Patton (film): Difference between revisions

The 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 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]], 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]]. When the allies liberate Syracuse, the evacuation predicted by Patton proves correct, but without allied forces in the north, thousands of Italian and German forces retreat. The rear guard left behind to stall the allies bogs down the invasion, prompting Patton to drive west and capture Palermo before 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, he accuses the soldiers of cowardice and [[George S. Patton slapping incidents|slaps the soldier]] before demanding that he is returned to the front lines. Eisenhower demands that Patton apologiseapologize to the soldier; Patton, however, apologises toand his entire command., Despite this,which he is sidelined for the coming [[Operation Overlord|Allied invasion ofreluctantly 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. To 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; whichthis comment is viewed as a slight to the [[Soviet Union]]. Despite Patton's protest that he has done nothing wrong, the situation has spiraled from his control, and the decision to send him home or remain in England is placed on 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 being sidelined to appease Montgomery, Patton demands to know why he was given a command if he cannot advance. Bradley refutesretorts that it was hisactually actualhis decision to place himPatton in Europe, not Eisenhower's or anyone else's.

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 when he compares [[Politics of the United States|American politics]] to [[Nazism]]. Though he is relieved of command, he is kept on to see the [[Allied-occupied Germany|rebuilding of Germany]]. He 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.}}

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