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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Patton is an epic war movie, and a biopic about General George S. Patton Jr. It was a big hit in its day and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It includes widescreen battlefield violence, with shooting and explosions; dead bodies and blood are shown in the aftermath. Patton has a potty mouth, though he tends to stay away from very strong language: "s--t" is heard only once. Far more common is "bastard," "goddamn," and "son of a bitch." There's also some brief innuendo, though no sexual situations. Patton smokes a cigar and occasionally drinks at military functions. The movie is a very complex mix of celebrating military strategy and excellence, but also commenting upon the evils of war, though it's apparent that Patton himself comes out looking like a hero either way. It will be a good discussion starter for mature teens.
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What's the story?
The story begins in 1943 in North Africa, where 3-star General George S. Patton Jr. (George C. Scott) assumes command of the flagging American army and achieves a victory against the Germans. From there, he journeys to Sicily for another attack, going against orders to beat British Field Marshal Montgomery (Michael Bates) to another victory. Unfortunately, during this time he happens upon a young soldier (Tim Considine) suffering from battle fatigue. Patton calls him a coward and slaps him, and the incident becomes news all over the world, resulting in Patton's banishment. At the last minute, his old pal, General Omar Bradley (Karl Malden), summons him back to help with one more battle.
Is it any good?
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It's hard to imagine PATTON making a huge impact in 1970, in the middle of the Vietnam War and toward the end of the peace and love era. But watching the movie, it's easy to see Patton is not presented as an authority figure, but as an outcast, a rebel that constantly butts heads with colleagues and commanders. Moreover, George C. Scott's intuitive, powerhouse performance paints a complex picture of a steadfast soldier that believed firmly in reincarnation, colorful language, and the glories of war.
Director Franklin J. Schaffner shoots the movie in wide-open shots, with lots of exteriors, and it all seems huge and mythical. Yet he fails to adequately balance the movie's two themes: the glory of war and the fallacy of war. They wrestle for a while, but then Scott's persona takes over, and he makes a Patton a hero. Scott also bulldozes over all other characters; not even Karl Malden has much to do here. Francis Ford Coppola was a co-writer, and he won a pre-Godfather Oscar for his work.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the movie's war violence. How harsh or disturbing is it? Is it thrilling? How does it compare with movies today?
Is Patton a hero? How is he left at the end of the movie?
When Patton makes his public apology after slapping the soldier, is it believable? Does he seem repentant, or just defeated?
Is there anything more you would like to know about Patton after seeing this movie?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | April 2, 1970 |
| DVD release date: | June 3, 2008 |
| Cast: | George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates |
| Director: | Franklin J Schaffner |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Topics: | History |
| Run time: | 172 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| Award: | Academy Award |
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Patton Review
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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A great, complex war epic and character study totally OK for ages 13 and up
An opening speech for the ages. The role of a lifetime for George C. Scott, who turned down the Oscar it earned him. Jerry Goldsmith's haunting score. So many things make this film an all-time classic, and they are all OK to share with teens across the age spectrum. 13-14-year-olds will enjoy a classic war story in early 1970s fashion with lots of fireworks, minimal blood, and no gore. Yes, the language can be a bit salty, but let's face it, there's nothing in there that a 2010s public-school teen has not heard in quantity already. (Forget the smoking too--no teenager's going to get compelled to take it up just by watching a 50-year-old puff on a stogie.) Older teens will get to appreciate the depth and complexity of Patton's character. Like Westerns before them, war films without a pacifist message have fallen foul of the PC police, but there's plenty of seed material here for family conversations about the power of leadership by example (Patton's takeover of a demoralized army after the defeat at Kasserine Pass), the relationship of a leader with his/her subordinates (the famous slapping incident, Patton's relationship with Bradley--Karl Malden in a strong supporting performance), or the limits of a leader's drive to achieve an objective (the horse scene during the drive through Sicily, the forced march to reposition three divisions in the Ardennes). And of course, there's the pleasure of sharing the famous opening line that can be repurposed for so many later uses: "I want to make it very clear that no b-----d ever won a war dying for his country..."
What other families should know
Great role models
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