I watched the Patton movie the other night.
Again.
I love movies, but seldom watch films more than once or twice. But I’ve probably watched Patton well over 20 times. That seems like a lot, until you consider that this movie came out in 1970. So that’s less than once every two or three years. It’s a war movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture at a time when anti-war fervor was at a peak.
Go figure.
Yes, it’s an epic classic that won Best Picture despite no female characters. Kind of like Lawrence of Arabia, which won Best Picture with no female characters (1962). Or Bridge over the River Kwai, which won Best Picture with no female characters (1957). Or numerous other older films which won acclaim without paying homage to the distaff side. Modern movies pretty much now must have quotas of certain characters. But the Patton movie, like the man himself, is politically incorrect.
Now, I also enjoy chick flicks and movies dominated by women, like A League of Their Own. Based on real people.
But I digress.
Before Patton came out in 1970, some folks were aware that he was a successful, flamboyant, controversial World War II general. But the movie made George S. Patton (played by George C. Scott) an iconic symbol of Americana.
George S. Patton and George C. Scott actually immortalized each other. For sure.
While the movie includes some “dramatic embellishment,” it largely holds true to the real history of 1942-45. That matters. Nothing against Superman or Batman or whatever, but George Patton was actually a real person.
It’s a long movie, but it’s all good. There’s a scene near the end of the general and our Russian “allies” that is wonderful. I’m sure everyone in the Politburo watched it. Stalin, after all, loved American westerns.
The popularity of the movie perhaps reflects a need many folks have for a heroic action figure—a strong man unafraid to take on not only evil enemies but also his own establishment. The movie doesn’t ignore Patton’s mistakes and flaws—which humanizes this epic American warrior. If anything, many people embrace his imperfections.
Patton was a profane, egotistical, visionary showman who—for better or worse—got things done. That’s part of his appeal. He wasn’t boring like other generals, i.e. Omar Bradley. Patton supporters overlook or excuse his flaws and see him as larger than life.
Which brings us to Donald J. Trump.
Unlike Patton, Trump never wore his country’s uniform. But like Patton, Trump is also a profane, egotistical, visionary showman who—for better or worse—gets things done. That’s part of his appeal. He isn’t boring like other politicians, i.e., Mike Pence. Trump supporters overlook or excuse his flaws and see him as larger than life.
Patton could be very disrespectful to our allies. Ditto Trump.
Patton was no choir boy. Ditto Trump.
Patton manipulated the media. Ditto Trump.
Patton once sent a mechanized task force deep behind German lines to try to rescue his son-in-law from a POW camp. It was a disaster. (That’s not in the movie.) Trump bombed Iran and then apprehended a foreign dictator from his bedroom and threw him in jail. I think Patton would have loved Trump.
Richard Nixon watched Patton many times—including just before he invaded Cambodia in 1970. He was admittedly inspired by the man. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai ordered a copy of the film before Nixon visited China so as to better understand Nixon.
So how does Trump feel about Patton? Has he ever watched the movie?
I’ll bet he’s seen it more than once.
Probably well over 20 times.
