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==Introduction=="Patton" is a biopic of one of America’s greatest generals in World War II. The motion picture portrays the role of General George S. Patton, the most famous Allies tank commander of WW II. It concentrates on Patton’s career from 1942 to 1945. The movie begins with Patton's career during the North Africa campaign and his battle with Rommel, the Desert Fox. It then follows his part in the invasion of Sicily, his disgrace for striking a soldier and his role in the liberation of Europe after the D-Day landings and his role in the fall of the Third Reich. The feature also briefly deals with his role in post-war Germany and his death in an accidental car crash in the winter of 1945. The movie shows the strengths and weakness of this most difficult and brilliant man. The movie Patton was released in 1970 and it was a great success and one of the cinematic hits of that year. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the movie was scripted by Francis Ford Coppola of Godfather fame and Edward Hill <ref>Cousins, Mark. The Story of Film: A Worldwide History (New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006), p. 213</ref>. The film was produced by Twentieth Century Fox. The role of Patton was played by the American character actor George C Scott. The movie was enthusiastically received by both the public and the critics and won several Academy Awards. This article will discuss how accurate was the movie and did it reflect the reality of Patton’s role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.__NOTOC__[[File: 70 patton.jpg|200px300px|thumbthumbnail|left|A poster of the movie <i>Patton</i> starring George C. Scott]]

=="Patton and the opening Speech==The movie has " is a biopic of one of the most memorable opening scenes America’s greatest generals in Hollywood history. George C Scott emerges as Patton and gives a remarkable speech in front of a huge banner of the Stars and StripesWorld War II. The opening scene was written by Francis Ford Coppola and was not intended to be in motion picture portrays the final cut role of the movie but the director had second thoughts and luckily left it inGeneral George S. The speech of Patton was a unique blend of patriotism, nobility and crudities. However, Patton never gave such a speech. Yet it would be wrong to state that the speech was just a fabrication. Coppola cleverly took quotes from Patton’s speeches and interviews with reports and combined them in a brilliant way<ref>Cousins, p. 214</ref>most famous Allies tank commander of WW II. The words in the speech are It concentrates on Patton’s apart career from some lines used by the screenwriter 1942 to integrate the quotes into a coherent speech1945. The result was one of the most outstanding introductions in movie history but strictly speaking begins with Patton's career during the American general never gave such a speech. ==Patton in North Africa==The movie after the opening credits show the aftermath of a terrible American defeat in Kasserine Pass in Tunisia. Rommel had ruthlessly exposed the weakness and lack of experience of the Americans campaign and inflicted upon them a severe setback. It is believed that some 2000 American G.I.s died in the disaster. We first see Patton inspecting the battlefield after his appointment as commander. George Patton was a great admirer of Rommel and he studied his work and tactics. The movie correctly shows how the American general based his strategy against Rommel on the Desert Fox’s own ideas. The 1970 feature shows Patton reforming the army units that were defeated at Kasserine Pass and imposing strict discipline on the soldiers. He was a stickler when it came to the rules and discipline. This had a powerful impact on the G.Is and Patton did manage to transform them into a formidable fighting force. In the next battle, they did manage to defeat the Germans under with Rommel and this was a very important victory for America as it showed to their allies that they could defeat the Germans on their own<ref> D'Este, Carlo, Patton: A Genius for War (New York City: Harper Collins, 1995), p. 113</ref>. However, the part played by Patton in the allied victory over the Afrika Korps is overstatedDesert Fox. It took until 1943 for the allies to wear the Germans down in Tunisia and Patton did not play the decisive role in the Allied victory that the movie implied and that the General would often claim. [[File: Debbie Reynolds Auction - George C Scott -General George S Patton Jr- military shirt and tie from -Patton-.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A uniform worn byGeorge C Scott in the movie]]

