Posted: 11/5/2010 4:17:16 AM EDT
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Awesome film. Encore Action had it on last night. He may have been a little brash but that is exactly what we needed. Although when they mentioned Monty about being a glory hog I hear a voice from the other room. "They were all glory hogs..........Including Patton!" My mom's British born so anything relating to WWII she's all over it. |
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Patton was one of those American Generals that are very unique and come along in the US military from time to time. Incredibly egotistical, abundantly confident and self assured of their high value, eccentric, media hound, hard charger, mission oriented and usually a brilliant strategist. Others include Custer (except for his last battle of course) and MacArthur. People loved to hate them, they had tons of faults but were the go to guys when you needed battles won and the enemy killed wholesale.
Patton's major fault was in believing he was nearly infalible and knew more about how to run a war than anyone above him. In some cases he was right, but not enough. His slapping around shell shocked soldiers in medical camps should have got him booted and even a vacation at Leavenworth but the Nazis were a greater threat so he was kept on, but pretty stoutly knocked off his perch for a while. He got the jobs done though, such as the Battle of the Bulge when he rammed the Third Army right through the Germans and into Bastogne. |
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Great movie.
Patton was crazy, but he was among the very best at what he did. He was disliked by some because of the large casualty lists he ran up. He, however, believed that fewer men on our side would be killed in the long run if he was aggressive, and did everything possible to win the war as quickly as possible. In retrospect, he was probably right on that count. |
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Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive.
The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Days of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. Patton was highly intelligent, extremely well-read, and extremely complex. No offense, but please don't think that seeing the Movie gives the viewer anything more than a cardboard cut-out image of Patton. |
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Quoted:
Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive. The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Day of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. This. If the limit of your knowledge of patton is the movie and what you think you know, you really shouldn't open your mouth. I too have read several books on patton, to include the above mentioned. Patton was the consumate professional. One of his many memorable quotes was, "Leadership is acting." Most of what you saw in the movie was the persona Patton used to lead his men into battle. To inspire them to go up hills and shoot people in the face. This was not an easy task. Patton was frustrated at the obvious incompetence of most of the officer corps. bradley and eisenhower included. broad front advance was inane and extended the war unnecesarily. Monty, eisenhower and bradley had no combat experience. Monty was wounded in his very first battle and never returned to the front. eisenhower and bradley never left the US. Patton knew war. He knew combat. And he knew the best way to end it was quickly. Note that patton's units took much fewer casualties than his peers. Yeah he pushed them hard, because that is what we do. bradley hated patton but the movie was based on bradley's book. eisenhower, monty and bradley's stupidity ensured the death of 10s of thousands of american soldiers who need not have died.And his determination to beat the russians. Gee, pretty prophetic. On the American side, he and MacArthur stood head and shoulders above their peers, and the results showed it. Which is why lesser men dediated their lives on destroying their reputations. But the one true proof was, the germans knew who the best general was and said it often, Patton. |
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Quoted:
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Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive. The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Day of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. This. If the limit of your knowledge of patton is the movie and what you think you know, you really shouldn't open your mouth. I too have read several books on patton, to include the above mentioned. Patton was the consumate professional. One of his many memorable quotes was, "Leadership is acting." Most of what you saw in the movie was the persona Patton used to lead his men into battle. To inspire them to go up hills and shoot people in the face. This was not an easy task. Patton was frustrated at the obvious incompetence of most of the officer corps. bradley and eisenhower included. broad front advance was inane and extended the war unnecesarily. Monty, eisenhower and bradley had no combat experience. Monty was wounded in his very first battle and never returned to the front. eisenhower and bradley never left the US. Patton knew war. He knew combat. And he knew the best way to end it was quickly. Note that patton's units took much fewer casualties than his peers. Yeah he pushed them hard, because that is what we do. bradley hated patton but the movie was based on bradley's book. eisenhower, monty and bradley's stupidity ensured the death of 10s of thousands of american soldiers who need not have died.And his determination to beat the russians. Gee, pretty prophetic. On the American side, he and MacArthur stood head and shoulders above their peers, and the results showed it. Which is why lesser men dediated their lives on destroying their reputations. But the one true proof was, the germans knew who the best general was and said it often, Patton. Well done, both of you. 
"Audacity, today!" |
| My grandfather was a Captain over some tank platoon or whatever you called it. Said his tanks stopped the enemy from flanking or something and was called to Patton's tent afterwards. Patton saw his top shirt button unbuttoned and yelled at him saying to never come into his presence like that again. My grandfather said he was a farmboy just trying to do his duty and not a career officer, so after that he didn't care for Patton. |
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I was attending Basic Training at Fort Polk when the movie came out. My platoon won the Platoon Competition that week and, as a reward, we were allowed to go to the movie. Patton was playing.
We got our drinks and popcorn (first "snacks" in several weeks) and took our seats. The movie started with the big American flag on the stage. Then a voice in the movie shouted, "Atten - hut!!". Every one in the theater jumped to attention. Then after a few seconds someone started to laugh and we all realized it was in the movie and not a real Sergeant. We all laughed and sat back down. 
