Conrack. Poster of the 1974 movie and cover of the 1972 book, The Water is Wide
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The Water is Wide
Pat Conroy, 1972
movie vs book
Martin Ritt, 1974

The real-life tale of Pat Conroy, a compassionate and idealistic white teacher who educates a class of underprivileged black children in a remote school setting.


The Great Santini. Poster of the 1979 movie and cover of the 1976 book
VS3
The Great Santini
Pat Conroy, 1976
movie vs book
Lewis John Carlino, 1979

Bull Meechum is an enthusiastic Marine pilot nicknamed the Great Santini, who grapples with family challenges on the home front, especially with his mistreated teenage son.


The Water Is Wide. Poster of the 2006 movie and cover of the 1972 book, The Water is Wide
VS3
The Water is Wide
Pat Conroy, 1972
movie vs book
John Kent Harrison, 2006

Pat Conroy, an ambitious and somewhat rebellious idealistic teacher, agrees to the offer from the school board superintendent of Bennington County, SC, to teach the impoverished African American children in the fishing community on Yamacrew Island. The school’s leader, the inept and rigid headmistress Brown, embodies ignorance and strict adherence to rules, relying on scolding and physical punishment as her teaching methods.


The Prince of Tides. Poster of the 1991 movie and cover of the 1986 book
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The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy, 1986
movie vs book
Barbra Streisand, 1991

Tom Wingo, a disheartened coach from the South, must confront his painful childhood to aid his sister, who is on the brink of suicide. Streisand portrays Susan Lowenstein, a resolute psychiatrist who faces Tom’s bitterness and anger to uncover the truth. Over time, their conflict transforms into love as they unearth the secret behind his sister’s suffering, finding the strength to transform their own lives in the process.


The Lords of Discipline. Poster of the 1983 movie and cover of the 1980 book
VS3
The Lords of Discipline
Pat Conroy, 1980
movie vs book
Franc Roddam, 1983

In 1960s America, an African American cadet gains entry into a seemingly esteemed military academy, setting off a wave of corruption within the system that another cadet is determined to reveal.