Patton
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
- war
- drama
- history
The story
"Patton" tells the tale of General George S. Patton, famous tank commander of World War II. The film begins with Patton's career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Germany and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and habit towards insubordination.
What it’s like
Wide, painterly frames of the desert and the Sicilian and European countryside, lit by hard afternoon sun and smoky overcast, with the American flag and a sweeping, almost operatic brass-led score (Jerry Goldsmith) carrying each set piece. Scenes often open on a single figure dwarfed by empty ground or a sea of olive-drab vehicles, then cut to tight, theatrical close-ups of George C. Scott's face, a lectern, a mirror, a bristling uniform. Battle sequences favour long, rolling tracking shots through dust, mud, and tank smoke rather than frantic handheld chaos, so the violence reads as grand and distant rather than intimate. Vibe: stately, grandiose, mordantly witty, with a melancholy undertow about a man who is brilliant and exhausting in equal measure. It suits a long weekend afternoon, a history-minded rewatch, or an evening when you want a big, talky, character-driven war film. Pacing is deliberate and speechy, built around a tempestuous commander whose arc moves from bluster toward a lonelier, more reflective self. Intensity: moderate. There are war deaths, bodies, and bloody wounds glimpsed in battle, with some brief tension and a few harsh outbursts, but no graphic gore lingering on screen. Suited to people who like their war films dignified, performance-driven, and rooted in real history.
More films like Patton
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Patton and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
