The Last Days of Patton

July 1945. The war in Europe is over and General George S Patton, 3rd Army commander and a man who made a large contribution to the Allies' victory over Germany, is now military governor of Bavaria. True to form he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with his superiors and is prone to making comments that they don't approve of.

A sequel to the excellent 1970 film Patton, of sorts. The 1970 film covered Patton's death so chronologically not a sequel but this, the 1986 film, concentrates 100% on Patton's post-war life while the 1970 film devoted about 1% to it. The fact that George C Scott reprises his role as Patton in this film having won an Oscar for his portrayal of the General in the 1970 film certainly makes this look like a sequel.

The outcome is quite interesting, showing Patton's governorship of Bavaria and how his methods don't accord with General Eisenhower's policies, his reassignment and final days. Quite educational in many respects and quite accurately told. While I'm not an expert on these things, the medical procedures and prognoses towards the end seem very authentic: no dumbing down of that aspect, which is a relief. The last portion of the film is also quite emotional.

Good performance by George C Scott (again) with a solid supporting cast that includes Eva Marie Saint as Patton's wife, Beatrice, and Richard Dysart as Eisenhower. I found Murray Hamilton a bit hammy and irritating as General Gay though.

This film is not in the same league as the first Patton though. Admittedly, that film did win the 1971 Best Picture Oscar so it was always going to be a tough act to follow. While the first film was a compelling, enthralling depiction of the life of one of WW2's greatest generals, this film is much more subdued and conventional.

Following World War II and the events depicted in the wildly successful "Patton" (1970), victorious George C. Scott (as George S. Patton) remains in Germany to work on the defeated county's reconstruction. The US general's decision to employ ex-Nazis (and sympathizers) irks superior Richard Dysart (as Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower) and Patton is reassigned to a desk job. Even worse, he is involved in a serious car crash. While Mr. Scott suffers life-threatening injuries, flashbacks continue to reveal events from General Patton's young adulthood (as Ron Berglas). The title strongly hints our hero will very likely not survive...

This belated sequel to "Patton" (1970) appeared as a CBS-TV three-hour (including commercials) epic movie. It was a popular success, but surprisingly garnered only one "Emmy" award (for make-up) and one further nomination. Allyn Ferguson's music lost, but it is one of this story's main strengths. It evokes the 1940s. The more critically acclaimed 1970 film won most of that year's "Oscar" awards. It featured make-up and music that looked and sounded more like 1970 than the 1940s. The soundtrack music was beautifully composed, but Jerry Goldsmith should have added 1940s flavor, as Mr. Ferguson does...

Scott continues to breathe life into the role for which he is most famous. There isn't much excitement left in Patton's life, but Scott and director Delbert Mann manage to move it along well, considering. Both this sequel and the original 1970 "Patton" will seem too long for the average viewer. Along with an improvement in setting, "The Last Days of Patton" boasts superior supporting performances. Most valuable player is Murray Hamilton (as Hobart "Hap" Gay). And, Patton's love-life is well-represented by cheated-on wife Eva Marie Saint (as Beatrice Ayer) and former "Dark Shadows" TV regular Kathryn Leigh Scott (as Jean Gordon).

******* The Last Days of Patton (9/14/86) Delbert Mann ~ George C. Scott, Murray Hamilton, Eva Marie Saint, Kathryn Leigh Scott

I'm curious about the assertion that some have made that the film was a "character assassination." I myself saw nothing that would lead one to come to such a conclusion. Certainly, the film indicated he was not without faults, but I believe this only served to make this formidable militarist icon more approachable, actually breathing life into a dusty history lesson.

I enjoyed the film a great deal, even though I think it could have benefited by some reduction in the length. The ending was quite moving- -giving us a personal glimpse into the last moments of a living, breathing human being--instead of just a decorated martinet. It forced me to turn my thoughts to my own mortality and the events that have shaped my own life. As a result, I had a long and fruitful discussion with my parents which had been long over due.

I'd recommend the film highly, giving it an "8" out of 10.

It is OK that they made a sequel concerning Patton's life at the end of the war. Proud of his Anglo-Saxon heritage, he has some identification with the Germans for this reason and because he was strongly anti-communist. Whether he made some of the specific remarks he made here is open to question (it can more easily be proved that he said something than he did not say something, of course). In any event, it is historically true that he made an impolitic remark that, like his soldier-slapping, got him into trouble and transferred away from his military governor position.

But after he is seriously injured (spinal column and paralysis) in the auto accident, the movie drags on way too long, over an hour when he is in a hospital bed. There are reminisces from him and many parties, flashbacks, and many well wishers and helpers. The problem is that nothing really happens of significance, it is just a failed attempt at tear-jerking. Patton himself was fiery, so not a person who lends to easy identification with all the softness. For those worried about being bored, I would stay away or leave halfway through. Clearly, a maximum of 20 minutes was needed to cover this period and the director's insistence on doing much more wrecked the movie, in my book. Adding to the pre-injury time would have been a better decision.

The first Patton movie was a classic, but some stupid TV exec had to convince George C. Scott that this sequel was a good idea. Of course you wouldn't expect much from a TV movie, but this... What were they thinking? This depressing slop just seems to drag on and on, until at the end you're almost happy he's finally dead. The last few days of Patton's life would never be fit for an entire movie. The ending of one, maybe, but it should impossible to stretch Patton dying in a bed into feature length. Yet somehow they did, and even longer. My theory is that at the last minute, someone told the writer they wanted a two-parter. That would explain the huge amounts of padding in this film. My advice, stick to the original and forget this one ever existed.