Patton

 

                 

        In search of a better cinema or finding more movies I haven't touched yet to keep my cinema file fresh and new, in best way of describing. I decided to look at another film that's iconic but more importantly was the Best Picture winner at the 1970 Academy Awards. Patton starring George C. Scott and the third time actor I've seen, Karl Malden circa Fear Strikes Out and On the Waterfront. Although A Christmas Carol was my first George C. Scott film this was the first time I actually was excited to see his Oscar award winning performance, despite only remembering the first shot of him on stage with the United States flag in the background giving a kick em in the ass speech that I always remember when I saw the VHS copy of the film and I would believe my parents sent me to bed due to bad language. Now I'm finally proud to be an American after watching this amazing great film. 

        Biography of controversial World War II hero General George S. Patton (George C. Scott). 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.

        Strangely enough attempts were actually made to make a movie about Patton long after is death in 1945 but his widow, Beatrice resisted although after her death in 1953, producer Frank McCarthy worked on the project right after Patton's wife was buried, although the through course of cooperation he wasn't able to gain access on Patton's life from either his kids or be able to get help from the Pentagon due to over rushing on getting his story ready for filming, as in assumption on my part. Though after the fifties developments of the film began to bloom with Francis Ford Coppola writing the scripted basing the film largely on the Ladislas Farago's 1963 biography "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph", along with Edmund H. North to help work on the script both Coppola and North would together win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay so, in all fairness both men win in this category. Although there are some fun facts about the development of Patton, the real star of the film is no question George C. Scott, who delivers his greatest performance that would lead him to his first ever Oscar for best actor. And yet the crazy thing is Lee Marvin was considered for the role along with other actors like Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum and John Wayne, now granted their both accomplished actors but really I don't think they would be up to par with George C. Scott's performance, like sure John Wayne would be good but I would think overrated but really nothing compared to Scott just balancing power and wisdom and yet by end of the movie you feel pity in seeing that America has no need for Patton anymore now that World War II is ending. The same goes to Karl Malden as well he also balances the supportive role as well as backing up to George C. Scott power performance as Patton and really it's both of these actors that really make this film great from beginning to the final frame although the battle sequences are most importantly another center piece of the movie moreover is another reason why director Franklin J. Schaffner won best director for the film plus hearing that he directed the very first Planet of the Apes movie, I'm like surprised moreover feel the need to watch it because it's been a long time since I watched it and I do mean a long time. Now having seen this moreover learned that Patton actually died in December of 1945, I feel like either being fed up with how the politics of America was handling with the end of the War as well as dealing with Soviet Union, although through the course of it I begin to think that it was most certainly politics that killed Patton because a man of action and without purpose would for sure kill a man's purpose and that's what happen to him although there other factors involving his death which sure would make more sense although without this man we for sure wouldn't of win the War in Europe. And sure there's a million ways of to see what Patton was like after the Second War ended either way the man for sure wasn't a man of politics because he did share some good points about the Soviets especially when it comes to not trusting them, either way I still say in my own viewpoint politics really defeated Patton moreover I don't think he would of lasted after the second war because most of America wouldn't be able to handle him, but for sure he would be the man I would assign to help fight a war. Hands down one of the greatest epic biographical war movies I've seen for sure George C. Scott's best although I still love his performance as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol but this movie for sure wouldn't be great without Scott's performance even if you cast other iconic stars to play Patton, and to me George C. Scott was hands down the perfect actor to play Patton. And the film is still on Amazon Prime so if you have a subscription, I will highly recommend watching the movie although if you’re not used to watching three hours, probably take breaks during intermissions although you can use some soda to help you watch the entire movie.