" Lying naked in the sun with the dead at the battle of Carthage, I was there "

Rating: 9/10 (20 August 2009)

It is rare, but it happens an acclaimed actor will often become so ingrained with a role, that whenever the movie is brought up for discussion, one immediately discusses the actor as well. Thus it is so with this 1970 film called " Patton. " George C. Scott has proved himself versatile in many roles, but his career is crowned here with the role of a lifetime. The movie does not cover the life of Patton, but only the War time segment. Beginning with the North Africa campaign, Scott demonstrates the flamboyant army general who despite his Christian beliefs, also believed in his vault of past lives or reincarnations. Although, Patton had a great ability to wage war, he suffered from an inability to control his opinion. Whenever, he accomplished some extraordinary feat in battle, he would often follow it up by saying or doing something which would cause him great embarrassment. One example is his defeat of Erwin Rommel's 10th elite Africa corps in battle, then following it up by slapping a common soldier in front of medical witnesses. Always claiming he had defeated the Desert Fox, one wonders if he could have done it at the beginning of Rommel's campaign. Nevertheless, throughout the war, Patton would be able to snare the lion's share of the wartime glory only to have it snatched away by his arrogant social behavior. Still the movie itself is a fine testament to the controversial general who gained the respect of his men, staff as well as his enemies only to die in what many called an ignominious death. The film is further enhanced by noted actors like Karl Malden as Gen. Omar Bradley and Karl Vogler as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. This is one film which not only stands as a living tribune to Patton and George C. Scott but a definite military Classic for any collection. ****