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My grandfather was a Captain over some tank platoon or whatever you called it. Said his tanks stopped the enemy from flanking or something and was called to Patton's tent afterwards. Patton saw his top shirt button unbuttoned and yelled at him saying to never come into his presence like that again. My grandfather said he was a farmboy just trying to do his duty and not a career officer, so after that he didn't care for Patton. My dad was a tank driver in the 781st tank battalion during the Battle of the Bulge and said he didn't care much for Patton either. Patton made them wear their woolen uniforms in summer and crazy little stuff like that. He said they had more respect for Bradley. It's funny how history tells a different story. |
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I was attending Basic Training at Fort Polk when the movie came out. My platoon won the Platoon Competition that week and, as a reward, we were allowed to go to the movie. Patton was playing. We got our drinks and popcorn (first "snacks" in several weeks) and took our seats. The movie started with the big American flag on the stage. Then a voice in the movie shouted, "Atten - hut!!". Every one in the theater jumped to attention. Then after a few seconds someone started to laugh and we all realized it was in the movie and not a real Sergeant. We all laughed and sat back down.
thats funny |
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My grandfather was a Captain over some tank platoon or whatever you called it. Said his tanks stopped the enemy from flanking or something and was called to Patton's tent afterwards. Patton saw his top shirt button unbuttoned and yelled at him saying to never come into his presence like that again. My grandfather said he was a farmboy just trying to do his duty and not a career officer, so after that he didn't care for Patton. My dad was a tank driver in the 781st tank battalion during the Battle of the Bulge and said he didn't care much for Patton either. Patton made them wear their woolen uniforms in summer and crazy little stuff like that. He said they had more respect for Bradley. It's funny how history tells a different story. But they both came home. And thats what matters. |
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My grandfather served under Patton in Africa and was one of the first boots to hit the sand at Gela Sicily. He and many of the other men HATED Patton during any kind of downtime. He was unpredictable and would get stir crazy waiting for the next battle.
They almost prayed for combat just to get away from him. That said, he had enormous respect for the man as a general and wouldn't want to be led by anyone else when the bullets were flying. |
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"Well, the War shouldn't be over, and we should stop pussy footing about the goddamn Russians. We've given them Prague, we've given them Berlin and God knows what else! Up until now we've been fighting the wrong people! Look Beetle, you and Ike don't have to get involved you're so damn soft about it. You leave it to me! In ten days I'll have us a War with them sons a bitches, and I'll have made it look like it was their fault!
"I LOVE IT. God help me I do love it so. I love it more than my life." My two favorite lines in a movie full of great ones. |
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I was attending Basic Training at Fort Polk when the movie came out. My platoon won the Platoon Competition that week and, as a reward, we were allowed to go to the movie. Patton was playing. We got our drinks and popcorn (first "snacks" in several weeks) and took our seats. The movie started with the big American flag on the stage. Then a voice in the movie shouted, "Atten - hut!!". Every one in the theater jumped to attention. Then after a few seconds someone started to laugh and we all realized it was in the movie and not a real Sergeant. We all laughed and sat back down.
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| It is almost magical that on times where this nation stood at the precipice of failure that colossal figures arose to our defense. It is true in every major war we have fought. All the way back to the Revolution. Common ken that in Amy other arena would be unremarkable. But these personalities rise and become an entity beyond the man. One could call it providence? |
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Quoted: It is almost magical that on times where this nation stood at the precipice of failure that colossal figures arose to our defense. It is true in every major war we have fought. All the way back to the Revolution. Common ken that in Amy other arena would be unremarkable. But these personalities rise and become an entity beyond the man. One could call it providence? Eisenhower was the runner up for his position at the start of WWII-the front runner performed poorly in the pre-war large scale Louisiana exercise and Ike got the nod. |
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Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive. The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Days of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. Patton was highly intelligent, extremely well-read, and extremely complex. No offense, but please don't think that seeing the Movie gives the viewer anything more than a cardboard cut-out image of Patton. Was it a sword or a foil that he was so good with? Either way, his sword design was overrated, I've been lead to believe. |
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Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive. The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Day of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. This. If the limit of your knowledge of patton is the movie and what you think you know, you really shouldn't open your mouth. I too have read several books on patton, to include the above mentioned. Patton was the consumate professional. One of his many memorable quotes was, "Leadership is acting." Most of what you saw in the movie was the persona Patton used to lead his men into battle. To inspire them to go up hills and shoot people in the face. This was not an easy task. Patton was frustrated at the obvious incompetence of most of the officer corps. bradley and eisenhower included. broad front advance was inane and extended the war unnecesarily. Monty, eisenhower and bradley had no combat experience. Monty was wounded in his very first battle and never returned to the front. eisenhower and bradley never left the US. Patton knew war. He knew combat. And he knew the best way to end it was quickly. Note that patton's units took much fewer casualties than his peers. Yeah he pushed them hard, because that is what we do. bradley hated patton but the movie was based on bradley's book. eisenhower, monty and bradley's stupidity ensured the death of 10s of thousands of american soldiers who need not have died.And his determination to beat the russians. Gee, pretty prophetic. On the American side, he and MacArthur stood head and shoulders above their peers, and the results showed it. Which is why lesser men dediated their lives on destroying their reputations. But the one true proof was, the germans knew who the best general was and said it often, Patton. I'm kinda glad Patton died when he did. There is no telling what imischief he might have created had he lived. |
