Conrack

1974
PG
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

2.4K

YOUR RATING

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Drama

The true story of Pat Conroy, a handsome, idealistic Caucasian who is an elementary-school instructor for a group of poor Black children in an isolated school.The true story of Pat Conroy, a handsome, idealistic Caucasian who is an elementary-school instructor for a group of poor Black children in an isolated school.The true story of Pat Conroy, a handsome, idealistic Caucasian who is an elementary-school instructor for a group of poor Black children in an isolated school.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

2.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 win & 3 nominations total

User reviews46

Featured review

7/10

Despite formula, quite moving

Pat Conroy's autobiographical book "The Water Is Wide" proves to be something of a Southern "Up The Down Staircase", yet despite the teacher-going-against-the-odds formula, "Conrack" really does move the audience with each little breakthrough and creative flash. These students (uneducated black kids on an island off South Carolina) are actually shown learning, and their collective wide-eyed innocence is remarkably sweet. The one actual actress in the bunch (Tina Andrews, an amazing performer) plays the "tough nut" Conrack has to crack, and once she falls under his charms, it all seems a breeze. But the story is not ready-made for a happy ending, and I wasn't prepared for the quiet simplicity of the finale. It's beautifully done. The script veers off course every now and then, but director Martin Ritt is very smart to always fall back on Jon Voight's solid presence. Scenes such as the one where he drives around in his van venting his frustrations over a loudspeaker don't add up to much, but the whole film is filled with episodes which spark emotion, and the actual ending is their payoff. **1/2 out of ****

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Conrack: Fight With The Kids

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In a 2007 interview on the Dennis Miller Radio Show, Jon Voight recalled a reunion that was held 20 years after the movie's release, with all of the available actors and actresses. Of the 21 actors and actresses who portrayed students, three were teachers at the time of the reunion.

Goofs
When Pat Conroy goes to a student's home, a pack of dogs rushes out to him and the owner calls them off. As Conroy is leaving, the dogs chase him again, and as he runs down the road at least one of them runs past Conroy, presumably toward the trainer calling them.

Quotes
Pat Conroy: As for my kids, I don't think I changed the quality of their lives significantly, or altered the fact that they have no share in the country that claimed them - the country that's failed them. All I know is I felt much beauty in my time with them.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: This is based on a true story. It began in March of 1969.

Connections
Features Le cygne noir (1942)

Soundtracks
5th Symphony
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven (uncredited)
Performed by New York Philharmonic (as the New York Philharmonic)
with Leonard Bernstein as Conductor
(and used by courtesy of Columbia Records)