Patton (1970)

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  • PATTON


    DIRECTED BY FRANKLIN J. SCAFFNER
    20th. CENTURY FOX



    Information From IMDb


    Plot Summary
    "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 Germany and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and habit towards insubordination. Faults which would, eventually, lead to his being relieved as Occupation Commander of Germany.
    Written by Anthony Hughes


    Cast
    George C. Scott ... Gen. George S. Patton Jr.
    Karl Malden ... Gen. Omar N. Bradley
    Stephen Young ... Capt. Chester B. Hansen
    Michael Strong ... Brig. Gen. Hobart Carver
    Carey Loftin ... Gen. Bradley's driver (as Cary Loftin)
    Albert Dumortier ... Moroccan Minister
    Frank Latimore ... Lt. Col. Henry Davenport
    Morgan Paull ... Capt. Richard N. Jenson
    Karl Michael Vogler ... Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
    Bill Hickman ... Gen. Patton's driver
    Pat Zurica ... 1st Lt. Alexander Stiller (as Patrick J. Zurica)
    James Edwards ... Sgt. William George Meeks
    Lawrence Dobkin ... Col. Gaston Bell
    David Bauer ... Lt. Gen. Harry Buford
    John Barrie ... Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham
    Richard Münch ... Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl (as Richard Muench)
    Siegfried Rauch ... Capt. Oskar Steiger
    Michael Bates ... Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
    Paul Stevens ... Lt. Col. Charles R. Codman
    Gerald Flood ... Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
    Jack Gwillim ... Gen. Sir Harold Alexander
    Ed Binns ... Maj. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith (as Edward Binns)
    Peter Barkworth ... Col. John Welkin
    Lionel Murton ... Third Army chaplain
    David Healy ... Clergyman
    Sandy Kevin ... Correspondent
    Douglas Wilmer ... Maj. Gen. Francis de Guingand
    John Doucette ... Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott
    Tim Considine ... Soldier who gets slapped
    Abraxas Aaran ... Willy
    Clint Ritchie ... Tank captain
    Alan MacNaughton ... British briefing officer


    Writing credits
    Ladislas Farago (book "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph")
    Omar N. Bradley (book "A Soldier's Story")
    Francis Ford Coppola (screen story) and
    Edmund H. North (screen story)
    Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) and
    Edmund H. North (screenplay)


    Produced by
    Frank Caffey .... associate producer
    Frank McCarthy .... producer


    Original Music
    Jerry Goldsmith


    Stunts amongst others, (recognise this surname?)
    Joe Canutt .... action coordinator
    Joe Canutt .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)


    Trivia
    * George C. Scott won the Academy Award for best actor and famously refused to accept it, claiming that competition between actors was unfair and a "meat parade".


    * Producer Frank McCarthy was a retired brigadier general who served on the staff of Gen. George C. Marshall during World War II; he worked for 20 years to make a film about Patton.


    * Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin, Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster all turned down the lead role.


    * John Wayne eagerly sought the role of General Patton but was turned down by the producer.


    * John Huston, Henry Hathaway and Fred Zinnemann each declined to direct the film. William Wyler agreed to direct, but differed with George C. Scott over the script and left for another film.


    * Nearly half the budget was spent on soldiers and equipment rented from the Spanish army.


    * The opening speech, which was shot last, was originally intended to be at the beginning of the second half (after the intermission).


    * Many of the quotes from the opening speech are real quotes from George S. Patton. However, not all of them were said at one time; rather, the speech is an assemblage of Patton moments.


    * Some of the stock actual war footage was shot by future director Russ Meyer, who was a combat cameraman in the U.S. Army's Signal Corps during World War II.


    * This film was originally entitled "Patton: Salute to a Rebel" and pre-release promotional material carried that title. The title was changed just prior to general release.


    * Parts of the speech at the beginning were inspired by a real speech Patton gave before the 3rd Army finally landed in Normandy in late June and early July 1944. The parts of the speech used are watered-down versions of what Patton actually said.


    * This was the second, and last, film to be produced in the Dimension 150 process.


    * Although Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North are credited as co-writers, they never worked together and actually never even met each other until they were collecting their awards.


    * According to his co-star Karl Malden, Scott caused a shooting delay by immersing himself in a ping-pong tournament against a world-champion table-tennis player. Scott (who was in full costume and makeup) kept losing to the champ; yet he was determined to win at least one set, even if they had to stand there playing the entire night.


