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Conrack

Play trailer Poster for Conrack PG 1974 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In this uplifting drama based on the memoir "The Water is Wide," Pat Conroy (Jon Voight) accepts a teaching position on an isolated island in South Carolina. There he finds a class of black students who are not only illiterate, but also wanting for simple personal hygiene. Conroy contradicts the lax institutional standards and exposes his students to a wide range of topics, but those in power do not take kindly to his efforts to overturn their racist policies.

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/21/2023
It's a firsthand story, and Ritt and the Ravetches have kept the bloom on it, even with the addition of their secondhand touches. Go to Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 08/27/2013
The spirit behind Conrack is so relentlessly idealistic in tone and uplifting in intent that one feels vaguely guilty for not responding to the film generously and forgivingly. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 01/14/2008
Few will totally resist the surefire appeal of this latest variation on Pygmalion mythology. Go to Full Review George Anderson Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 09/24/2024
It is such an exhilarating story and Jon Voight's performance is so irresistibly engaging that the film ranks as one of the season's best. Go to Full Review Dick Lochte Los Angeles Free Press 12/16/2019
The film was about as out of sync and unnecessary as John Lennon's showtime repartee. Go to Full Review Adrian Turner Radio Times 08/27/2013
2/5
Martin Ritt's movie is often sentimental and hectoring, ramming home the contrast between Voight's comfy, secure rebellion against the Vietnam War and the utter destitution and backwardness of his pupils. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ariel V @Cinematic20 05/02/2024 Very touching story, Loved it. See more 07/19/2020 As a teacher of inner city children for 30 years it was very moving movie to me. It showed specifically the importance of exposing students to knowledge and experiences that are foreign to them and a zest to learn and gain respect for themselves through the devotion of a dedicated teacher. The backdrop was simple but very poignant. The actors and actresses were well chosen for their roles and executed them perfectly. See more 07/22/2019 The cliched story of an inspirational teacher whose unconventional style is misunderstood by his supervisors. In spite of his apparent success at encouraging poor black students to learn, the school superintendent wants something different, although it's not really clear what. Good performances by Voight and some of the young actors. Ungratifying ending. See more @TMProofreader 01/31/2019 The best inspiring movie ever made! See more 07/29/2018 Just saw this again the other night thanks to TCM. My wife and I watched it together. Me for the third time and she for the first. She loved it and so did I (again) Just a wonderful period piece. The kids. John Voight, Paul Winfield and the entire cast were perfect. Highly recommend. See more 09/17/2017 The potentially dubious aspects of the subject are mostly exorcised, in part by a strong script (adapted from the book by real-life teacher Pat Conroy), but largely by the engaging and persuasive performance Ritt draws from Voight. See more Read all reviews
Conrack

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Martin Ritt

Director

Jon Voight

Pat Conroy

Paul Winfield

Mad Billy

Hume Cronyn

Mr. Skeffington

Madge Sinclair

Mrs. Scott

Tina Andrews

Mary

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Conrack

Conrack (1974) Conrack (1974) Conrack (1974) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this uplifting drama based on the memoir "The Water is Wide," Pat Conroy (Jon Voight) accepts a teaching position on an isolated island in South Carolina. There he finds a class of black students who are not only illiterate, but also wanting for simple personal hygiene. Conroy contradicts the lax institutional standards and exposes his students to a wide range of topics, but those in power do not take kindly to his efforts to overturn their racist policies.
Director
Martin Ritt
Producer
Martin Ritt
Screenwriter
Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 27, 1974, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2019
Runtime
1h 47m