The Great Santini

The movie opens with 'Bull' Meechum, The Great Santini, flying fighter planes for the Marines in Spain. It then cuts to a going away party for Bull at the sedate Navy Officer’s Club.  The party gets a little out of hand.  Before being kicked out, the Marines stage a ‘floor show’ for the prim Navy guests that sends them running for the door.

Back in the States the Meechum family -- Lillian, Bull’s wife, Ben, the eldest son, Mary Anne, Karen, and Mathew -- are all awaiting the return of their Father and saying a few last Hail Mary’s to ensure him a safe trip. Despite Lillian's admonitions, when he lands they all rush out to greet him.

Bull and Lillian start to catch up that night when Bull jumps out of bed at three AM and wakes up the children. Everyone moans and groans about Bull’s wake-up time, but in his military style he loads everyone in the car to move to their new house.

As they travel to Beaufort, Bull talks to Ben about being a fighter pilot. Ben says that he might not become one. They move into a beautiful large plantation home.  Bull gives his kids a speech about them being the best and how they can do anything better than any other kids. He asks a lot from his children, and is very demanding. Since Ben is the oldest son, Bill expects the most from him.

Bull visits his base to find his new responsibilities. Trying to pull a prank on an old friend he mistakenly attacks a young enlisted Marine in the ‘head’. He covers the mistake, but not well enough. His friend, Virgil, hears about the incident and teases him for it. Then Bull is told that he is there to get a squadron in shape for the Cuban Crisis.

Bull meets his match, Arrabella Smalls, who becomes the Meechum’s maid. She tells them of her son, Toomer, who sells things off his cart and mule.

Ben and Bull are playing one-on-one basketball. The whole family is watching and everyone cheers for Ben. When he wins, Bull won't accept the defeat and teases Ben into crying. Later that night, Ben and Lillian watch Bull practicing his shots in the pouring rain. He is admitting his defeat and apologizing.

Ben meets Toomer. They go fishing together and Toomer is hassled by local redneck boys. Ben sees Toomer’s house and his family of dogs.

Bull wakes Ben up at four in the morning on his eighteenth birthday to give him his present. He gives him his first flight jacket. Bull shares a rare sentimental moment with Ben about the day he was born. He tells Ben to meet him at the Club that night. Ben’s mother writes him a note for his birthday. She tells him how much she loves him and how proud she is of him.

At the Club, Ben drinks too much with his father and Virgil. He tells them he made the varsity basketball team. They ruin Ben’s surprise party at home when Bull carries Ben in drunk.

Ben has a big basketball game and Bull gets over competitive. When Ben gets shoved by an opponent Bull threatens him if he does not fight back. Ben does and breaks the boy’s arm. He is kicked off the team.

While Toomer is selling some honey one day, the local redneck boys start to tease and taunt him. Red Petus was the meanest boy. Toomer subdues him and then lets him go. Red threatens to pay Toomer back.

Later that night, Arrabella asks Ben to go and check on Toomer. When he asks his father, Bull orders him not to go. Ben disobeys. Meanwhile, Red is at Toomer's. He shoots Toomer and Toomer sets the dogs on him. Ben arrives and finds Red dead and Toomer in bad shape. While racing to get Toomer to the doctor, Toomer dies. Bull meets Ben and slaps him for disobeying him. Bull apologizes after he discovers Toomer is dead. That night Bull gets drunk with Virgil and gets into an argument with Lillian. Ben and the other children attack him to protect Mom and Bull runs out into the night.

Lillian makes Ben go after Bull. He finds him leaning against a tree and mumbling to himself. Ben tells him that he loves him and takes him home.

Ben takes Mary Anne to the Prom. Bull has a routine flight that night. As Ben and Mary Anne are having a great time, Bull has engine trouble in his plane. The engine quits as he is over the town. Rather than bail out, he pilots the plane safely away from crashing into the houses but is too low and dies in the impact.  Lillian tell the children that they may not cry at their father’s funeral. Ben tells Lillian how he used to pray for Bull to die. He is very upset.