Patton (film): Difference between revisions

During [[World War II]], in its very first combat encounter with the German [[Afrika Korps]] at the [[Battle of Kasserine Pass]], the [[II Corps (United States)|II Corps]] is defeated by Field Marshal [[Erwin Rommel]]. General [[George S. Patton]] is placed in command of II Corps and immediately begins instilling his authority amongst his untested and poorly disciplined troops. Alongside the poor condition of American soldiers in the II Corps, Patton also identifies how his British counterpart, General [[Bernard Montgomery]], is constantly monopolising the allied effort to suit his own needs.

The eventual Allied victory in [[North African campaign|North Africa]] prompts Patton and Montgomery to come up with competing plans for the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]]. Patton's plan, drawn from reference to the [[Peloponnesian War]], highlights the strategic importance of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]]; hypothesising that its fall would trigger an evacuation of Sicily. Patton proposes that Montgomery captures Syracuse, whereas he will land near [[Palermo]] and then capture [[Messina]] to cut off the withdrawal. Though the plan impresses General [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]], to whom Patton and Montgomery report, General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] turns it down in favour of Montgomery's more cautious plan that places both armies in a side-by-side landing in the [[Battle of Gela (1943)|Gulf of Gela]]. The plan essentially relegates the American forces under Patton into protecting the British advance, and whenWhen the allies liberate Syracuse, the evacuation predicted by Patton proves correct, but without allied forces in the north, thousands of Italian and German forces manage to retreat. The rear guard left behind to stall the allies bogs down the invasion, prompting an already irate Patton to drive west and capture Palermo before narrowly beating Montgomery to Messina. Though his advance breaks the deadlock in Sicily, his aggression does not sit well with his subordinates [[Omar Bradley]] and [[Lucian Truscott]]. During a visit to a field hospital, Patton notices a soldier crying amongst the wounded and dead. Furious, Pattonhe accuses the soldiers of cowardice and [[George S. Patton slapping incidents|slaps the soldier]] before demanding that he is returned to the front lines. As a consequence, Eisenhower demands that Patton apologiseapologize to the soldier, Patton however apologises toand his entire command. Despite this, Patton is shocked to find out thatwhich he hasreluctantly been sidelined for the coming [[Operation Overlord|Allied invasion of France]]does.

InsteadDespite apologizing, Pattonhe is sidelined for the coming [[Operation Overlord|Allied invasion of France]] and instead placed in command of the fictitious [[First United States Army Group]] as a decoy in [[London, England|London]];, the Allied command confident in that keeping Patton in England will tell the Germans that he will lead the invasion of Europe. AtTo a warpublic drivergathering in the town of [[Knutsford]], Patton remarks that the post-war world will be dominated by the British-American spheres of influence; this comment is viewed as a slight to the [[Soviet Union]]. Despite Patton's protest that he has done nothing wrong, the situation has already spiralledspiraled from his control, and the decision to send him home or remain in England is placed uponon General [[George C. Marshall|George Marshall]]. Though not present for the Normandy invasion, Patton is given a command by his now superior General Bradley of the [[United States Army Central|Third Army]]. Under his leadership, the [[Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine|Third Army sweeps across France]], but it is brought to a halt just before entering Germany, tobecause allocategasoline and other vital supplies have been instead allocated to Montgomery's [[Operation Market Garden]]. Frustrated at again being sidelined to appease Montgomery, Patton demands to know why he was given a command if he cannot advance. Bradley refutesretorts that it was actually his actual decision to place himPatton in Europe, not Eisenhower's or anyone else's. Bradley also lets his colleague and friend know that whilst there is no doubt he is skilled and capable, he does not know when to shut up.

During the [[Battle of the Bulge]], Patton devises a plan to relieve the trapped [[101st Airborne Division]] in [[Siege of Bastogne|Bastogne]], which he does before smashing through the [[Siegfried Line]] and [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|into Germany]]. After [[End of World War II in Europe|Germany capitulates]], Patton's outspokenness lands him in trouble once again when he compares [[Politics of the United States|American politics]] to [[Nazism]]. Though he is relieved of command, Pattonhe is kept on to see the [[Allied-occupied Germany|rebuilding of Germany]]. PattonHe later walks Willie, his [[Bull Terrier|bull terrier]]. Patton's voice is heard;:

{{cquote|For over a thousand years, [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a [[Roman triumph|triumph]] - a—a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A [[Slavery in ancient Rome|slave]] stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory ... is fleeting.}}

| align="center" rowspan="10"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971 |title=The 43rd Academy Awards (1971) Nominees and Winners |access-date=July 4, 2015 |work=oscars.org |date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702005544/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971 |archive-date=July 2, 2015}}</ref>

[[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor Academy Award-winningAward–winning performance]]