The Great Santini
The Great Santini is a 1979 American drama film written and directed by Lewis John Carlino. It is based on the 1976 novel by Pat Conroy. The film stars Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, and Michael O'Keefe.
"Kinda peculiar, ain't he?"
"He's just readin' his paper. Come on in."
"Nobody tells you anything, Dad."
Lieutenant Colonel Wilbur "Bull" Meechum
[edit]- Okay, Hogs, I've listened to you bellyache about moving to this hew town. This said bellyaching will end as of 1530 hours, will not affect the morale of this squadron henceforth. Do I make myself clear?
- [addressing his fighter squadron] Morning. You men now have the privilege of serving under the meanest, toughest, screamingest commander in the Marine Corps- me. If I say something you pretend it's coming from the Burning Bush. We're Marines. Marine Corps fighter pilots. We have no other function. That is your mission, and you're gonna hack it or pack it! You're flying with Bull Meechum now, and I kid you not, this is the eye of the storm! Welcome aboard.
Dialogue
[edit]- Mary Anne: I hate this place.
- Lillian: Now sugar, you've got to open yourself to a town. You've been in the Corps long enough to know that.
- Mary Anne: I am not in the Corps.
- Matt: Says you!
- Bull: Shut your little yaps! Now here it is sports fans, Beaufort S.C.!
- Mary Anne: And to think I mistook it for Paris, France.
- Bull: Stand by for a fighter pilot!
- Arabelle: Whatchu say, Cap'n?
- Bull: I am the Great Santini!
- Arabelle: I's Arabelle Smalls, your new maid! Ain't never worked for no Italian before.
- Bull: Pure Irish. And you, you're a solid-lookin' woman.
- Arabelle: I can punch hard as a man. You wanna hit my shoulder?
- Bull: This is a Marine you're talking to. I might cause internal bleeding or something.
- Arabelle: You go ahead and hit Arabelle's shoulder. Come on down here.
- Bull: Okay, lady. Watch out. [hits Arabelle, then looks at her, impressed] You are solid as a rock.
- Arabelle: Now it's my turn.
- [Arabelle winds up her fist and sends Bull staggering against the porch railing]
- Bull: [startled, trying to pretend like it was nothing] Ooh! You call that punching?
- Arabelle: You want me to try again?
- Bull: Hell no, because if you hurt your hand, I'm gonna have to pay the doctor bills.
- Lillian: What is goin' on out here- oh! Why you must be Mrs. Smalls!
- Arabelle: I is.
- Lillian: Why, good- I'm Lillian Meechum, and this is my husband, Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meechum.
- Bull: My kinda woman.
- Lillian: Oh, yeah? Oh, that says a lot. Earline Grantham spoke very highly of you.
- Bull: Said you get in a lotta trouble for stealing silver outta nice houses.
- Arabelle: Miss Earline ain't put no trash on me, Cap'n.
- Lillian: Now, you'll get used to his teasing, Arabelle, or else you won't, but it'll be there one way or the other.
- Bull: Castro, you bearded fag! I'd like to chase you down the main street of Havana in my F4! And de Gaulle! God! God! Why did you put so many jerks in the world at the same time?!
- Arabelle: Kinda peculiar, ain't he?
- Lillian: He's just readin' his paper. Come on in.
- [Bull sneaks up and grabs another Marine by the feet while he is in the head, thinking he is ambushing Colonel Virgil Hedgepath, only to find it is a startled Marine corporal]
- Bull: You're probably wondering why I attacked you right?
- Cpl. Atchley: Yes, sir!
- Bull: What's your name, Corporal?
- Cpl. Atchley: Atchley, sir.
- Bull: Atchley do you realize that several Marines were killed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor while taking craps?
- Cpl. Atchley: No, sir.
- Bull: A fighting man must be vigilant to surprise attack no matter where he is. The survival of our nation depends on the readiness of Marines all over the world. Also more importantly, you only wiped yourself twice. That is grossly insufficient. Right now, germs with names you can't even pronounce are preparing to launch a devastating attack that will render you helpless in the defense of your country. Do you read me?
- Cpl. Atchley: Yes, sir!
- Bull: Good... now I'm Jones, Colonel John J. Jones I'm only here for the day. I fly around the country testing the readiness of troops for combat. This is a strictly confidential test, classified top secret, tell no one Atchley... and if you ever attack a senior officer again I'll have you court-martialed!
- Cpl. Atchley: But- you attacked me, sir-
- Bull: Dismissed! Good luck in your career. Be proud Atchley, be proud of yourself and proud of the Corps. Now get out! [Atcherly leaves; Bull looks at a mirror, chuckling to himself] You silver-tongue bastard, shame on you.
- [Bull's car shows up and blocks Ben's path as he tries to drive a dying Toomer to the hospital]
- Bull: You disobeyed a direct order, hog! A direct order from your commanding officer!
- Ben: Yes, sir!
- Bull: You knew you'd catch hell for it!
- Ben: Yes, sir!
- Bull: You went ahead and did it anyway! I wanna know why!
- Ben: Because I promised Arabelle- I thought Toomer might be in trouble!
- Bull: And what?
- Ben: And- because I was your son!
- Bull: What the hell's that got to do with it?
- Ben: Because you woulda done it! Santini woulda done it!
- Bull: We're not talking about me, goddamnit! We're talking about you!
- Ben: Oh, sure! And I'm a Meechum! A Meechum's a winner all the way! He chews nails while the other kids are eating cotton candy! He never surrenders, he never gives up!
- Bull: You disobeyed a direct order!
- Ben: I thought Toomer might be in trouble.
- Bull: I told you, Toomer can take care of himself!
- Ben: Yes, sir, that's what you told me.
- Bull: Is that him in the car?
- Ben: Yes, sir.
- [Bull goes to the passenger window of the car Ben was driving]
- Bull: Hey, Toomer, how you doin', sportsfan? [looks at Toomer, realizing Toomer is dead] Jesus H. Christ. [returns to Ben] Better take him to the hospital. I'll get the Sheriff and tell Arabelle. [silence] Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say something?
- Ben: Nobody tells you anything, Dad.