    * Paul Frees dubbed the voice of the Morrocan Minister, and can also be heard at least two other times: once during the press interview soon after the soldier slapping scene, and again near the end of the film, when a reporter interviewing General Patton (who is riding his horse around an indoor track) leads him on by asking the General about similarities between the Nazi party in Germany and the Republican and Democrat parties in the United States.


    * George C. Scott felt he hadn't really captured the full character of Patton. He would apologize to 'Franklin Schaffner' on the set for not fully realizing the complexity of the man.


    * The American and British tanks in the film are World War II vintage M-24 "Chaffee" light tanks. The German tanks, however, are portrayed by American-built postwar M-47 and M-48 tanks. Ironically, both the M-47 and M-48 types are called "Patton" tanks.


    * Part of the film was filmed at a Over Peover in Cheshire. This was the actual location that Eisenhower and Patton would meet (specifically at the pub, the Bells of Peover). The pub is till there, and flies both the Union Flag and the Stars and Stripes outside to commemorate its part in history.


    * The invasion of Sicily via Syracuse that Patton describes being executed by Alciabiades was an embarrassing defeat for the Athenians and Alcibiades was condemned as a traitor.


    * After Karl Malden as General Bradley loses his helmet when his jeep is blown up by German artillery, he says to his driver, "Give me that helmet, Sekulovich!" This is part of Malden's insistence that there always be a character named Sekulovich in all his films, in reference to his own birth name, Mladen Sekulovich.


    * The movie begins without showing the 20th Century Fox logo, or any other indication that the film is starting. At military bases across the U.S., theater owners reported that soldiers in the audience would often stand up and snap to attention when they heard the movie's opening line ("Ten-hut!"), assuming it to be a real call to attention.


    * The German planes are a Spanish version of the Heinkel He 111, built under license by CASA. These are the same planes as featured in the film The Battle of Britain. Ironically, these Heinkels are powered by British made Rolls Royce Merlin engines, the same engines that powered Spitfires and Hurricanes against the German Luftwaffe during World War II.


    * The scene where Patton tells General Truscott that he did serve with Napoleon is in reference to a poem which Patton wrote titled, "Through a Glass Darkly". In the poem, Patton talks about vague memories of six separate past lives, from caveman, to Ancient Roman, to Napoleonic Frenchman, and being a soldier in each and every life.


    * Initially, George C. Scott refused to film the famous speech in front of the American Flag when he learned that the speech was going to come at the opening of the film. He felt that if they put that scene at the beginning, then the rest of his performance would not live up to that scene. So director Franklin Schaffner lied to Scott and told him that the scene would be put at the end of the film.


    * In reality, at the time he hit the wounded soldier, Patton had been without sleep for nearly 48 hours and after hitting him, returned a couple of hours later and apologized.


    * Soldiers who served under the real Patton said that the general's voice was surprisingly high-pitched.


    * The scene where General Truscott tells Patton "Your an old athlete yourself General, you know matches are sometimes postponed". Patton actually had represented the U.S.A. at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm by competing in the Modern Pentathlon. Patton finished a credible fifth in the competition. Remarkably it was the shooting element that let him down. In true Patton style he used his military .38 revolver instead of the lighter .22 favored by most of the athletes. Patton was also an expert fencer. He re-wrote the armies manuals on swordsmanship removing the 'parry.' His idea was for all attack. Defence just wasted energy. Such was his mastery of swordsmanship that he designed the last saber ever to be worn into battle as a weapon, the M1913 Cavalry Saber, commonly known as the "Patton Saber".


    * This was one of President Richard Nixon's favorite films. He had his own print, and would often watch it in the White House, particularly before having to make an important military decisions in Vietnam and Cambodia.


    * Patton's line about wanting to "lead a lot of men in a desperate battle" was actually written in a letter to his brother-in-law on the ship crossing the Atlantic on the way to North Africa.


    * Somewhat perversely, "Patton" was re-released in early 1971 following the announcement of Oscar nominations on a double bill with a very different war film, also from 20th Century Fox and a Oscar nominee for best picture: MASH (1970).


    Goofs
    * Anachronisms: 1948 Packard car in front of headquarters.


    * Continuity: When Gen Fredendall is leaving II Corps headquarters after being relieved by Gen Patton, his jeep passes Patton's command car where two soldiers are replacing the two star plate with a three star plate. In a following scene when Patton visits an ancient Carthegenian battlefield, there is a two star plate on his command car.


