PATTON

US, 1970, 167 minutes, Colour.
George C. Scott, Karl Maiden, Michael Bates.
Directed by Franklin Schaffner.

Patton (subtitled in advertising as "A Salute to a Rebel") did not do well at the box-office when first released, although it received excellent reviews. Almost a year later, the film received a number of Oscars including Best Film 1970, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay. It was re-released, seen widely and well-liked.

It is an interesting film from the 'blood and guts' patriotic speech prior to the credits, through the re-creation (with the aid of the Spanish Army's equipment) of the campaigns in Africa, Sicily, and Europe that Patton was involved in, to the war's end where Patton is still alive and we are not sure how much we admire him or are exasperated by him.

George C. Scott's portrayal of Patton is worth seeing and certainly merited the Oscar that he refused to accept.

The film is intelligent, presenting war neither in a jingoistic fashion nor in a strong anti-war fashion, and asking for an audience response to a man who was a military genius, extraordinarily ambitious and supremely self-confident.

1. In the advertising, this film was sub-titled, 'Salute to a Rebel'. Did this adequately sum up the film and the ideas behind it?

2. What was the impact of the prologue of the film? What impressions of Patton, his manner, his ideas, his language, his whole personality? Likeable (would he have been likeable in real life?

3. What was the effect of photographing him giving his talk to the audience? With the American flag in the background?

4. What were his attitudes to war? How did he see himself in war? Was he vain? proud? self-assured? Did he really think that enemy soldiers were 'dumb bastards'? Why did he say he would be proud to fight with his fellow-Americans? How much of a patriot was he?

5. Comment on the style of the musical score and its use throughout the film. Did it add to the success of the film?

6. Were the battles well reproduced throughout the film? Could you follow them, their importance, and what they meant to Patton himself?

7. The African campaign came first in the film and so set a tone for what followed. What did the sequences of Africans plundering the corpses say? How did Patton show his skill in Africa? Why did Patton consider Rommel a worthy adversary? He had read his book.

8. Why did Patton enjoy his being honoured in Morocco? Why did he love order, pomp and ceremony?

9. Patton's belief in re-incarnation? How did he understand it? How was this illustrated in his visit to the site of Carthage and of his memories of the Roman campaigns?

10. How did Patton relate to Bradley? Were they friends?

11. Was Patton too much of a martinet in his smartening up tactics in the military in Africa? Did the men need discipline and respect it?

12. How did Patton interpret his narrow escapes from death in Africa? Were his defiance of the enemy, as hie shooting the planet with his revolver, pieces of acting, morale-boosting, vanity or was he genuine?

13. Why was the Sicilian campaign so dear to Patton? How did it relate to his knowledge of the past and his reincarnation beliefs?

14. What did he intend to do in Sicily? Why was he upset that Montgomery was to take Messina? Were his risks justified in going to Palermo and Messina? What did the sequence where he appeared on the other side of the river spurring hit men on than about his zeal and personality?

15. The soldiers called him 'old Blood and Guts', his guts, our blood. What did they mean? Did they like him or dislike him for it?

16. How well did he enjoy the Messina triumph? Why? Did it confirm him in his vision? (Was Montgomery portrayed well in the film or was he caricatured?)

17. Why did Patton slap the sick soldier? Was he too harsh? his motives? Why did the press attack him? Could Patton understand why the press attacked him?

18. How much did the public apology cost him? Did he do it well? Sincerely? What were people's reactions? What did his making the apology reveal about him?

19. How well did he react to Bradley's promotion and his being passed over? Should he have got the job? Was he well suited to it?

20. What did the sequence of this disappointing news reveal about Patton's relationship with his assistants?

21. How humiliating was his return to England? His quarters? His social engagements? Did he handle these difficult situations well? surprise at the press's interpretation of his remarks about the Russians? How indiscreet had he been?

22. Were the Allies using Patton well by keeping him in England and letting the Germans think he was going to be the leader of the European invasion?

23. How was Bradley's friendship shown by Patton's return to the war? Was Bradley right in saying that Patton should hold his tongue and that he was a pain in the neck?

24. What was Patton's contribution to the invasion of Europe and the Battle of the Bulge? Did the Allies use him well enough?

25. The sequence with the Padre and the request for a weather prayer was humorous but what did it reveal about Patton and his belief in himself?

26. The final sequence showed Patton escaping death and walking on. What impact and significance did this have? Was it an appropriate ending to the film?

27. Was this an epic film about a hero of great stature? What kind of a hero was Patton made out to be? Was he misunderstood or well understood? Was he too impulsive, vain, reckless, visionary, mad?

28. Was this a pro or anti-war film? Was it a patriotic film? Why was it made in 1969 - what purpose did it serve?