Patton is one of the greatest bio-pics of all time. With a screen story and screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, based on factual material from “Patton: Ordeal and Triumph” by Ladislas Farago and Omar N. Bradley, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, and starring George C. Scott in the title role, General George S. Patton comes off as one of the most memorable characters in movie history.

The storyline of the movie from IMDB:

“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 Europe and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton’s numerous faults such his temper and tendency toward insubordination, faults that would prevent him from becoming the lead American general in the Normandy Invasion as well as to his being relieved as Occupation Commander of Germany.

“Numerous faults.” Or in the current parlance of story development in Hollywood circles, character flaws. A hero can make a good character, but a hero with flaws can make an interesting – and great – character. Compare this scene:

To this scene:

Or this dialogue:

Patton: Now there’s another thing I want you to remember. I don’t want to get any messages saying that “we are holding our position.” We’re not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we’re not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We’re going to hold onto him by the nose and we’re going to kick him in the ass. We’re going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we’re going to go through him like crap through a goose!

To this dialogue:

Patton: I’ve always felt that I was destined for some great achievement, what I don’t know.
Sgt. William Meeks: Yes, sir.
Patton: The last great opportunity of a lifetime – an entire world at war, and I’m left out of it? God will not permit this to happen! I will be allowed to fulfill my destiny! His will be done.

What qualities does it take to be a great military leader. Courage, certitude, will, ego. Perhaps the very same qualities that can bring a leader down.

In this scene, we see both sides of Patton on display:

There are numerous reasons why war stories have been and remain so popular in movies, one of them being it the field of battle provides an intense, critical backdrop into which to throw characters, to test their mettle and see what of their core essence emerges into the light of day.

In Patton, we see a Protagonist who is hard-wired to fight… yet doesn’t know when to stop fighting. As Gen. Omar Bradley [Karl Malden] tells Patton in the film: “There’s one big difference between you and me, George. I do this job because I’ve been trained to do it. You do it because you love it.”

General George S. Patton from the movie Patton: A great character.