When I watched this film recently, it had been many years since I'd seen it in 1980. It was just as good, in fact even better, than I remembered -- so good, in fact, that I watched it again a short time later. It's an excellent cast, but Robert Duvall as "The Great Santini" stands out, and I still consider it the best of all his film performances. The story takes place in 1962, at the height of U. S. tensions with Castro Cuba. Duvall's character, Marine Lt. Col. "Bull" Meechum has a deserved reputation as a great jet fighter pilot, but is also a near alcoholic with a deeply flawed character and manic temperament, and has been passed over for promotion to Full Bird Colonel. In 1962, he is 41 years old and has been a Marine pilot since WWII, which means at least 17 years and near the end of his military career unless he is promoted to Colonel and could remain in the Marines after 20 years. He has a wife and four kids who love him, but also fear his volatile temperament. His oldest child Ben, age 18, has the most contentious relationship, and the story largely revolves around their stormy relationship. At times, Meechum's deeply flawed character makes viewing difficult and unpleasant, but this is a great film.