    * Anachronisms: In the Moroccan Parade scene, the submachine guns carried by the soldiers are MAT-49s, adopted by the French Army in 1950.


    * Anachronisms: The tanks used in the major battle scene in North Africa are post-war tanks. On the German side the M48 tank (1953) was used and on the American side the M47 (1952). Ironically, both tank types were named "Patton."


    * Factual errors: The prayer for good weather was actually put on the back of a small Christmas card that was printed for the troops on December 11th, five days before the Battle of the Bulge began. The actual prayer contained the words "these immoderate rains" while the movie version said "this immoderate weather."


    * Revealing mistakes: In the scene following Patton's speech, a child is trying to steal a dead soldier's wedding ring. As he goes about this, the soldier's shoulder/arm muscles twitch visibly in reaction to the scorpions climbing on him. His head and eyelids can also be seen moving several times.


    * Crew or equipment visible: As Patton is viewing the battlefield through binoculars and facing the camera, various lights/booms etc are clearly reflected in the binocular lenses.


    * Anachronisms: Germany is already divided to East and West Germany in the map of Europe seen in the headquarters, and all other national borders are post WWII.


    * Factual errors: When Field Marshal Montgomery is informed that Patton has taken Palermo in Sicily, the British flag beside him is hung upside down.


    * Continuity: When Patton learns he has been relieved of command of the 7th Army, Willie "George" Meeks escorts Patton's aide while wearing Staff Sergeant's stripes. In a later scene when Meeks is waiting for Patton to prepare for bed, Meeks is wearing the stripes of a Sergeant.


    * Continuity: A German soldier writing down the number of casualties is shown marking the thousands with commas, as usual in English. Later, the same soldier is shown using periods for thousands, as a German would.


    * Revealing mistakes: The extreme close-up of Patton's eyebrows in the opening scene shows the mesh netting of the fake eyebrows.


    * Revealing mistakes: As we see the local spectators during the Moroccan military parade, one little boy keeps making faces and waving into the camera in every shot.


    * Revealing mistakes: In the first battle of the film, a high angle long-shot shows a German soldier following a tank who falls forward from the shock of an explosion that happens behind him. But he falls shortly before the blast.


    * Crew or equipment visible: When Patton is directing traffic in the muddy field, one of the tanks that is coming toward the camera is driven by a man wearing civilian clothes and a beret.


    * Continuity: In Palermo, Patton climbs some steps to meet with the local Cardinal. As Patton starts up the steps, guards on those steps stand at attention and salute. In the next shot, as Patton kisses the Cardinal's ring, the guards are in the "at-ease" position.


    * Revealing mistakes: During the first major battle in North Africa, the track marks from the German tank that overruns the infantry unit only start from 20 feet behind the tank.


    * Continuity: When Patton tries to convince Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott to launch an amphibious attack against the Germans, the bench on which he's reclining is flush against the wall. In the reverse-angle shots over Patton's shoulder, the entire back of the bench is visible as if it's several feet from the wall.


    * Factual errors: Patton is shown having read a book, "The Tank in Battle", by his adversary, Erwin Rommel. The book "Panzer greift an" was however never finished by Rommel. Most of what was to be in "The Tank in Attack" (which is the correct translation of the German title) can be found in the book The Rommel Papers, which is made from notes and diary entries by Field Marshal Rommel during the Africa campaign.


    * Continuity: When Patton talks with noncommissioned officers about Montgomery's campaign in Sicily, he has a magnifying glass in his left hand and a cup in his right. He sets down the magnifying glass to hold the cup with his left hand to put it on the table. In the next shot the cup is already on the table and he is holding the magnifying glass with the left hand.


    * Factual errors: During the first battle scene Patton oversees, he uses a pair of binoculars clearly marked "JAPAN".


    * Anachronisms: The German He-111 bombers that attack during the early battle scenes of the film were not equipped for the types of missions portrayed. These bombers were high-altitude level bombers and not dedicated ground attack aircraft. The German Luftwaffe would most likely have used Messerschmitt 109 fighters, Junkers Ju-88 bombers, or Junkers Ju-87 "Stuka" Tank killers for these missions.


    * Factual errors: Early in the movie (after the Battle for the Kasserine Pass), it is mentioned that U.S. tanks used gasoline, the Germans used diesel. In fact all of Germany's World War II tanks used gasoline (petrol) except for some prototypes.


