Patton (1970)
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Written by Francis Ford Coppola & Edmund H. North, based on the books A Soldier's Story by Omar N. Bradley and Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago
Starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates, Ed Binns, Stephen Young

Features:

• Audio essay on the life of Patton by Charles Province
  
• Theatrical trailer
  
• Theatrical trailers for Tora! Tora! Tora! and The Longest Day
  

Anamorphic: Yes.

My Advice: Own It.

General George S. Patton (Scott) is a megalomaniac who writes poetry, believes in reincarnation, and wins battles like nobody's business. Speaking as an American, thank God this guy was on our side. When we meet Patton on the screen, he is delivering a speech to soldiers as a multi-story American flag towers in the background. Let this be his character note. Then, in North Africa, he is called upon to whip a group of American soldiers who, under British command, got their asses handed to them. One victory leads to another but politics--and his own big mouth--keeps getting in the way of his moving forward. At war with the Germans, his fellow military commanders--and mostly himself--this is a portrait of a genius struggling with those who acknowledge his greatness, but also the fact that he drives them out of their freaking gourds.

There's one reason why this film is a classic, and that's because George C. Scott literally is the movie. The movie's called Patton and by God, there's Patton larger than life and twice as loud, delivering spankings to the enemy. It's easy to see why he won the Oscar for the performance and credit needs to be given to the filmmakers for letting the film stand back and let Scott work. It's also evident that this is a biopic that served as a standard for many others after--it gives you the subject, teaches you about said subject, gives insight, but doesn't lag or bore the audience. Oh, if only some recent ones would have learned that lesson. I won't mention any names, because that would be indiscrete. Ali.

Though this single disc version might seem a bit lean, considering that it is an audio essay we are given and not a full-length audio commentary, the essay by Charles Province (head of the historical society about Patton) is a very welcome addition. It supplements the information given by the film, comparing the fiction with the real-life man. Many factoids that found no place in the film are provided here, such as Patton's participation in an Olympics as a younger man and the military inventions he crafted during his time.

This makes for a good disc to own for anyone, but especially fans of war films or fans of the late actor George C. Scott. For a single disc, it's a well done release from Fox.