==Patton It then follows his part in the invasion of Sicily==The film does accurately relate the leading , his disgrace for striking a soldier and his role played by Patton in the liberation of Sicily. His daring use of Armor was crucial Europe after the D-Day landings and his role in the defeat fall of the Nazis on the islandThird Reich. The movie does show Patton being motivated by feature also briefly deals with his role in post-war Germany and his death in an accidental car crash in the desire to do better than General Montgomery, the victor at El Alameinwinter of 1945. There was a great personal rivalry between  The movie shows the two men who were both driven strengths and wildly ambitious weakness of this challenging and in many ways alikebrilliant man. The rivalry between Montgomery and movie <i>Patton was a feature </i> was released in 1970 during the midst of the Sicilian campaign and Vietnam War. When it was released, it was perhaps both a factor in why it ended so quickly critical and with a decisive Allied victoryfinancial success. Directed by Franklin J. In factSchaffner, the rivalry movie was not as intense as the motion picture suggests scripted by Francis Ford Coppola of Godfather fame and the two men worked together when needed for the good of the Allied causeEdward Hill. <ref>D’EsteCousins, Mark. The Story of Film: A Worldwide History (New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006), p. 119213</ref>Twentieth Century Fox produced the film. The movie shows role of Patton after visiting was played by the wounded seeing a shell-shocked soldierAmerican character actor George C Scott. The G.I. movie was unable to continue fighting enthusiastically received by both the public and had been sent behind the lines for treatmentcritics and won several Academy Awards. Patton is outraged when he sees The film fairly accurately reflects the reality of Patton’s role in the soldier who does not have any physical wounds defeat of Germany. ====Patton and is assumed by him to be the opening Speech====The movie has one of the most memorable opening scenes in Hollywood history. George C. Scott emerges as Patton and gives a malingerer and he verbally remarkable speech in front of a huge banner of the Stars and physically assaults himStripes. When this The opening scene was seen written by a reporter it Francis Ford Coppola and was widely publicized not intended to be in America and elsewhere <ref>Lovelacethe final cut of the movie, But, Alexander Gthe director had second thoughts and luckily left it in. "The Image speech of Patton was a General: The Wartime Relationship between General George Sunique blend of patriotism, nobility, and crudities.  However, Patton Jrnever gave such a speech. and It would be wrong to state that the American Media", Journalism History, 40 (nospeech was just a fabrication. 2 (Summer 2014))Coppola cleverly took quotes from Patton’s speeches and interviews and combined them in a brilliant way.<ref>Cousins, ppp. 108–120214</ref>. This incident did lead to Patton being ordered The words in the speech are Patton’s apart from some lines used by the screenwriter to stand down and he was not given integrate the quotes into a front-line posting for almost a yearcoherent speech. However, what The result was one of the most outstanding introductions in movie failed to show was that history, but strictly speaking, Patton slapped two different soldiers who he accused of being cowardsnever gave this speech. The scene where  ====Patton apologizes to the soldier was accurate. The movie accurately reflects Patton’s reaction to his disgrace in Sicily. The order to remove him from the battlefield provoked a personal crisis for Patton. North Africa====[[File: PattonphotoDebbie Reynolds Auction - George C Scott -General George S Patton Jr- military shirt and tie from -Patton-.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]]==One of the uniforms worn by George C Scott during Patton]]The movie portrayal after the opening credits shows the aftermath of Patton==It is generally accepted that Patton or old Blood a terrible American defeat in Kasserine Pass in Tunisia. Rommel had ruthlessly exposed the weakness and Guts as his men liked to call him was outstanding. He captures the essence lack of experience of the man Americans and his many contradictionsinflicted a severe setback. Patton was Over 2000 American G.I.s died in the disaster. We first see Patton inspecting the battlefield after his appointment as commander. Patton was a cultured man great admirer of Rommel, and believed in traditional values yet he could also be crude studied his work and a bully <ref>Essame, Htactics. The movie correctly shows how the American general based his strategy against Rommel on the Desert Fox’s ideas.,  The 1970 feature shows Patton: A Study in Command (New York City: Scribner & Sons, 1995), preforming the army units that were defeated at Kasserine Pass and imposing strict discipline on the soldiers. 