PATTON is a three-dimensional bronze bust of World War II field general George S. Patton (George C. Scott) who wrote poetry, fired pistols at strafing fighter planes, and loved America with a lofty and historical zeal. Tracing his personal rivalries with such generals as Rommel and Montgomery, his problematic treatment of his own men, and his nearly runaway contempt for diplomacy, the film triumphs as an enduring portrait of a complex and larger-than-life figure. PATTON was recipient of 10 Academy Award Nominations and winner of eight, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor--Scott, Best (Adapted) Screenplay--Francis Ford Coppola/Edmund H. North.
An award-winning and highly praised biography of controversial World War II hero General George S. Patton. The film covers his wartime activities and accomplishments, beginning with his entry into the North African campaign and ending with his removal from command after his outspoken criticism of US post-war military strategy.
General Omar N. Bradley (played by Karl Malden in the film) wrote one the major sources for the screenplay, "A Soldier's Story," and served as senior military technical advisor for the film. Luis Martin Pozuelo served as Spanish military technical advisor. Paul D. Harkins and Glover S. Johns, Jr., also served as technical advisors.
Tim Considine, who appears as the soldier who gets slapped, played Fred MacMurray's oldest son Mike on the TV sitcom "My Three Sons" for five years.
Producer Frank McCarthy spent 20 years trying to interest someone in the Patton biography before Fox mogul Darryl F. Zanuck purchased it. McCarthy once described the first screenplay, written by Francis Ford Coppola, as "poetic, marvelous, and rather shapeless."
Schaffner won the 1970 Best Director Award from the Director's Guild of America. Scott won the 1970 Best Actor Award from the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the national Society of Film Critics. National Board of Review also named "Patton" the Best Film of 1970.
There are two different laserdisc editions of "Patton." One is not letterboxed and was first released in 1981-1984. The other is a Special Wide Screen Edition, which is letterboxed, and was first released in 1989. The Special Widescreen Edition also includes an epilogue of Movietone News reports about Patton.
The film has 94 speaking parts.
Estimated budget $13 million.
Filmed over an 18-week period in Spain, England, Morocco, Greece, and Los Angeles. Filming completed May 31, 1969. Titles by Pacific Title. Color by DeLuxe. Filmed in 70mm Dimension 150, which produced a projected aspect ratio of 2.21:1.
Released in USA January 1970. Released on video May 25, 1989.
Rated BBFC A by the British Board of Film Censors.
The film was also known as "Patton: Lust for Glory," and "Patton: Salute to a Rebel."
In 1986, George C. Scott played Patton once again in the TV-movie, "The Last Days of Patton" which covers the period of Patton's life from the end of WWII to his death. The film also featured Eva Marie Saint, Richard Dysart, Murray Hamilton, Ed Lauter, and Kathryn Leigh Scott. Written by Williuam Luce from Ladislas Farago's book, "The Last Days of Patton." Directed by Delbert Mann. Running time for the video and originally aired version is 146 minutes, while some re-run versions may run 104 minutes.
Copyright 1989 The CBS/Fox Company
Excerpt: "Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." -- General George S. Patton (George C. Scott)
DVD Features:
2-Disc Set
Audio:
Dolby Surround - English
Stereo 4.0 - English
Mono - French, Spanish
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Disc 1: PATTON - Widescreen Version
Widescreen - 2.20
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - Francis Ford Coppola - Screenwriter
Introduction - Francis Ford Coppola - Screenwriter
Text/Photo Galleries:
Gallery - Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery with Audio Essay on Historical Patton
Disc 2: PATTON - Bonus Material:
Additional Release Material:
Behind the Scenes - "The Making Of PATTON"
Featurette - 1. History Through the Lens: "Patton: A Rebel Revisited"
2. Patton's Ghost Corps
Trailer - Theatrical Trailer
Text/Photo Galleries:
Stills/Photos - Production Stills with Jerry Goldsmith's Complete Musical Score
Director of Photography
Fred Koenekamp: American Director of Photography
Production Designer
Urie McCleary: Art Director
Source Writer
Ladislas Farago: Author/ "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph"
Source Writer
Omar N. Bradley:
Art Director
Gil Parrondo: Production Designer
Review 1:
"...[Scott's performance] is still the glue holding together this blunt study of war..." -- Rating: B
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.64 06/03/1994
Review 2:
"...One of the best American movies....A great film....The opening shot is a stunner..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.44 07/03/2002
Review 3:
"...[PATTON] still mesmerizes on the strength of George C. Scott's chew-your-behind performance as George S. Patton..."
Source: USA Today
p.6E 11/05/1999
Review 4:
"[A] riveting portrayal of rampant egomania with Scott fully deserving of his best actor Oscar."
Source: Uncut
p.140-1 08/01/2001
Review 5:
4 stars out of 5 -- "It's certainly a great performance from Scott, a seamless, pity-free portrayal."
Source: Total Film
p.132 06/01/2006
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