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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 historyWorld War II. The motion picture portrays the role of General George S. George C Scott emerges as Patton and gives a remarkable speech in front of a huge banner , the most famous Allies tank commander of the Stars and StripesWW II. The opening scene was written by Francis Ford Coppola and was not intended It concentrates on Patton’s career from 1942 to be in the final cut of the 1945. The movie but begins with Patton's career during the director had second thoughts North Africa campaign and luckily left it his battle with Rommel, the Desert Fox. It then follows his part in. The speech the invasion of Patton was a unique blend of patriotismSicily, nobility his disgrace for striking a soldier and crudities. However, Patton never gave such a speech. Yet it would be wrong to state that his role in the speech was just a fabrication. Coppola cleverly took quotes from Patton’s speeches liberation of Europe after the D-Day landings and interviews with reports and combined them his role in a brilliant way<ref>Cousins, p. 214</ref>. the fall of the Third Reich. The words feature also briefly deals with his role in post-war Germany and his death in an accidental car crash in the speech are Patton’s apart from some lines used by winter of 1945. The movie shows the screenwriter to integrate the quotes into a coherent speechstrengths and weakness of this challenging and brilliant man. The result was one movie <i>Patton</i> was released in 1970 during the midst of the most outstanding introductions in movie history but strictly speaking the American general never gave such a speechVietnam War. ==Patton in North Africa==The movie after the opening credits show the aftermath of When it was released, it was both a terrible American defeat in Kasserine Pass in Tunisiacritical and financial success. Rommel had ruthlessly exposed Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the weakness and lack movie was scripted by Francis Ford Coppola of experience of the Americans Godfather fame and inflicted upon them a severe setbackEdward Hill. It is believed that some 2000 American G<ref>Cousins, Mark.IThe Story of Film: A Worldwide History (New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006), p.s died in 213</ref> Twentieth Century Fox produced the disasterfilm. We first see The role of Patton inspecting was played by the battlefield after his appointment as commanderAmerican character actor George C Scott. George Patton The movie was a great admirer of Rommel enthusiastically received by both the public and he studied his work the critics and tacticswon several Academy Awards. The movie correctly shows how film fairly accurately reflects the American general based his strategy against Rommel on reality of Patton’s role in the Desert Fox’s own ideasdefeat of Germany. 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 opening Speech====The movie has one of the rules and disciplinemost memorable opening scenes in Hollywood history. This had a powerful impact on the GGeorge C.Is Scott emerges as Patton and Patton did manage to transform them into gives a remarkable speech in front of a formidable fighting forcehuge banner of the Stars and Stripes. In the next battle, they did manage to defeat the Germans under Rommel The opening scene was written by Francis Ford Coppola and this was a very important victory for America as it showed not intended to their allies that they could defeat be in the final cut of the Germans on their own<ref> D'Estemovie, CarloBut, Patton: A Genius for War (New York City: Harper Collinsthe director had second thoughts and luckily left it in. The speech of Patton was a unique blend of patriotism, 1995)nobility, p. 113</ref>and crudities. However, the part played by Patton in the allied victory over the Afrika Korps is overstatednever gave such a speech. It took until 1943 for the allies would be wrong to wear the Germans down in Tunisia and Patton did not play the decisive role in the Allied victory state that the movie implied speech was just a fabrication. Coppola cleverly took quotes from Patton’s speeches and that the General would often claiminterviews and combined them in a brilliant way.<ref>Cousins, p. [[File: Debbie Reynolds Auction - George C Scott -General George S Patton Jr- military shirt and tie 214</ref> The words in the speech are Patton’s apart from -Patton-.