Review of Patton (1970) by Kevin M. W — 28 May 2011

Patton cries out for a big screen vista to appreciate it in its full extent, but even at home the scope is impressive. George C Scott's Oscar-winning (and thereafter Oscar-returning) performance is unmissable, and the viewer eagerly awaits his return in the few scenes he doesn't feature in.

The cinematography is inspiring, showing off the huge landscapes of North African and bocage country tank battles, and the soundtrack is both expertly handled and memorable. Perhaps it's not 100 percent accurate due to its reliance on the memoirs and guidance of Gen Omar Bradley, who is played by Karl Malden in the film, rather than Patton's own papers, which were not available to the film-makers (which included co-writer Francis Ford Coppola).

But everyone who knew the man who's seen the film seems to agree that Scott's performance is Patton to a T: ornery, inspired, self-destructive, grandiose, a true showman. It's sad to think that the real Patton only outlived the war by half a year: he died after a motor accident in Germany in December 1945.