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CibbuanoPatton
July 6th 2006 09:05
Patton (1970)
If there was a biopic to ever be made of a General, in had to be American WW2 General George Patton. The film takes great delight in revelling in the quirks of such a great and interesting character, a man of contradictory ego and modesty who believed in the art of war and reincarnation, wrote poetry, and – on the whole – simply belonged to another time.
'Patton' succeeds in the fact that it remains truer than most war films to the level of combat that a high-ranking officer actually sees... it follows Patton's extraordinary involvement in WW2, and his own struggle to continue this involvement whilst his own words were turned against him by the media and the military. The film shows us both sides of the action; following the officers, the plans, the egos, and the battles, the Allies and the Nazis, and gives us nearly everything we could possibly want to see from all perspectives.
Patton himself is wonderfully portrayed by character-lead George C. Scott, suitably grizzled and imploring as an old-fashioned warrior trapped in 20th century war - a man menaced by the rise of the media, forever shooting himself in the foot with his own disdain for politics. This is a man defined by conflict, a General who yearned for nothing more than battle and didn't particularly care about the whys and why-nots of the war. I found myself attached to a character I normally wouldn't be particularly sympathetic too... such is the level of endearment imbued in the character by Scott, giving a humble and natural performance as this larger than life General.
I would've liked to have seen more from the Nazi perspective, but that's just wishfulness, as I can't really ask any more of what the film gives the audience regarding the German point-of-view. It's a film about Patton, and his amazing campaigns across Northern Africa, the Mediterranean, France and Germany, and as such it's succeeds remarkably.
HIGHLIGHTS: Karl Malden seemed to be destined to play a 'man of the people', and gives a suitably unflambouyant and understated performance as General Bradley.
The scenes between Patton and the media are probably amongst my most favourite... I couldn't help but smile at his refusal to accept the Russians as American allies.
George C. Scott as Patton
George C. Scott was the first person to refuse a Best Actor Oscar from the Academy.
Francis Ford Coppola co-wrote the script.
George C. Scott reprised his role for a telemovie in the mid 80s called 'The Last Days of Patton'.
Rod Steiger turned down the role of Patton, later regretting it. Amongst other actors who either turned it down or were considered for the role were John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin and Robert Mitchum.
Most of the film's budget was spent on hiring equipment and extras from the Spanish Army.
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