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]]==Patton in Sicily==some lines used by the screenwriter to integrate the quotes into a coherent speech. The film does accurately relate the leading role played by Patton in the liberation of Sicily. His daring use of Armor result was crucial in the defeat one of the Nazis on the island. The most outstanding introductions in movie does show history, but strictly speaking, Patton being motivated by the desire to do better than General Montgomery, the victor at El Alameinnever gave this speech. There was a great personal rivalry between the two men who were both driven and wildly ambitious and ====Patton in many ways alike. The rivalry between Montgomery and Patton was a feature of the Sicilian campaign North Africa====[[File: Debbie Reynolds Auction - George C Scott -General George S Patton Jr- military shirt and was perhaps a factor in why it ended so quickly and with a decisive Allied victorytie from -Patton-. In fact, jpg|200px|thumb|left|One of the rivalry was not as intense as uniforms worn by George C Scott during Patton]]The movie after the motion picture suggests and opening credits shows the two men worked together when needed for the good aftermath of the Allied cause<ref>D’Este, pa terrible American defeat in Kasserine Pass in Tunisia. 119</ref>. The movie shows Patton after visiting Rommel had ruthlessly exposed the wounded seeing weakness and lack of experience of the Americans and inflicted a shell-shocked soldiersevere setback. The Over 2000 American G.I. was unable to continue fighting and had been sent behind s died in the lines for treatmentdisaster. We first see Patton is outraged when he sees inspecting the soldier who does not have any physical wounds and is assumed by him to be a malingerer battlefield after his appointment as commander. Patton was a great admirer of Rommel, and he verbally studied his work and physically assaults himtactics. When this was seen by a reporter it was widely publicized in America and elsewhere <ref>Lovelace, Alexander GThe movie correctly shows how the American general based his strategy against Rommel on the Desert Fox’s ideas. " The Image of a General: The Wartime Relationship between General George S. 1970 feature shows Patton Jr. reforming the army units that were defeated at Kasserine Pass and imposing strict discipline on the American Media", Journalism History, 40 (nosoldiers. He was a stickler when it came to the rules and regulations. 2 (Summer 2014)), ppHis attention to detail had a powerful impact on the G. 108–120</ref>Is. This incident Patton did lead manage to Patton being ordered to stand down and he was not given transform them into a front-line posting for almost a year. Howeverformidable fighting force. In the next battle, what they did manage to defeat the movie failed to show Germans under Rommel. This victory was critical because it showed their allies that Patton slapped two different soldiers who he accused of being cowards. The scene where Patton apologizes to America could beat the soldier was accurateGermans on their own. 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 <ref> D'Este, Carlo, Patton. [[File: PattonphotoA Genius for War (New York City: Harper Collins, 1995), p.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]]113</ref> ==The movie portrayal of However, the part played by Patton==in the allied victory over the Afrika Korps is overstated. It is generally accepted that Patton or old Blood and Guts as his men liked took until 1943 for the allies to call him was outstanding. He captures wear the essence of the man and his many contradictionsGermans down in Tunisia. Patton was a cultured man and believed did not play the decisive role in traditional values yet he could also be crude the Allied victory even though both the movie and a bully Patton implied otherwise. <refdh-ad/>Essame, H., ====Patton: A Study in Command (New York CitySicily====[[File: Scribner & Sons, 1995), p. 67</ref>. The drive and the ambition of Pattonphoto.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Patton are also brilliantly captured in 1944]]The film does accurately relate the movieleading role played by Patton in the liberation of Sicily. He His daring use of armor was a very ambitious man and believed that he was a great leader and from childhood he believed that he was destined for greatnesscrucial in the defeat of the German army on the island. The physical bravery of movie does show Patton is shown in many instances. It also accurately catches being motivated by the desire to do better than General Montgomery, the outspokenness of the General and his love of publicityvictor at El Alamein. Never shy to boast about his exploits, Patton was regularly in There was a great personal rivalry between the papers two men. They were both driven and was a very well-known figure in Americawildly ambitious. The movie also traces suggests that the relationship rivalry between Montgomery and Patton and General Omar Bradley and indeed was a feature of the two men were close friends Sicilian campaign and colleagues. The movie gets right many of was perhaps a factor in why it ended so quickly with a decisive Allied victory. The rivalry was not as intense as the details of Patton’s life such as his pearl-handled revolvers and his white English bull terrier motion picture suggests and the two men worked together when needed for the good of the Allied cause.