Patton

Media:	DVD
Directed by:	Franklin J. Schaffner
Starring:	George C. Scott, Karl Malden
Release date:	20 May, 2003
List price:	~~$14.98~~
Our price:	$9.99 that is 33% off!

Patton

Average rating: Stars

Powerful portrait is a must-see

'Patton' is more than a thrill ride, more than a spectacle, more than just your garden variety WWII epic. In addition to the virtuoso acting of George C. Scott -- which somehow never seems to fall into melodrama despite his bombast -- the film explores perhaps better than any other the attraction and the repulsion we feel towards the bloodthirsty glory hound warrior that Patton epitomized. At first blush, we see Patton before the flag in a powerful speech where he is larger than life -- an American counterpoint to Hitler and the awful pomp of the Nazis that seduced millions into evil. Patton surely has the capacity for evil -- note his preoccupation with Napoleon and his putting victory and glory over the blood of his men, and his absolute love of war and destruction. But throughout the film he inspires, cajoles and whips his men into an efficient fighting machine. We are both attracted by this and repelled at the same time. Patton becomes a valuable weapon, but must be muzzled at the end because he does not know how to stop and has no patience for civility. A man like Patton, if he had become president instead of Eisenhower, could have destroyed worlds if it meant his name writ large in the history books. And yet, men like Patton protected and served the country well, and indeed were essential to winning the war.

Like Churchill, Patton was cast off after the war. The people here and in Britain seemed to understand that a far different kind of leadership is needed in peacetime than in war.

***

As for the movie, the war scenes themselves are merely scene-setters rather than scene-stealers the way it would be if it were done today. This isn't the Bridge on the River Kwai or Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. There are relatively few on-the-battlefield action scenes of consequence, and the soldiers themselves come off not as human beings so much as props for the generals, pieces on a chessboard. But that's all to the well and good. Patton didn't see his men as individuals so much as a means to an end. Because we don't get to know them too closely, it helps us understand, a bit, how Patton was able to spend their lives so easily as he focused on his goals of victory and glory.

Patton - George C. Scott, Karl Malden

Any resemblance to WW2 is coincidental.

"Patton" although fun to watch because of his portrayal by George C. Scott just does not have the look or feel on World War 2. First I will mention something about Scott's portrayal of Patton; he is too fat and his voice too deep for the real Patton. If someone ever has the opportunity to listen to a recording of George S. Patton's voice you'll be struck about how effeminate it sounds. Of course Scott's waste line also does no justice to the tall and trim Patton but that can be overlooked. What is hard to overlook is that the film looks too much like the Spanish army on maneuvers than a World War II battle.
Then there are the numerous historical inaccuracies in the film. The most notable one is where Patton greets Montgomery in Messina. Didn't happen! Well I could go on. For accuracy I would place "Tora, Tora , Tora" above Patton. For fun I'd chose "Patton." But do not use this film as a source for a Master's Thesis.

George C. Scott, Karl Malden - Patton

A classical hero for modern times

My husband bought this movie, and I was not all that interested in watching it. But from the opening speech in front of the flag, I was gripped. Outstanding character study and moving meditation on the nature of martial heroism in an age of WMD. Patton, as played by the wonderful George C. Scott, is Hannibal and Julius Caesar at the dawn of an era of impersonal technology. He is a true warrior who is not understood by the unheroic age in which he is cursed to dwell.