movie is a great one and class apart from many others dealing with on this subject.

The plot looked natural and the acting was good. Not only Bisset (from whom good acting is a natural expectation) but the others too. Even the sex scenes were not graphic, leaving a lot to imagination...that distinguished the movie from a mere sex flick.

Its worth buying this moview

Not Bad But Not Great
This film is basically a teen comedy about life in a prep school, with a little drama thrown in related to the pressure put on the kids by the school and by their parents. Its main focus is the romantic and sexual fantasies of the students, mainly playboy Rob Lowe and nice-guy Andrew McCarthy. There's a little of "The Graduate" in here and a little "Dead Poets Society" as well, but those are both superior films. I enjoyed watching "Class" and do not dislike it; I just am less impressed with it than others seem to be. It's nice, generally shallow, teen fluff. If you're looking for a light way to pass a dreary afternoon, this might be just the ticket.

Lots of fun.
Class is really class. A bit of comedy, a bit of sexual fantasy and the fun & pressure of studying in a high class prep school are beautifully interwoven. I like the ending when the guys laugh off thier stupidity. Jackie Bisset is gorgeous as usual. I've liked this movie ever since the first time I saw it. ... Read more

Description

Obsession and fate collide in one of the most controversial and provocative films ever made. English widow Anne Osborne (Ryan's Daughter's Sarah Miles) lives by the sea with her young son, Jonathan. The arrival of a rugged American sailor, Jim (Blade's Kris Kristofferson), brings Anne the joy and sensual fulfillment she thought had gone forever, but her son is disturbed by this new intruder and joins a perverse group of fellow students led by the charismatic Chief. With its disturbing shock ending and frank love scenes, this stylish adaptation of the novel by legendary writer Yukio Mishima has become a timeless classic, with stylish direction by Lewis John Carlino (The Great Santini), powerhouse performances, exquisite cinematography by the legendary Douglas Slocombe (Raiders of the Lost Ark), and a haunting score by Johnny Mandel (M*A*S*H). Beautiful, eerie, and erotic, this spellbinder has been restored from archival elements to its anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) glory. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Has some merits but the book is certainly better
This movie takes the liberty of transplanting the Yukio Mishima novel's setting from Yokohama, Japan to a sleepy English port town. Inevitably, it changes the nationalities of the protagonists (Japanese widow and sailor to English and American, respectively). These modifications are not what detracts from the movie's impact, but instead the plotline and the character development (or rather, the lack of).
Regarding plot, the filmmakers took an oversimplified approach on Mishima's rich examination into the characters' psyches. This successively leads to the poor character development in the film. The actors sincerely try to display intensity in their characters' roles, but without any understanding of their derivations, they muddle the story. A good example involves the "chief" of the boys' gang. We are given an expose his controlling, fascist behavior: one memorable scene involves him angrily kicking out all the members of the gang from his house due to them not grasping his level of consciousness (the twisted, hateful look on this young boy's face shows his ferocity). But without further details on his motives or personality, it's difficult to surmise his attitude. We only see that he is an angry, manipulative, nihilistic monster.
The love affair between the sailor and the mother of one of the gangmembers actully compounds the film's problems. Although their sex scenes are erotic and very explicit (they were considered quite shocking for that time; today they might qualify as soft-core pornography, albeit many will disagree with this), one is left to wonder what attracts these two who have such disparity between them? The director places great emphasis on this physical attraction and spends much time detailing this. Again, a lot of effort being placed into one facet of these people without knowing the fundamentals of them.
This film does have its positive qualities: the English setting is wonderfully photographed and the filmmakers show an earnest effort in conveying Mishima's story onto film.

Beware! This Is a Ripoff!
I was in San Diego several years back and happened into a downtown video store. I was pleased to find a VHS copy of "Sailor" and couldn't wait to get home so I could watch Kris and Sarah make hot sexy love all over the place. But what I got instead was a G-rated movie suitable for the kids, Grandma, Fido, etc. All the Good Parts of this movie have been deleted...without any sort of "altered version" designation on the package!

Honestly, I wasn't aware that movies were sanitized for home-video release; I thought it was the other way around (i.e. really racy, scandalous stuff unsuitable for theatrical viewing was included on the video). So, what is the name of the genius who deleted this footage, and when will a *complete* version be available?

This is cut!
All the scenes containing adult material are edited and cut.I reccomend you to protest this and wait for an uncensoured version.

I have to see it again!
This film was great it stuck in my head for years, I seen it on playboy magazine in 1977 and WOW!I could not believe the sex . It blew me away I neve seen anything like it ever. Then two years later I saw it in a second run theater the film story was something different at the time I was about 17 and I never seen a film like this before. So all these years I have been looking for this film.And now I could go back to that place in the darken theater an watch sarah & kris do what I rememberd the most about this film and the boy who played the son.I'll enjoy keeping this vhs but I hope it will be on dvd. It's a great film to thoughs who have seen it know what I am talking about I got my copy.

Fabulous!
I couldn't disagree more with the editorial review published here.

I thought this was a fascinating film in a lot of ways. A bit rough in the structure, at times, but overall a very good effort. Some wonderful performances, interesting plot, beautiful scenery. ... Read more