<ref> EssameD’Este, p. 203119</ref>. These were part of the public image of Old Blood and Guts, which he cultivated assiduously. The movie does catch shows Patton after visiting the character of the Generalwounded seeing a shell-shocked soldier. The G.I. ==Patton was unable to continue fighting and had been sent behind the Phantom Army==lines for treatment. Patton is shown in outraged when he sees the wilderness after his disgrace in Sicily. He soldier who does not have any physical wounds and is show in the movie as appointing the famous ‘Phantom Army’ <ref>D’Esteassumed by him to be a malingerer, pand he verbally and physically assaults him. When a reporter saw this it was widely publicized in America and elsewhere. 2013</ref>Lovelace, Alexander G. This was the case in real life and Patton was placed in charge "The Image of a phantom army that was designed to deceive the Nazis concerning the location of the D-Day landingsGeneral: The Wartime Relationship between General George S. Patton was part of an elaborate plan of misinformation that fooled Jr. and the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would happen at Calais and not in NormandyAmerican Media", Journalism History, 40 (no. 2 (Summer 2014)), pp. This deception known as Operation Fortitude was very successful 108–120</ref> After the incident, Patton's commander ordered to step down from his post, and helped to ensure that the D-Day Landings were he was not given a successfront-line posting for almost a year. This is all accurate and it shows Patton’s deep unhappiness at this time. He regarded command of the Phantom Army as a humiliation and believed However, what the movie failed to show was that Patton slapped two different soldiers who he was accused of being denied a share of cowards. The scene where Patton apologizes to the glory of D-Daysoldier was accurate. The movie also shows how desperate Patton was accurately reflects Patton’s reaction to return to combat and General Dwight Eisenhower’s, the allied army’s Chief his disgrace in Sicily. ====The movie portrayal of Staff doubts about his reliability. The film also shows Patton begging for his old position but this was not the case, he was a proud man ====It is generally accepted that Patton or "Old Blood and besides it had already been agreed that he would return Guts" as his men liked to call him was an outstanding soldier who possessed an oversized personality. Scott effectively captured the essence of the man and his many contradictions. Patton was a front-line command role after D-Day<ref>D’Estecultured man and believed in traditional values, pyet he could also be crude and a bully. 213</ref>Essame, H. The movie while not completely accurate does capture , Patton at this personally difficult time for him before and after D-Day: A Study in Command (New York City: Scribner & Sons, 1995), p.==Paton 67</ref> The drive and the Liberation ambition of Europe==Patton are also brilliantly captured in the movie. He was a very ambitious man and believed that he was appointed commander of the US Third Army a few weeks after Normandygreat leader. This Even from childhood, Patton believed that he was accurate. It was in this campaign that he displayed his greatest skills as a commanderdestined for greatness. The physical bravery of Patton is also shown several times in the movie shows . It also accurately portrays Patton brilliantly employing 's outspokenness and his tanks to break out love of Normandy and allow the allied army to advance into the central plains of France and onwards to Parispublicity. The movie captures Never shy to boast about his exploits, Patton was regularly in the papers and was a very well Patton’s advance towards -known figure in America. The movie also traces the German border relationship between Patton and how General Omar Bradley, and indeed the advance was halted because two men were close friends and colleagues. The film gets right many of the 3rd army had run out details of fuel. This was the case Patton’s life such as his pearl-handled revolvers and the movie shows the anger and frustration felt by Patton at this facthis white English bull terrier.<ref> Essame, p. 203</ref>. He truly believed that if These were part of the public image of Old Blood and Guts, which he had been given more fuel that he could have ended the war in Europe much more quickly. cultivated assiduously. The movie does not really show Patton’s role in catch the Lorraine campaign on character of the German-French borderGeneral. Here {{MediaWiki:AmNative}} ====Patton defeated a counter-attack by a Panzer and the Phantom Army but ====After his disgrace in Sicily, Patton was told that he could not advance into Germanyessentially sent out to pasture. This was a bitter disappointment Instead of being to Patton as the D-Day invastion he once again believed that General Eisenhower was frustrating his efforts to bring placed in charge of the war in Europe to a swift conclusion"Phantom