67</ref>He was a stickler when it came to the rules and regulations. The drive and His attention to detail had a powerful impact on the ambition of G.Is. Patton are also brilliantly captured in the movie. He was did manage to transform them into a very ambitious man and believed that he formidable fighting force. In the next battle, they did manage to defeat the Germans under Rommel. This victory was a great leader and from childhood he believed critical because it showed their allies that he was destined for greatnessAmerica could beat the Germans on their own. The physical bravery of <ref> D'Este, Carlo, Patton is shown in many instances: A Genius for War (New York City: Harper Collins, 1995), p. It also accurately catches 113</ref>  However, the outspokenness of the General and his love of publicity. Never shy to boast about his exploits, part played by Patton was regularly in the papers and was a very well-known figure allied victory over the Afrika Korps is overstated. It took until 1943 for the allies to wear the Germans down in AmericaTunisia. The movie also traces Patton did not play the relationship between Patton and General Omar Bradley and indeed decisive role in the two men were close friends Allied victory even though both the movie and colleaguesPatton implied otherwise. The movie gets right many of the details of Patton’s life such as his pearl<dh-handled revolvers and his white English bull terrier <refad/> Essame, p====Patton in Sicily====[[File: Pattonphoto. 203</ref>. These were part of jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Patton in 1944]]The film does accurately relate the public image leading role played by Patton in the liberation of Old Blood and Guts, which he cultivated assiduouslySicily. The movie does catch His daring use of armor was crucial in the character defeat of the GeneralGerman army on the island. ==The movie does show Patton and being motivated by the Phantom Army==Patton is shown in desire to do better than General Montgomery, the wilderness after his disgrace in Sicilyvictor at El Alamein. He is show in There was a great personal rivalry between the two men. They were both driven and wildly ambitious. The movie as appointing suggests that the famous ‘Phantom Army’ <ref>D’Este, p. 2013</ref>. This was the case in real life rivalry between Montgomery and Patton was placed in charge of a phantom army that was designed to deceive the Nazis concerning the location feature of the D-Day landings. Patton Sicilian campaign and was part of an elaborate plan of misinformation that fooled perhaps a factor in why it ended so quickly with a decisive Allied victory. The rivalry was not as intense as the Germans into thinking that motion picture suggests and the invasion two men worked together when needed for the good of Europe would happen at Calais and not in Normandythe Allied cause. This deception known as Operation Fortitude was very successful and helped to ensure that the D-Day Landings were a success<ref>D’Este, p. This is all accurate and it 119</ref>  The movie shows Patton’s deep unhappiness at this time. He regarded command of Patton after visiting the Phantom Army as wounded seeing a humiliation and believed that he was being denied a share of the glory of D-Dayshell-shocked soldier. The movie also shows how desperate Patton G.I. was unable to return to combat continue fighting and General Dwight Eisenhower’s, had been sent behind the allied army’s Chief of Staff doubts about his reliabilitylines for treatment. The film also shows Patton begging for his old position but this was is outraged when he sees the soldier who does not the casehave any physical wounds and is assumed by him to be a malingerer, and he was a proud man verbally and besides physically assaults him. When a reporter saw this it had already been agreed that he would return to a front-line command role after D-Day<was widely publicized in America and elsewhere.<ref>D’EsteLovelace, p. 213</ref>Alexander G. "The Image of a General: The movie while not completely accurate does capture Patton at this personally difficult time for him before and after D-DayWartime Relationship between General George S. Patton Jr.==Paton and the Liberation of Europe==American Media", Journalism History, 40 (no. 2 (Summer 2014)), pp. 108–120</ref>  After the incident, Patton was appointed 's commander of the US Third Army ordered to step down from his post, and he was not given a front-line posting for almost a few weeks after Normandyyear. This was accurate. It However, what the movie failed to show was in this campaign that Patton slapped two different soldiers who he displayed his greatest skills as a commanderaccused of being cowards. The movie shows scene where Patton brilliantly employing his tanks apologizes to break out of Normandy and allow the allied army to advance into the central plains of France and onwards to Parissoldier was accurate. The movie captures very well accurately reflects Patton’s advance towards the German border and how the advance was halted because the 3rd army had run out of fuelreaction to his disgrace in Sicily. This was the case and the  ====The movie shows the anger and frustration felt by