Patton (1970)
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98% of critics liked it
(40 reviews) -
92% of users liked it
(40,899 ratings)
In 1943 North Africa, George Patton (George C. Scott) assumes command of (and instills some much-needed discipline in) the American forces. Engaged in battle against Germany's Field Marshal Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler), Patton drives back "The Desert Fox" by using the German's own… More In 1943 North Africa, George Patton (George C. Scott) assumes command of (and instills some much-needed discipline in) the American forces. Engaged in battle against Germany's Field Marshal Rommel (Karl Michael Vogler), Patton drives back "The Desert Fox" by using the German's own tactics. Promoted to Lieutenant General, Patton is sent to Sicily, where he engages in a personal war of egos with British Field Marshal Montgomery (Michael Bates). Performing brilliantly in Italy, Patton seriously jeopardizes his future with a single slap. While touring an Army hospital, the General comes across a GI (Tim Considine) suffering from nervous fatigue. Incensed by what he considers a slacker, Patton smacks the poor soldier and orders him to get well in a hurry. This incident results in his losing his command-and, by extension, missing out on D-Day. In his final campaign, Patton leads the US 3rd Army through Europe. Unabashedly flamboyant, Patton remains a valuable resource, but ultimately proves too much of a "loose cannon" in comparison to the more level-headed tactics of his old friend Omar Bradley (Karl Malden). Patton won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Scott, an award that he refused. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Franklin J. Schaffner
- Written By
- Ladislas Farago, Omar N. Bradley, Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund H. North
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1970 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Andrew Sarris, Village Voice
George C. Scott's performance cannot be praised highly enough for capturing both the violence and the vulnerability of the Patton personality without degenerating either into vulgar caricature or cardboard sentimentality.
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Variety Staff, Variety
War is hell, and Patton is one hell of a war picture, perhaps one of the most remarkable of its type ever made.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Nixon's favorite movie, which proves he was blind to ambiguity as well as a few other things.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
The film lays bare the roots of Patton's lust for power in his willingess to sacrifice everything to his vaunting ego, a trait which is mirrored in George C Scott's superb performance.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's both fascinating and appalling the sort of extravagant technically superior spectacle that only a big Hollywood movie company could afford to make, and the story of a man about whom only the Establishment could become genuinely sentimental.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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George C. Scott
as George S. Patton Jr.
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Karl Malden
as Gen. Omar N. Bradley
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Michael Bates
as Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
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Karl Michael Vogler
as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
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Edward Binns
as Major Gen. Walter Bedell Smith
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Lawrence Dobkin
as Col. Gaston Bell
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John Doucette
as Major Gen. Lucian K. Truscott
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Siegfried Rauch
as Capt. Oskar Steiger
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Tim Considine
as Soldier Who Gets Slapped
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Peter Barkworth
as Col. John Welkin
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John Barrie
as Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham
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David Bauer
as Lt. Gen. Harry Buford
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James Edwards
as Sgt. William George Meeks
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David Healy
as Clergyman
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Bill Hickman
as Gen. Patton's Driver
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Sandy Kevin
as Correspondent
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Frank Latimore
as Lt. Col. Henry Davenport
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Alan MacNaughton
as British Briefing Officer
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Richard Münch
as Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl
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Lionel Murton
as 3rd Army Chaplain
- Newsreels
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Morgan Paull
as Capt. Richard N. Jenson
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Clint Ritchie
as Tank Captain
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Paul Stevens
as Lt. Col. Charles R. Codman
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Michael Strong
as Brig. Gen. Hobart Carver
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Lowell Thomas
as Narrator of Fox Movietone
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Douglas Wilmer
as Maj. Gen. Francis de Guingand
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Stephen Young
as Capt. Chester B. Hansen
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Carey Loftin
as Gen. Bradley's Driver
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Gerald Flood
as Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
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Jack Gwyllim
as Harold Alexander
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Harry Morgan
as Uncredited
- George C.Scott
- Don J. Bassman
- Douglas O. Williams
