Patton

1970 Drama

In 1943 North Africa, George Patton (George C. Scott) assumes command of (and instills some much-needed discipline in) the American forces. Engaged in battle against Germany's Field Marshal Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler), Patton drives back "The Desert Fox" by using the German's own tactics. Promoted to Lieutenant General, Patton is sent to Sicily, where he engages in a personal war of egos with British Field Marshal Montgomery (Michael Bates). Performing brilliantly in Italy, Patton seriously jeopardizes his future with a single slap. While touring an Army hospital, the General comes across a GI (Tim Considine) suffering from nervous fatigue. Incensed by what he considers a slacker, Patton smacks the poor soldier and orders him to get well in a hurry. This incident results in his losing his command-and, by extension, missing out on D-Day. In his final campaign, Patton leads the US 3rd Army through Europe. Unabashedly flamboyant, Patton remains a valuable resource, but ultimately proves too much of a "loose cannon" in comparison to the more level-headed tactics of his old friend Omar Bradley (Karl Malden). Patton won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Scott, an award that he refused. more..

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Starring: George C. Scott,Karl Malden, Michael Bates, Edward Binns, Karl Michael Vogler

Reviews

  • Still mesmerizes on the strength of George C. Scott's chew-your-behind performance.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    26 April 2013

  • The movie holds up far better than its detractors guessed - splendidly, in fact - not only thanks to Scott's spellbinding acting, but to the epic imagery, Coppola's (and Edmund North's) highly intelligent script and Schaffner's lucid, perfectly controlled direction.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    26 April 2013

  • War is hell, and Patton is one hell of a war picture, perhaps one of the most remarkable of its type ever made.

    - Variety

    26 April 2013

  • A huge, initially ambivalent but finally adoring, Pop portrait of one of the most brilliant and outrageous American military figures of the last one hundred years.

    Vincent Canby - The New York Times

    26 April 2013

  • Patton is a war movie of unusual depth and a landmark in screen biographies.

    - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Leading Role

    Academy Awards (1971)

  • Best Edited Feature Film

    American Cinema Editors (1971)

  • Best Actor

    BAFTA Awards (1971)

     
  • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures

    Directors Guild of America (1971)

  • Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama

    Golden Globes (1971)