portrayal of Patton at this fact<ref> Essame, p. 203</ref>. He truly believed ====It is generally accepted that if he had been given more fuel that he could have ended Patton or "Old Blood and Guts" as his men liked to call him was an outstanding soldier who possessed an oversized personality. Scott effectively captured the essence of the war in Europe much more quicklyman and his many contradictions. The movie does not really show Patton’s role in the Lorraine campaign on the German-French border. Here Patton defeated was a counter-attack by a Panzer Army but was told that cultured man and believed in traditional values, yet he could not advance into Germanyalso be crude and a bully. This was a bitter disappointment to <ref>Essame, H., Patton as he once again believed that General Eisenhower was frustrating his efforts to bring the war : A Study in Europe to a swift conclusionCommand (New York City: Scribner & Sons, 1995), p. This crucial part 67</ref> The drive and the ambition of Patton’s story is not presented Patton are also brilliantly captured in the movie. The Battle of the Bulge He was one of Patton’s a very ambitious man and indeed the American army’s finest hoursbelieved that he was a great leader. The General led his units in a counterattack Even from childhood, Patton believed that he was pivotal in driving the German counter-attack backdestined for greatness.  The role physical bravery of Patton in the Battle is not exaggerated and he played a very important role in the American victory. One famous scene also shown several times in the movie is incorrect. We are shown It also accurately portrays Patton as praying for the weather to improve so that he 's outspokenness and his men could receive air support love of publicity. Never shy to defeat the Nazis <ref>Farago, Ladislasboast about his exploits, Patton: Ordeal was regularly in the papers and Triumph (New York City: Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky, 1964), pwas a very well-known figure in America. 145</ref>. The movie also traces the relationship between Patton ordered an army Chaplin to compose a prayer to ask God for clear weatherand General Omar Bradley, and indeed the two men were close friends and colleagues. This happened but not as shown during The film gets right many of the Battle details of the Bulge but rather during the 3rd army’s campaign in Lorraine. ==Patton Patton’s life such as his pearl-handled revolvers and Reincarnation==One his white English bull terrier.<ref> Essame, p. 203</ref> These were part of the sub-themes in the movie was Patton’s belief in reincarnationpublic image of Old Blood and Guts, which he cultivated assiduously. The US commander did believe in reincarnationmovie does catch the character of the General. In one scene {{MediaWiki:AmNative}} ====Patton is shown as visiting and the battlefield of Zama where the Romans had defeated Hannibal. Patton is shown as sensing, that Phantom Army====After his disgrace in a previous life he had fought in the battleSicily, over 2000 years earlier Patton was essentially sent out to pasture. This visit with Bradley Instead of being to the D-Day invastion he was highly unlikely. The belief placed in reincarnation is shown to be very important in Patton life’s and gave him a sense charge of purpose and a belief that he was a person apartthe "Phantom Army. This was probably very important in the development of the mental outlook of Patton’ <ref>FargoD’Este, p. 2132013</ref>. The movie has In real life, Patton was placed in charge of a German intelligence officer whose duty it is "phantom army" that was designed to monitor Patton and to understand him, deceive the Nazis concerning the Steiger, as he is referred to in location of the movieD-Day landings. There Patton was no such officer and part of an elaborate plan of misinformation that fooled the character is a pure invention. The scriptwriters created this figure to expand upon Germans into thinking that the theme invasion of reincarnation in the movie epicEurope would happen at Calais and not in Normandy.  ==How accurate This deception known as Operation Fortitude was Patton==Hollywood very successful and history usually do not mixhelped to ensure that the D-Day Landings were a success. It This is quite common for filmmakers to take a historical subject all accurate, and to distort it for their own purposes and to dumb- it down for entertainment purposesshows Patton’s deep unhappiness at this time. In He regarded his command of the case of Patton there Phantom Army as a humiliation and believed that he was no real attempt to distort being denied a share of the story glory of PattonD-Day. There are glaring inaccuracies such as Patton’s opening speech in the movie but even this The movie also shows how desperate Patton was based on his own statements and captured to return to combat despite General Dwight Eisenhower’s, the character allied army’s Chief of the manStaff, something