The Great Santini (1979)

Robert Duvall: Bull Meechum

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mary Anne Meechum : Hey Dad, why do you love me more than your other children?

  Bull Meechum : Beat it, I'm reading the sports page.

  Mary Anne Meechum : Let's have a conversation Dad. Let's bare our souls and get to know one another.

  Bull Meechum : I don't want you to get to know me. I like being an enigma, like a Chink. Now scram.

  Mary Anne Meechum : Am I a Meechum Dad? Can girls be real Meechums; girls without jump shots? Or am a simple form of Meechum, like in biology. Mary Anne, the one-celled Meechum.

  Bull Meechum : Mary Anne scram, I'm starting to lose my temper; Lilian!

  Mary Anne Meechum : [falls to the ground]  Dad, I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant by a negro Daddy. His name is Rufus, I didn't wanna tell you but since we're baring our souls to each other. Rufus is a pacifist; a pacifist homosexual.

  Bull Meechum : Jesus H. Christ! Lilian, I'm going to the club. I'll see you all at the game! I can't stand it around here!

  [storms off as Mary Anne follows him] 

  Mary Anne Meechum : But you'll get to like him after awhile Dad. Dwarfs are easy to like, especially when they're bald and cross-eyed... Dad... Dad... *Dad*!

• Bull Meechum : I'd like to propose a toast, to my son. He is eighteen today. He has just ordered his first drink. Before he drinks it, I'd like to wish him a long life, a wife as fine as his mother, and a son as fine as he's been. To my son!

• Bull Meechum : There's those that has got 'em, Ben, and those that don't!

  Ben Meechum : What?

  Bull Meechum : Gonads, Son! Big brass ones!

• Ben Meechum : Would you like to be killed in action, Dad?

  Bull Meechum : It's better than dying of piles!

  Ben Meechum : Yeah.

• Mary Anne Meechum : I hate this place.

  Lillian Meechum : Now sugar, you've got to open yourself to a town. You've been in the corps long enough to know that.

  Mary Anne Meechum : I am not in the corps.

  Matthew Meechum : Says you!

  Bull Meechum : Shut your little yaps! Now here it is sports fans, Beaufort S.C.!

• Bull Meechum : I am Santini, the Great Santini.

  Bull Meechum : I come from behind the moon, out of the dark, unannounced.

  Bull Meechum : Watch out!

• Bull Meechum : You're probably wondering why I attacked you right?

  Cpl. Atcherly : Yes, sir

  Bull Meechum : What's your name Corporal?

  Cpl. Atcherly : Atchley, sir.

  Bull Meechum : Atchley do you realize that several Marines were killed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor while taking craps?

  Cpl. Atcherly : No, sir.

  Bull Meechum : 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 - 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. Atcherly : Yes, sir!

  Bull Meechum : 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-martial'd

  Cpl. Atcherly : But you attacked me, sir

  Bull Meechum : DISMISSED! Good luck in your career. Be proud Atchley, be proud of yourself and of the Corps... now get out!

  Bull Meechum : Looking in a mirror: You silver tongue bastard, shame on you.

• Bull Meechum : Who the hell asked you anything?

  [slaps Lillian] 

  Lillian Meechum : Don't you talk to me like that! Now, he beat you and it was beautiful.

• Bull Meechum : I didn't know you looked so stacked, sports fans.

  Mary Anne Meechum : How sicko sexual can you get?

• Bull Meechum : [to his subordinates]  You're gonna hack it or pack it!

• Bull Meechum : [to his subordinates]  You're looking at Bull Meechum now, and this is the eye of the storm!

• Bull Meechum : Bull Meechum don't try nuthin'. He just do.

• Bull Meechum : 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?

  Ben Meechum , Mary Anne Meechum , Karen Meechum , Matthew Meechum : Yes sir!

• Bull Meechum : Dixie's a loser's song. Let's sing something else.

• Bull Meechum : All right, you sing "Dixie" and I'll sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic." I'll sing the winner's song and you sing the loser's song.

• Bull Meechum : Moving day. Let's go, Hogs! Breaking camp. Everybody at the car in 5 minutes. Move it!

• Bull Meechum : Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say something?

  Ben Meechum : Nobody tells you anything, Dad.