Patton

The World War II phase of the controversial American general’s career is depicted.

• Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
• Genre:Biography / Drama / War
• Runtime:172 minutes

Cast

George C. Scott : Gen. George S. Patton Jr.
Karl Malden : Gen. Omar N. Bradley
Stephen Young : Capt. Chester B. Hansen
Michael Strong : Brig. Gen. Hobart Carver
Carey Loftin : Gen. Bradley’s driver (as Cary Loftin)

The film’s famous beginning has General George S. Patton (George C. Scott) giving a speech, with a huge American flag in the background. Patton then takes charge of demoralized American forces in North Africa after the Battle of the Kasserine Pass. After reinstilling discipline in his soldiers, he leads them to victory at the Battle of El Guettar, though he is bitterly disappointed to learn afterward that Erwin Rommel was not his opponent.

Patton is shown to believe in reincarnation, while remaining a devout Christian. At one point during the North Africa campaign, Patton takes his staff on an unexpected detour to the site of the ancient Battle of Zama. There he reminisces about the battle, insisting to his second in command, General Omar Bradley (Karl Malden) that he was there.

After North Africa is secured, he participates in the invasion of Sicily and races against British General Bernard Law Montgomery to capture the Sicilian port of Messina. German General Alfred Jodl (Richard Munch) and Captain Steiger (Siegfied Rauch) are both convinced that Patton will be chosen to lead the invasion of Europe. However, after he beats Montgomery into Messina, Patton is relieved of command for slapping a shell-shocked soldier in an Army hospital. This incident, along with his tendency to speak his mind to the press, gets the general in trouble and he is sidelined during the long-anticipated D-Day landings, being placed in command of the fictional First United States Army Group in south-east England as a decoy.

Fearing he will miss out on his destiny, he begs his former subordinate, General Omar Bradley, for a command before the war ends. He is given the Third United States Army and distinguishes himself by rapidly sweeping across France and later relieving the vital town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Patton then smashes through the “West Wall” and drives into Germany itself. Read more