Army. This crucial part of Patton’s story is not presented in the movie’ <ref>D’Este, p. The Battle of the Bulge 2013</ref> In real life, Patton was one placed in charge of Patton’s and indeed the American army’s finest hours. The General led his units in a counterattack "phantom army" that was pivotal in driving designed to deceive the Nazis concerning the location of the German counterD-attack backDay landings. The role Patton was part of an elaborate plan of Patton in misinformation that fooled the Battle is Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would happen at Calais and not exaggerated and he played a very important role in the American victoryNormandy. One famous scene in the movie is incorrect. We are shown Patton This deception known as praying for the weather Operation Fortitude was very successful and helped to improve so ensure that he and his men could receive air support to defeat the Nazis <ref>FaragoD-Day Landings were a success. This is all accurate, Ladislas, Patton: Ordeal and Triumph (New York City: Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky, 1964), pit shows Patton’s deep unhappiness at this time. 145</ref>. Patton ordered an army Chaplin to compose He regarded his command of the Phantom Army as a humiliation and believed that he was being denied a prayer to ask God for clear weather. This happened but not as shown during share of the Battle glory of the Bulge but rather during the 3rd army’s campaign in Lorraine. ==Patton and Reincarnation==One of the subD-themes in the movie was Patton’s belief in reincarnationDay. The US commander did believe in reincarnation. In one scene movie also shows how desperate Patton is shown as visiting was to return to combat despite General Dwight Eisenhower’s, the battlefield allied army’s Chief of Zama where the Romans had defeated HannibalStaff, doubts about his reliability. The film also shows Patton is shown as sensingbegging for his old position, that in a previous life but this was not the case. While he was a proud man, it had fought in the battle, over 2000 years earlier . This visit with Bradley was highly unlikelyalready been agreed that he would return to a front-line command role after D-Day.<ref>D’Este, p. 213</ref> The belief in reincarnation is shown to be very important in movie effectively portrays Patton life’s 's difficult personality. ====Paton and gave him a sense the Liberation of purpose and a belief that he Europe====Patton was a person apartappointed commander of the US Third Army a few weeks after Normandy. This It was probably very important in the development of the mental outlook of Patton<ref>Fargo, p. 213</ref>this campaign that he displayed his greatest skills as a commander. The movie has a German intelligence officer whose duty it is to monitor shows Patton and brilliantly employing his tanks to understand him, break out of Normandy and allow the Steiger, as he is referred allied army to in advance into the moviecentral plains of France and onwards to Paris. There was no such officer The movie captures Patton’s advance towards the German border and how the character is a pure invention. The scriptwriters created this figure to expand upon advance was halted because the theme 3rd army had run out of reincarnation in fuel. Patton's troops did run out of film and the movie epic. ==How accurate was accurately shows Patton==Hollywood 's anger and history usually do not mixfrustration.<ref> Essame, p. It is quite common for filmmakers to take a historical subject and to distort it for their own purposes and to dumb- it down for entertainment purposes. In 203</ref> He truly believed that if he had been given more fuel that he could have ended the case of Patton there was no real attempt to distort the story of Pattonwar in Europe much more quickly. There are glaring inaccuracies such as The movie does not show Patton’s opening speech role in the movie but even this was based Lorraine campaign on his own statements and captured the character of the man, something even acknowledged by the Generals’ familyGerman-French border. Much of the details of his role in the defeat of Here Patton defeated a counter-attack by a Panzer Army but was told that he could not advance into Germany are true. The only glaring omission This order was the lack of focus on Patton’s Lorraine Campaign, where a bitter disappointment to Patton as he distinguished himselfonce again believed that General Eisenhower was frustrating his efforts to bring the war in Europe to a swift conclusion. There are some exaggerations This crucial part of Patton’s story is not presented in the movie and some distortions such as in the weather-prayer scene. In general, The Battle of the movie managed to produce a great overview Bulge was one of Patton’s and indeed the character and career of an extraordinary American leaderarmy’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
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