    * Factual errors: This movie makes use of the real WWII Jeeps - the MB, GPW; manufactured by Willys & Ford from 1941 - 1945 as well as the first civilian Jeep vehicle, the CJ-2A produced in 1945. The CJ came with a tailgate, side-mounted spare tire, larger headlights, an external fuel cap and many more items that its military predecessors did not include. This "goof" is common in WWII movies.


    * Crew or equipment visible: When General Bedell Smith and Monty are discussing Sicily in the latrine, the shadow of the cameraman is seen behind Smith.


    * Anachronisms: In the scene with the Russians, where they dance and Patton skates very close to open insults, the camera pans the scene from behind the orchestra. At least one of the guitars being played seems to be of a type/style that was not developed until the 1950s.


    * Factual errors: When General Walter Bedell Smith meets with General Patton upon the latter's arrival in London, Smith is wearing what is supposed to be the S.H.A.E.F. (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) shoulder patch. He is in fact wearing the US Army Europe patch which came out after WW II and is almost exactly the same in design, except the background of the S.H.A.E.F. patch is black and the U.S. Army Europe patch has a blue background.


    * Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Visiting the Carthaginian ancient battle field in Tunisia, Patton says, "The Arab women stripped the dead soldiers of their clothing." There were no Arabs in Tunisia during the Punic wars.


    * Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Patton quotes Frederick the Great as saying, "L'audace, l'audace. Toujours l'audace!" Historians attribute this quote to the French revolutionary Danton.


    * Miscellaneous: As Bradley and his aides inspect the Kasserine battlefield, an officer shoots two vultures with his Thompson sub-machine gun. The shots are so close together that the weapon must be firing on full automatic. This would be a virtually impossible feat of marksmanship with this type of weapon.


    * Anachronisms: One of the planes seen in the film is a Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, which first flew in 1950.


    * Factual errors: In the scene where Patton visits Bradley's Command Post in Normandy, France, he delivers a line of dialogue that says Hitler's own people tried to kill him just a few days ago. This would place the timeline of this meeting just after July 20, 1944 (the day of the actual assassination attempt on Hitler), but before July 25, 1944 (The start of the Allied Cobra operation) which was also discussed at this meeting. Immediately after this scene, there is a cut to a German Command bunker where Rommel is complaining that his men are being slaughtered in Normandy. The timeline of this latter scene is in error as Rommel, by this time, was severely wounded by an Allied fighter attack plane on July 17, 1944 and very much out-of-the-action from this day onwards.


    * Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the opening scene where Patton is addressing troops in front of the giant flag he has the four stars of a full general on his helmet, a rank he did not attain until the last month of the war in Europe. Therefore many assume that his address, which was for the benefit of green troops about to enter combat for the first time, would have been delivered when he was at a lower rank of major general or lieutenant general. However, this speech is a composite of several different speeches he delivered throughout the war to units of different sizes and command levels. While much of his speech in the opening of film was extracted from one particular speech he gave to various units in the Spring of 1944 just prior to D-Day, it does not actually represent any specific speech within any particular time frame. The producers actually considered inserting it at the end of the Intermission.


    * Factual errors: When Patton arrives in Malta, he makes a speech about the Great Siege of Malta, involving the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. However, he puts the date of this defence as 1528. In fact, the siege took place in 1565 - indeed, the Knights were not granted Malta and Tripoli by Charles V of Spain until 1530. He also gives the figure for the number of defenders as 400 Knights with 800 mercenaries when in fact the accepted number is nearer 9000 in total (including Maltese militia). 40,000 attackers is the highest level of the accepted estimates and the more realistic figure is most likely around 25-30,000.


    * Factual errors: Gen. Lloyd Fredendall is shown leaving Le Kouif after Patton's arrival at the headquarters. In fact, Fredendall left Le Kouif at 3:30 AM, hours before Patton's arrival. Likewise, Fredendall left in a Buick rather than a Jeep as shown.


    Filming Locations
    Almería, Andalucía, Spain
    Bob Hope Patriotic Hall - 1816 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    (opening speech)
    Casablanca, Morocco
    Crete, Greece
    Greece
    Italy
    La Granja, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain
    Over Peover, Knutsford, Cheshire, England, UK
    Rabat, Morocco
    Sierra de Urbasa, Navarra, Spain
    Spain
    Timgad, Algeria
    Volubilis, Meknès, Morocco

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 14 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Patton is a 1970 American epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton
    during World War II.
    It stars George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates and Karl Michael Vogler.
    It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a script by Francis Ford Coppola
    and Edmund H. North, who based their screenplay on the biography
    Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley's memoir
    A Soldier's Story. The film was shot in 65 mm Dimension 150 by cinematographer
    Fred J. Koenekamp and has a music score by Jerry Goldsmith.


