The Great Santini

Year: 1979

Runtime: 115 min

Language: English

Director: Lewis John Carlino

Drama

A decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot, Bull Meechum, struggles to reconcile his demanding military persona with the challenges of family life. Robert Duvall portrays the intense and often volatile pilot whose competitive nature and controlling behavior create conflict with his wife and teenage son. The film explores the complexities of a man unable to separate his professional drive from his personal relationships, leading to strained dynamics and emotional turmoil within the family.

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Timeline & Setting – The Great Santini (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Great Santini (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

Main Characters – The Great Santini (1979)

Meet the key characters of The Great Santini (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

Major Themes – The Great Santini (1979)

Explore the central themes of The Great Santini (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:17

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Movies with Toxic Father Figures like The Great Santini

Stories exploring the volatile and damaging impact of a controlling patriarch.If you found the father-son dynamic in The Great Santini compelling, this collection features similar movies about families navigating life under the rule of a volatile, demanding, or abusive patriarch. These dramas explore themes of control, rebellion, and the struggle for respect and love.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a family, particularly the children, as they navigate life under the oppressive rule of a powerful father figure. The story chronicles their struggle for autonomy, the psychological toll of constant conflict, and the complex process of seeking love and approval from a source of pain.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the intense, emotionally heavy dynamic of a dysfunctional family led by a formidable father. They share a tense tone, high emotional stakes, and a central conflict rooted in the clash between paternal authority and a child's need for identity and freedom.

Movies about Military Life Affecting Families like The Great Santini

When the rigid discipline of military service creates turmoil in the family sphere.For viewers who appreciated the theme of military discipline disrupting family life in The Great Santini, this list offers similar films exploring the challenges soldiers face when reintegrating into domestic settings. These stories often involve tension, sacrifice, and the difficult balance between duty and family.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character, typically a soldier or officer, who imposes their rigid, hierarchical worldview onto their family relationships. This creates a central conflict as their loved ones resist this control, leading to a journey that forces the character to confront the emotional cost of their professional identity, sometimes ending in tragic realization or bittersweet resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their exploration of a specific conflict: the inability to separate a military mindset from personal life. They share a tense, somber mood, a steady pacing that builds domestic pressure, and a thematic focus on sacrifice, control, and the often-devastating impact of service on those left behind.

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The Great Santini Summary

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The Great Santini Timeline

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The Great Santini Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Great Santini

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Great Santini: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Great Santini

Discover movies like The Great Santini that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.