by Vincent Traina

Created on: January 28, 2007   Last Updated: November 30, 2007

Very few Hollywood movies, if any, portray the Second World War in an honest light. But for you "real history" students, there is at least one WW II film that has overwhelming qualities of historical correctness. "Patton," the 1970 Academy Awards Winning film starring George C. Scott, depicts the wartime feats of the great World War II General George Smith Patton, Jr. and cinematically captures the character and spirit of this great American patriot. Legendary film artist Francis Ford Coppola, famous for directing "The Godfather," utilizes a combination of innovative editing techniques and an artistic use of light and shadow, rendering "Patton" a powerful medium in its portrayal of the General as a charismatic genius who was abundantly cultured, patriotic, and fearless. His life is a great example of what American historian Brooks Adams (also great grandson of founding father John Adams) talked about as "spiritual man." Other instances include Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison.

"Old Blood & Guts" embodied many of the traditional qualities and virtues that have been customarily cherished by Western mankind. Due to his passionate love of history, he possessed a profound knowledge of its lessons. An illustration of this can be found in the movie during the drive to Germany. General Bradley telephones Patton with an urgent voice and declares that he hasn't any time to explain why an emergency meeting is being called. Before the four-star general departs for the conference, he reasons with his staff. "There's absolutely no reason for us to assume that the Germans are mounting a major offensive. The weather is awful. Their supplies are low. The German army hasn't mounted a winter attack since Frederick the Great. Therefore I believe that's exactly what they're going to do." Patton also wrote poetry and was inspired by the personalities, challenges, and triumphs of the European peoples. This is effectively articulated in the film. A few examples include Patton talking reverently of the ancient Athenian General Alcibiades & his invasion of Sicily, of William the Conqueror, and of the heroic defense by hundreds of knights of Malta against forty thousand Turks in the sixteenth century. In addition to his affection for the past, he also believed in reincarnation. This may have very well suggested that he possessed a healthy spiritual outlook on his role and that of his ancestors in the epic and ongoing story of Western Civilization. It is not at all hard

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