even acknowledged by the Generals’ family. Much of the details of doubts about his role in the defeat of Germany are truereliability. The only glaring omission film also shows Patton begging for his old position, but this was not the lack of focus on Patton’s Lorraine Campaign, where case. While he distinguished himselfwas a proud man, it had already been agreed that he would return to a front-line command role after D-Day. There are some exaggerations in the movie and some distortions such as in the weather-prayer scene<ref>D’Este, p. In general, the 213</ref> The movie managed to produce a great overview effectively portrays Patton's difficult personality. ====Paton and the Liberation of Europe====Patton was appointed commander of the character and career of an extraordinary American leaderUS Third Army a few weeks after Normandy. It was in this campaign that he displayed his greatest skills as a commander.The movie shows Patton brilliantly employing his tanks to break out of Normandy and allow the allied army to advance into the central plains of France and onwards to Paris. The movie captures Patton’s advance towards the German border and how the advance was halted because the 3rd army had run out of fuel. Patton's troops did run out of film and the movie accurately shows Patton's anger and frustration.<ref> Essame, p. 203</ref>  He truly believed that if he had been given more fuel that he could have ended the war in Europe much more quickly. The movie does not show Patton’s role in the Lorraine campaign on the German-French border. Here Patton defeated a counter-attack by a Panzer Army but was told that he could not advance into Germany. This order was a bitter disappointment to Patton as he once again believed that General Eisenhower was frustrating his efforts to bring the war in Europe to a swift conclusion. This crucial part of Patton’s story is not presented in the movie.  The Battle of the Bulge was one of Patton’s and indeed the American army’s finest hours. The General led his units in a counterattack that was pivotal in driving the German counter-attack back. The role of Patton in the Battle is not exaggerated, and he played a significant role in the American victory. One famous scene in the movie is incorrect. We are shown Patton as praying for the weather to improve so that he and his men could receive air support to defeat the Nazis.<ref>Farago, Ladislas, Patton: Ordeal and Triumph (New York City: Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky, 1964), p. 145</ref> Patton ordered an army Chaplin to compose a prayer to ask God for clear weather. This order happened but it did not happen during the Battle of the Bulge but it was issuded during the 3rd Army’s campaign in Lorraine.  ====Patton and Reincarnation====One of the sub-themes in the movie was Patton’s belief in reincarnation. In one scene Patton is shown as visiting the battlefield of Zama where the Romans had defeated Hannibal. Patton is shown as sensing, that in a previous life he had fought in the battle, over 2000 years earlier. This visit with Bradley was highly unlikely. The belief in reincarnation is shown to be very important in Patton life’s and gave him a sense of purpose and a belief that he was a person apart. This was probably very important in the development of the mental outlook of Patton.<ref>Fargo, p. 213</ref>  The movie also has a German intelligence officer whose duty it is to monitor Patton and to understand him, the Steiger, as he is referred to in the movie. There was no such officer, and the character is a pure invention. The scriptwriters created this figure to expand upon the theme of reincarnation in the movie epic. ====How historically accurate was Patton?====Hollywood and history usually do not mix. It is quite common for filmmakers to take a historical subject and to distort it for their purposes and to dumb- it down for entertainment purposes. In the case of Patton, there was no real attempt to distort the story of Patton. There are glaring inaccuracies such as Patton’s opening speech in the movie, but even this was based on his statements and captured the character of the man, something even acknowledged by the Generals’ family.  Much of the details of his role in the defeat of Germany are true. The only real omission was the lack of focus on Patton’s Lorraine Campaign, where he distinguished himself. There are some exaggerations in the movie and some minor distortions such as in the weather-prayer scene. In general, the movie managed to produce a great overview portrayal of the character and career of an extraordinary American leader. <div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=World War Two History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=7}}</div> [[Category:Historically Accurate]][[Category:World War Two History]][[Category:Military History]][[Category:20th Century History]][[Category:Wikis]] ====References====<references/> January 20, 2019