MovieChat Forums > The Great Santini (1979) Discussion > Goofs - not.

Goofs - not.

posted 18 years ago by k_schember
1 reply | jump to latest

"Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
At the beginning of the movie, Meacham wears the eagle insignia of the full colonel. Later, he is introduced as Lt. Col. It is only after this that he begins to wear the silver oak leaf of the Lt. Col."

There is no goof here. The Lt. Col. insignia is a silver oak leaf which is worn by Bull, indicating his paygrade of 05 (Lieutenant Colonel).

In military circles, one calls a Lt[junior grade](02) 'Lieutenant' and a LCdr (Lieutenant Commander (04) 'Commander' and any admiral (Rear (Lower half, Upper half - 1 & 2 stars), Vice (3 star) and Admiral (4 star) - all 'Admiral'.

In other services, 2nd and 1st Lieutenants (01 & 02) are called 'Lieutenant' and the same with Lt Col and Colonel - 'Colonel' and so on with generals.

The 1st/2nd, Lt-, Rear/Vice are used in formal-style speech or when calling attention to another's junior status by a senior (not normally done).

The Navy captain (an 06) dressing down the (05) Lt. Col. Bull Meechum was entirely correct in his speech and the manner in which conducted.

[–] jack_bagley 18 years ago

I don't think there's a goof here at all ... I just re-watched the first part of the movie and every time you see Lt. Col. Meechum, he's wearing a silver oak leaf. He never, at any time, is shown with an eagle on his collar or shoulder.

One other thing I find interesting -- in the book, the family name is spelled "Meecham" but in the movie it's "Meechum." I wonder why?

Pat Conroy's parents thought the book and movie were a betrayal of the family, but after it became popular, Colonel Don Conroy remade himself into the actual "Great Santini" -- the man who would give his son a flight jacket for his birthday, or send his daughter roses for the prom. Before that, Conroy says, his father had no redeeming values at all -- he toned his dad down considerably so the character would be believeable.