    Patton won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
    Scott won Best Actor for his portrayal of General Patton, but declined to accept the award
    The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as General Patton
    with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film.


    The film was successful,and in 2003, Patton was selected for preservation
    in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being
    "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".
    The Academy Film Archive preserved Patton in 2003.



    I thought this movie, brilliant, and a true classic war movie.
    It had the war, the characters, and the action,
    and in many critics eye, it had everything a war movie should have.


    Although many star actors were considered,
    Rod Steiger, Lee Marvin, Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster,
    they all turned down the lead role.


    Suprisingly Duke, eagerly sought the role of General Patton,
    but it is suggested, that he was turned down by the producer,


    However, there is no doubt, whoever else was offered that part,
    they would have found it difficult to to live up to Scott,
    as he completely stole the part!
    No Duke, Mitchum or otherwise could have possibly given,
    such a commanding and credible performance.


    Karl Malden, was also at his very best in support,
    and the rest of the cast, all put in solid performances.


    This movie won 7 Academy Awards,


    Best Actor in a Leading Role- George C. Scott
    Refused to accept the nomination and the award,
    because he did not feel himself to be in any competition with other actors.
    Frank McCarthy, the film's producer, accepted the award on
    Scott's behalf at the ceremony, but returned it to the Academy
    the next day in keeping with Scott's wishes.

    Best Art Direction-Set Decoration- Urie McCleary, Gil Parrondo, Antonio Mateos, Pierre-Louis Thévenet

    Best Director- Franklin J. Schaffner
    Franklin Schaffner was not present at the awards ceremony.
    Karl Malden accepted the award on his behalf.


    Best Film Editing- Hugh S. Fowler

    Best Picture- Frank McCarthy


    Best Sound-- Douglas O. Williams, Don J. Bassman


    Best Writing, Story and ScreenplayBased on Factual Material
    or Material Not Previously Published or Produced -
    Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund H. North


    One of the most successful of all war movies.


    User Review

    Fascinating bio of hard-ass WWII general
    26 February 2005 | by RNMorton (West Chester, Pa)


    Question: when is it okay for Hollywood to make up harmless anecdotes about a real-life subject? Answer: when you've got the character down so good you can say with assurance what he would have done given the chance. This is the movie bio to end all movie bios, a perennial on my all-time top ten list, with a career performance by Scott that defined Patton as much as Patton ever did. The film takes us from Africa through Sicily to the climatic run across France towards Germany, along the way exploring the general's complex and textured character. Picks and chooses among the real general's most notable moments, passing on his celebrated potty break on the crossing of the Rhine into Germany and his ill-fated attempt to relieve a POW camp. I suspect the portrayal is a tad overdone but forgivably so - Darren McGavin's later portrayal of Patton as a whiny weasel was much further from the mark. Supporting cast-mates Malden as Bradley and Bates as Mongomery are spot-on. I can't speak for you, but this movie is long and I'd still stick around to see more of George in action.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 14 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Morgan Paull, who played Pattons aide, Dick Jenson, co-starred in The Dukes Cahill: US Marshall as Struther, who was Cahills ward and a member of the Fraser Gang, headed by George Kennedy. And a few years later, George Kennedy played Patton in a movie called The Brass Target

    Also, Siegfried Rauch, who played the German Capt. Steiger, who was in charge of finding out all he could about Patton for his superiors, played Sgt Schroeder, Lee Marvins German adversary, throughout The Big Red One.

  • Patton, IS a classic and you can say that again. I've thoroughly enjoyed this movie everytime I have seen it. Jerry Goldsmith did one hell of a job with the theme music as well as all other music in the film.

    A bit in Siegfried Rauch & The Big Red One. When TBRO was restored and released on DvD, they restored most of the scenes that he was in which in my opinion, fills in several "holes" in the movie. It was nice to see the full story for a change. I hate how the studio shafted Samuel Fuller on what is said to be his finest masterpiece.

