MovieChat Forums > The Great Santini (1979) Discussion > This is the Truth about Military Life!

This is the Truth about Military Life!

posted 20 years ago by wildrose-1
38 replies | jump to latest

Ok, I haven't gotten to see the movie, but did read the book. What the STORY is about, and it is true, is what it is to be raised by a "Military" Parent - and it is no picnic. While most men do not raise a hand to their wives. My father really did do the White Glove (running a clean white glove over all surfaces)on my mother to see if she had cleaned the house properly. And most of the kids do get beaten - a lot. Few people can understand what it is to grow up in Boot Camp.

The information in the book was autobiographical enough that it effectively tore the whole family appart.

The story is NOT about Bull, but what it is to have such a father.

[–] dtechba 17 years ago

One, I am retired military and never did most of the stuff Santini did even though I did hold my children to high standards of conduct and effort. I had high standards but I wasn't a dictator. I was also veruing loving and was the primary emotianal support for my first two children. When my ex and I divorced my children opted to live with me so I must have done something right. I, in fact, after spending time raising children as a civilian find military parents to be way more involved in their kids lives than are civilians. This is mostly because of the differences in the community and the fact civilians can't just leave work to go to their kid's events like military parents can. Free time from work is hard to get in the civilian world. Asking for it gets you labelled as not being a team player and can negatively affect your career. OTOH, in the military it is expected that you will go and your boss will probably be going too. Also, I have seen a lot of martinents in the civilian world too so bad parents are just bad parents.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sonofbeach-sheet 15 years ago

I'm enlisted Air Force, so my life is almost like that of a civilian, except for the deployments and exercises. Once you're a Marine, you get brainwashed for life

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] dtechba 14 years ago

I am now a civilian and know a few civilians who murdered their wives. Your point is?

[–] Gravity00 14 years ago

lol owned.

[–] MurderFaceMesa 14 years ago

My girlfriends step father is in the Army, i know he spent time over sea's fighting but now he is just a fat old army recruiter. But from the stories she told me and the total train wreck his own son's are, well you can imagine. One on meds, the other on his way to prison if he stays on the track that he is on. My old man was just a regular blue collar guy, but seeing this movie a few years ago really made me wonder about military families. The one's I knew were all English and those kids seemed to be more adjusted than 90% american kids.

But a year ago her step dad and I locked horns. He decided he would slap my girl in the ass and I put one across his face. He never bothered her again, sometimes these military guys forget there not The Roman Legion.

Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!

[–] speccyboy 12 years ago

Authoritarianism is usually a form of legalised/socially acceptable cowardice.

[–] Jefbecco-1 11 years ago

My father is a Vietnam veteran and he was career law enforcement. In my family he was the care provider. Mom was the tough as nails parent who I constantly clashed with and I'm the son.However she wasn't abusive either. So much for the cliches and sterotypes. I spent fourteen years in the U.S. Army and I've been a cop for the past 13 years. I never treated my kids like that. Ever. There was/is discipline tempered with intelligence, compassion and common sense. The Great Santini would probably be arrested for Domestic Battery and Injury to a Child in 2014. I've taken more than a few abusive parents to jail over the years.

[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 11 years ago

I don't know, My father was in the military and I grew up in military housing. I don't recall anyone being like that. Perhaps it has more to do with the marines than the military in general. Something wrong with the typical guy that seeks out the Corps.

“There are no ordinary moments. There is always something going on.” – Peaceful Warrior

[–] chas437 11 years ago

I think its also a generational thing. This film addresses kids from the Baby Boom generation (born between 1946 and 1960) who were raised in military families. The OP's experience seems to reflect this.

I think today's military parents are much less idealistic and fervent. I know many Iraq and Afghanistan vets, and almost none of them are as gung ho about America and the military as WW2 and Korea vets were.

I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

go to manuel's tavern in the atl for great santini stories! and funny stories about pat too.

Key to winning baseball games? Pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers.-Earl Weaver

[–] PacificHeights 11 years ago

It was one man's story about one military family. Not all military families were like that. In fact, the vast majority of them were the polar opposite of The Great Santini. Military men, especially in that era, were particularly committed to providing for and protecting their wives and children. They put their families and their perceived ideas of country first.

[–] johnmiller (4011) 8 months ago

That's why it will be better when those who are like that are replaced with AI and robots.