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Conrack

Play trailer Poster for Conrack PG Released Mar 27, 1974 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 78% 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 It's a firsthand story, and Ritt and the Ravetches have kept the bloom on it, even with the addition of their secondhand touches. Sep 21, 2023 Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 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. Aug 27, 2013 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Few will totally resist the surefire appeal of this latest variation on Pygmalion mythology. Jan 14, 2008 Full Review George Anderson Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 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. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Dick Lochte Los Angeles Free Press The film was about as out of sync and unnecessary as John Lennon's showtime repartee. Dec 16, 2019 Full Review Adrian Turner Radio Times 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. Rated: 2/5 Aug 27, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ariel V Very touching story, Loved it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/02/24 Full Review ogn d Jon Voight? pass .......................... Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review william k Old-fashioned feel-good drama with a dubious white saviour message; Jon Voight's role, which he plays excellently, was obviously intended as Oscar bait. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The best inspiring movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Conrack

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Conrack

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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