    Back to Patton:

    George C. Scott did one heck of a job in his portrayal of the great General. I've seen Kirk Douglas as Patton, and he aint convincing at all. That was in: Is PAris Burning? Anyway, the sequal to Geo C. Scott's Patton-was a nicely made movie too. Scott actually had those hooks in his face as he wanted to portray Paton as he was in that hospital before he died. I wish they would release this sequal to Patton.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • Your knees almost go weak, at the tremble of Scott's voice as Patton. Incredible performance. Was there a sequal...or was i reading this wrong?

    -IHW

  • There was a TV movie sequel to Patton called The Last Days of Patton with Scott reprising his role.

    I always liked Brass Target with George Kennedy as Patton. His reply to the Russian General as to what he was going to do with the gold bars when he found them is a classic.

  • Patton, is one of my favorites. Scott was second to none as Patton no one else could have done better. It showed just how brilliant he was in battle and that the germans feared him. Scott was great in scenes as they were heading to relieve the 101st. I don't know if Patton ever said it but the best line was at the end when he is telling of roman conquerers and the slave says "ALL Glory is Fleeting" how true that is. wow what a movie but better yet was wow what a General.

    Mister you better find yourself another line of work, cause this one sure DON"T fit your PISTOL!

  • I had read also about an error in the movie was when Patton was apologizing to the troops for slapping the soldier, they say he never could apologize the troops would not allow him to by being loud and cheeering him. I don't know if it's true but a General like Patton should never have to apologize, it's a sign of weakness!!

    Mister you better find yourself another line of work, cause this one sure DON"T fit your PISTOL!

  • "Your knees almost go weak, at the tremble of Scott's voice as Patton."


    Scott sounded like everyone wished the real Patton sounded. In actuality, the real George Patton had a rather high pitched, squeaky type of voice. He sounded nothing at all like you anticipated he'd sound. There's not a lot of footage with him speaking, but the footage I have seen is so different from what you'd expect.

  • "Your knees almost go weak, at the tremble of Scott's voice as Patton."


    Scott sounded like everyone wished the real Patton sounded. In actuality, the real George Patton had a rather high pitched, squeaky type of voice. He sounded nothing at all like you anticipated he'd sound. There's not a lot of footage with him speaking, but the footage I have seen is so different from what you'd expect.


    True, I saw a few historic reals and his voice was much higher than Scott's. I like Scott's Scrooge also for the gravely voice.
    Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery all had voices of higher pitch. I never heard Rommel's, Marshall's was a lower voice, be interesting to see what other Generals of that era spoke like.

  • True, I saw a few historic reals and his voice was much higher than Scott's. I like Scott's Scrooge also for the gravely voice.
    Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery all had voices of higher pitch. I never heard Rommel's, Marshall's was a lower voice, be interesting to see what other Generals of that era spoke like.



    I have all kinds of videos on WWII, but footage with audio of these generals is rare. I've never heard Rommel speak either. Given all of the film shot during the war, you'd think more footage with sound would be available. I mean, the war department enlisted such film greats as John Ford & William Wellman to document the war! Ford himself shot a great deal of footage at the Battle Of Midway! Wonder if Bull Halsey sounded like he looked? :wink_smile:


  • I have all kinds of videos on WWII, but footage with audio of these generals is rare. I've never heard Rommel speak either. Given all of the film shot during the war, you'd think more footage with sound would be available.


    Rommel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REi0lEQVVWs


    Admiral Halsey - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnWhBB-hdmk


    Interesting the things you find on youtube. :shades_smile:

  • Ha! Perfect! I had forgotten the mantra...."Google" (and "YouTube") are our friends. Thanks for posting those. They were great. And Halsey does sound like what I had imagined!:thumbs_up:

  • And let me correct myself....I was thinking of Darryl Zanuck & wrote William Wellman instead. It's Hell getting old & forgetful! Heeheehee....:wink_smile:

  • I've heard Rommels voice as well of voices of Frieddrich Paulus, Gerd von Rundstedt, Ewald von Kleist and a few other German Generals and GFMs. Rommels sounded like a "normal" mans voice. I think I even heard GFM Schorners voice in a doc once-and seem to recall it sounded a bit high pitched to me. Which is good and funny to me because I loathe Schorner and everything he stood for. This jerk made hi men stand or die-while he abandoned them fleeing to some mountain retreat and was captured wearing Civilians clothing. He did this and lived-yet this ardent nazi-B****** sentenced to death by hanging and by firing squad-hundreds if not thousands of soldiers much braver than he ever was.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..