Review of The Great Santini (1979) by Michael S — 21 Mar 2014
The squadron used in the movie was mine when this was filmed - VMFA-312 Checkerboards. The aircraft was the F-4/J Phantom, some later modified to F-4/S. Their history goes back to WWII when in 1944 they formed as a fighter squadron with F4U Corsairs.
There is a scene in the "ready room" with the real pilots and RIOs some of whom later died in their F-4s while practicing Air Combat Maneuvering. The funeral scene near the end of the movie took nearly all day to shoot because of weather but is just a few minutes in the movie.
Robert Duvall is one of my favorite actors but the character Meechum (the squadron "Skipper") is pure baloney, the Corps would never allow anyone like that in their ranks. Hollywood can never get military right.
Not that Marines couldn't be SOBs, some very much are. The movie is excellent otherwise but because Hollywood misused the role of the Skipper and portrayed him so unrealistically I can at best give this an average rating.
Shame on Hollywood. They could have portrayed someone tough dealing with problems without resorting cheapness. Semper Fi.
This review of The Great Santini (1979) was written by Michael S on 21 Mar 2014.
The Great Santini has generally received positive reviews.
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