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Being a life-long student about Patton, IMHO a reading of "The Patton Papers, Vols I and II", and Carlos d'Este's Patton biography are all that is required to get to the truth about the General. I would possibly add "War As I Knew It", and "The Patton Mind". Anything else is either non-essential, redundant, or possibly counterproductive. The movie is fun to watch, and, in truth, not badly done, but it oversimplifies Patton. The lesser-known and much less-seen "The Last Day of Patton" is a useful adjunct to the more famous "Patton". As a point of context, the Patton movie was made during the Vietnam era, and was originally intended as a slam at the US military. Gen. Army Omar Bradley, the film's advisor, detested Patton. This. If the limit of your knowledge of patton is the movie and what you think you know, you really shouldn't open your mouth. I too have read several books on patton, to include the above mentioned. Patton was the consumate professional. One of his many memorable quotes was, "Leadership is acting." Most of what you saw in the movie was the persona Patton used to lead his men into battle. To inspire them to go up hills and shoot people in the face. This was not an easy task. Patton was frustrated at the obvious incompetence of most of the officer corps. bradley and eisenhower included. broad front advance was inane and extended the war unnecesarily. Monty, eisenhower and bradley had no combat experience. Monty was wounded in his very first battle and never returned to the front. eisenhower and bradley never left the US. Patton knew war. He knew combat. And he knew the best way to end it was quickly. Note that patton's units took much fewer casualties than his peers. Yeah he pushed them hard, because that is what we do. bradley hated patton but the movie was based on bradley's book. eisenhower, monty and bradley's stupidity ensured the death of 10s of thousands of american soldiers who need not have died.And his determination to beat the russians. Gee, pretty prophetic. On the American side, he and MacArthur stood head and shoulders above their peers, and the results showed it. Which is why lesser men dediated their lives on destroying their reputations. But the one true proof was, the germans knew who the best general was and said it often, Patton. I'm kinda glad Patton died when he did. There is no telling what imischief he might have created had he lived. Patton died on 7 May. He would have retired and disappeared. |
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Patton was one of those American Generals that are very unique and come along in the US military from time to time. Incredibly egotistical, abundantly confident and self assured of their high value, eccentric, media hound, hard charger, mission oriented and usually a brilliant strategist. Others include Custer (except for his last battle of course) and MacArthur. People loved to hate them, they had tons of faults but were the go to guys when you needed battles won and the enemy killed wholesale. Patton's major fault was in believing he was nearly infalible and knew more about how to run a war than anyone above him. In some cases he was right, but not enough. His slapping around shell shocked soldiers in medical camps should have got him booted and even a vacation at Leavenworth but the Nazis were a greater threat so he was kept on, but pretty stoutly knocked off his perch for a while. He got the jobs done though, such as the Battle of the Bulge when he rammed the Third Army right through the Germans and into Bastogne. The only thing Custer was great at was getting his men killed. And I'm not just talking about LBH. He was a glory hound nothing more. |
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Patton died on 7 May. He would have retired and disappeared. Imagine the ego fights he would have had with Big Mac in Korea... None. Patton would have been gone and they wouldn't have brought him back. MacArthur was the Asia guy. Even if he had, Patton was operational. And his style of warfare matched macarthurs. Fast movement, bypass resistance, strike deep. An interesting debate. The biggest issue would be sharing headlines. |
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Quoted: Anyone ever notice the "WTF" in the background when Patton is directing traffic? http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=1104149  |
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Patton was one of those American Generals that are very unique and come along in the US military from time to time. Incredibly egotistical, abundantly confident and self assured of their high value, eccentric, media hound, hard charger, mission oriented and usually a brilliant strategist. Others include Custer (except for his last battle of course) and MacArthur. People loved to hate them, they had tons of faults but were the go to guys when you needed battles won and the enemy killed wholesale. Patton's major fault was in believing he was nearly infalible and knew more about how to run a war than anyone above him. In some cases he was right, but not enough. His slapping around shell shocked soldiers in medical camps should have got him booted and even a vacation at Leavenworth but the Nazis were a greater threat so he was kept on, but pretty stoutly knocked off his perch for a while. He got the jobs done though, such as the Battle of the Bulge when he rammed the Third Army right through the Germans and into Bastogne. The only thing Custer was great at was getting his men killed. And I'm not just talking about LBH. He was a glory hound nothing more. Significant historical works covering his service during the War of the Rebellion do not concur with you. |