Patton (1970): Historical Accuracy and Scott's Portrayal

Introduction

General George S. Patton, Jr. was probably one of the most controversial and yet admired generals in the history of the United States. "Few military figures in American history have laid siege to the public imagination more relentlessly than George S. Patton, Jr. Half a century after his exploits in North Africa, on Sicily, and across occupied Europe, his name still evokes the dash and brio of a cavalry charge" (Patton xi). The 1970 film Patton, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, attempts to bring this legendary figure to life on screen. This review briefly summarizes the film and provides analysis of its historical accuracy and George C. Scott's portrayal of General Patton. The argument here is that Patton is as accurate as any Hollywood film can be while still entertaining an audience, and that Scott's portrayal is remarkably faithful — capturing the nuances of a man alternately known for his cruelty and his pathos. The film is historic because it genuinely attempts to portray the real man, the real war, and the real emotion men faced in battle.

As General Patton himself once said: "I was obsessed with the belief that the war would end before I got into it."

In the film, George C. Scott portrays the general as a man obsessed with war and with the impact he can have on winning. He is sometimes cruel, sometimes humorous, and always looking out for his men — except when they show cowardice or unwillingness to fight. The famous scene with the nervous soldier illustrates this vividly:

Scott's Portrayal of a Complex Commander

"It's my nerves, sir. I just can't stand the shelling anymore." / "Your 'nerves?' Why hell, you're just a goddamn coward. [slaps him] Shut up! I won't have a yellow bastard sitting here crying in front of these brave men who've been wounded in battle! SHUT UP! [slaps him again]" (Patton).

These intimate portrayals of a man who could in turn be cruel and then introspective earned George C. Scott an Oscar for the role, and brought the general into focus for an entire generation who had never known the man or the legend. Scott handled both with ease.

This portrayal comes straight out of the pages of Patton's diary, War as I Knew It, and it seems likely that if Patton were alive today, he would have enjoyed Scott's interpretation immensely. Scott appears to have found the soul of Patton and brought it to the viewer, offering a better understanding of this complex man who studied military history, read poetry, and lived to fight. Scott is at his best when he is roaring at his men and urging them into battle: "We're gonna keep fighting!! Is that CLEAR?!! We're gonna attack all night, we're gonna attack the next morning!! If we're not VICTORIOUS!! Let no man come back alive!!!" (Patton). It is clear that the film's screenwriter and Scott studied Patton and his writings closely, or the film could never have depicted him so accurately.

Scott's Patton is part ruthless leader, part irrepressible child, and part bloodthirsty battle commander — eager and willing for anything as long as he is in the thick of things. This portrayal is so accurate that it brings the pages of Patton's own diary alive. A striking example is the scene where Patton visits an ancient graveyard and believes he lived in ancient times:

Historical Accuracy and the Diary

"The Carthaginians defending the city were attacked by three Roman legions. The Carthaginians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold. They were massacred. Arab women stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances. The soldiers lay naked in the sun. Two thousand years ago. I was here" (Patton).

Some of Patton's most famous sayings are also preserved in the film, drawn directly from his diary: "Hold them by the nose and kick them in the pants" (Patton 5); "A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood" (Patton 49); and "No army is better than its soldiers" (Patton 120). This is Patton at his best — lecturing while displaying his wit — and it is precisely this quality that Scott renders so well on screen.

Conclusion

The film Patton is as historically accurate as almost any Hollywood production could be. While not every scene is perfectly faithful to the historical record, the overall portrayal of the man and his involvement in World War II is extremely compelling and largely accurate. Patton is a rare film in its historical fidelity and in the depth of Scott's performance. It is no wonder the film is still studied and viewed today, more than fifty years after audiences first encountered it.