Patton Four Star Movie

Two weekends ago, Agape held their annual charity boxing event at Nav Can. This year, their invited celebrity was none other than former NHL heavyweight Chris ‘Knuckles’ Nilan, who supported the event in order to raise money to help battle hunger. The Boston Massachusetts native, who played for such teams as the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and for most of his career, the Montreal Canadiens (winning his only Stanley Cup with the team in 1986), is fondly remembered for holding numerous records that landed him in the sin-bin and being one of only nine players to ever reach more than 3000 penalty minutes.

Nilan, who is now the host of his own radio show on TSN 690 Montreal, sat down with me at the beginning of the event to talk movies. It did not take long for him to express his love of American history, literature and film; with the classic war picture Patton being his all-time favourite.

Around 1967, a young Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now), was hired to write the screenplay for Patton. After completing the project, the studio was unimpressed with the unusual opening in which the General addresses the movie audience (who sit in place of American soldiers) with a visceral speech in front of a giant US flag. They let the future icon go over what is now considered to be one of the best scenes in the movie. Years later, Coppola found out they were filming the movie with his script. When awards season came along and he was close to getting fired from The Godfather, he won the Oscar for the Patton screenplay, saving his job and allowing for the legendary director to finish one of the great masterpieces of cinema.

Coppola’s script follows the controversial general, George S. Patton Jr. (George C. Scott – Dr. Strangelove) during World War II. He is brought into North Africa to lead the sloppy, unfocused and demoralized troops. He has success in the field, winning battles while competing for glory with his British ally, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery (Michael Bates).  Patton eventually runs into trouble when his no-nonsense attitude toward insubordination and shell-shock leads to him slapping a soldier and almost drawing his gun. He is reprimanded and forced to sit by, used solely as a threatening pawn in the battle. The General eventually gets a small yet vital position leading the Third Army, distinguishing himself as he pushes his troops farther and farther through the German defenses. His mouth eventually gets him into trouble again. The film ends with him walking his dog while we hear him in a voice over stating that in ancient Rome, a hero returned home, being honoured with a victory parade in which “a slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting”.

Patton took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director and Actor. It cannot be denied that Scott brought Patton alive, fusing the foul-mouthed religious man with an historical obsession together with someone who felt he had been resurrected time and time again, creating a unique three dimensional character. Karl Malden, who portrayed General Bradley, must also be mentioned as he was solid; playing the more down to earth and working mans’ General to a tee.

Patton is a substantial movie that features strong character development, an interesting story, excellent acting and a sweeping view of an iconic World War II General. It is well worth the General price of admission, though since it is more than four decades old, you will surely enjoy watching it in Private.