The Great Santini
“The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.”
Synopsis
As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer #1Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-09
Top Cast
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Robert Duvall
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
Paul Gleason
Lt. Sammy
W.K. Stratton
Ace
Lew Horn
Capt. Brookout
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 26, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$4.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.18x
+$700K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lewis John Carlino
- Screenplay & Story
- Lewis John Carlino
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- The Great Santini
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Budget
- $4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $4.7M
- Production Studios
- Bing Crosby Productions, Orion Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lewis John Carlino
Lewis John Carlino, Pat Conroy
Elmer Bernstein
Ralph Woolsey
Houseley Stevenson Jr.
Charles A. Pratt
Department Leadership Roster
Charles A. Pratt
Producer
Lewis John Carlino
Director
Jack Poplin
Production Design
Ralph Woolsey
Director of Photography
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Lewis John Carlino
Screenplay
Houseley Stevenson Jr.
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Great Santini.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Great Santini.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Great Santini
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Great Santini about?
As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.
Who directed The Great Santini?
The Great Santini was directed by Lewis John Carlino.
Who stars in The Great Santini?
The principal cast of The Great Santini includes Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Lisa Jane Persky, Julie Anne Haddock.
When was The Great Santini released and how long is it?
The Great Santini was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Great Santini?
The Great Santini had a reported production budget of $4M and grossed $4.7M at the worldwide box office (1.18 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Great Santini?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Great Santini was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
Is The Great Santini based on a book or true story?
The Great Santini is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Pat Conroy".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Great Santini?
The Great Santini holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).