History Film / Patton

* CheatedDeathDiedAnyway: As it happened in real life. One of the more awesome scenes is Patton firing at a Nazi bomber strafing his command. Twards then end the film has scene towards the end that hints at Patton's death in a traffic accident. The TV movie sequel ''The Last Days of Patton'', takes place during and after the car accident that took his life.

* Corpsing: In universe. When the Allied Generals debate what to do about Bastogne and Patton remarks that he can attack almost immediately because his staff figured out how to do it days ago, his Operations Officer sits with a hand over his mouth barely containing a smile.

* ForegoneConclusion: Anyone who is familiar with UsefulNotes/WorldWarII film, as well as Patton's life, will already know that Patton and his forces will triumph in the Battle of the Bulge.

* ForegoneConclusion: Anyone who is familiar with UsefulNotes/WorldWarII film, as well as Patton's life, will already know that Patton will be involved in the FinalBattle against the Axis Powers.

* CheatedDeathDiedAnyway: As it happened in real life. One of the more CrazyAwesome scenes is Patton firing at a Nazi bomber strafing his command. Twards then end the film has scene towards the end that hints at Patton's death in a traffic accident. The TV movie sequel ''The Last Days of Patton'', takes place during and after the car accident that took his life.

** Also Rommel receives one of these, which is odd since the other main generals in the movie were portrayed by actors with at least a passing resemblance. George C. Scott has some features in common with Patton, Michael Bates looks a lot like Monty, and Karl Malden is a dead-ringer for Bradley. But Karl Vogler looks nothing at all like the real Rommel. While Rommel was not unattractive, he was in his 50s, balding, and often ill or fatigued, while Vogler at the time of filming was 41 years old with a full head of hair. Rommel only appearing in a single, brief scene may have something to do with it.

* WhatTheHellHero: Patton suffers this after he slaps a soldier in the medical tent suffering from battle fatigue, in sharp contrast to him giving Purple Heart medals and even praying for one who was seriously wounded. He is forced to write an apology to his entire army as a result of it. In reality, he was only ordered to apologize to the soldiers he slapped (there was actually two). Patton went ahead and turned his PR blunder into an opportunity by making a formal apology not just to them, but to the other wounded men and ''the entire medical battalion''.

** The movie also tones down Patton's legendary profanity. Particularly in the opening speech, several f-bombs were removed and some expressions were so foul they had to be cut out, while others were toned-down. At the same time, according to those who knew him, he was not habitually foul-mouthed. While no boy scout, he was actually coarser in public than in private, cultivating it as part of his image and leadership style, saying, "You can't run an army without profanity."

** The movie also tones down Patton's legendary profanity. Particularly in the opening speech, several f-bombs were removed and some expressions were so foul they had to be cut out. At the same time, according to those who knew him, he was not habitually foul-mouthed. While no boy scout, he was actually coarser in public than in private, cultivating it as part of his image and leadership style, saying, "You can't run an army without profanity."

** Not in actual physical handsomeness, but the real Patton was a much less impressive orator than this movie would lead you to believe. He actually had a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9DpKDwCJcM squeaky, somewhat high-pitched voice]] whereas Scott speaks with a deep gravelly voice. The real Patton still managed to steal the spotlight when speaking, but that was because he practiced his posture, poses, and facial expressions literally for hours in order to increase his stage presence, and purposefully cultivated his (deserved) badass image with his immaculate uniform, dual holstered pistols, etc, in large part to compensate for the fact that his voice was weak and uninspiring by itself.
** The movie also greatly tones down Patton's legendary profanity. He famously described foul language as an art unto itself, and it actually helped him relate to the men he commanded. His famous response to the Army's official "no fraternization" policy in Europe was, "Bullshit! An army that can't fuck can't fight!"

** Also, Rommel receives one of these, which is odd since the other main generals in the movie were portrayed by actors with at least a passing resemblance. George C. Scott has some features in common with Patton, Michael Bates looks a lot like Monty, and Karl Malden is a dead-ringer for Bradley. But Karl Vogler looks nothing at all like the real Rommel. While Rommel was not unattractive, he was in his 50s, balding, and often ill or fatigued, while Vogler at the time of filming was 41 years old with a full head of hair.

** Also, Rommel receives one of these, which is odd since the other main generals in the movie were portrayed by actors with at least a passing resemblance. George C. Scott has some features in common with Patton, Michael Bates looks a lot like Monty, and Karl Malden is a dead-ringer for Bradley. But Rommel, who while not unattractive was in his 50s, mostly bald, and often ill or fatigued, is portrayed by a 41 year old man with a full head of hair who looks nothing at all like the actual Rommel in any other way either.

* CassandraTruth: When Steiger tells General Jodl that newspapers were reporting that Patton may be court-martialed due to the infamous slapping incident, where he slaps a soldier suffering from battle fatigue (what would be called post-traumatic stress disorder today), Jodl asks him if they really would discipline Patton simply because he slapped a soldier -- the Germans both refused to recognise the existence of battle fatigue and frequently executed soldiers for 'cowardice' (including those caused by the non-existent condition that wasn't actually battle fatigue because battle fatigue didn't exist, but might well be if it did).

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: When Capt. Steiger tells Wehrmacht Chief of Staff Alfred Jodl that Patton is being disciplined by the Allies for slapping an enlisted soldier. He might even be court-martialed. Jodl responds, "You believe their newspapers? Do you really think they would sacrifice their best general just because he slapped a soldier?" He laughs and walks off. GilliganCut to just that.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: When Capt. Steiger tells Wehrmacht Chief of Staff Alfred Jodl that Patton's [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan preferred method of discipline]] is about to get him a court-martial and off the battlefield, Jodl replies that they would never "keep their best general out of the war just for slapping a soldier." Of course, Steiger ends up being right. Which you could just as easily call "Common Sense Cannot Comprehend Politics".\\
Their own experience of killing or leaving to die millions of [=POWs=] and civilians (albeit against "subhumans" in the Eastern theatre) meant that the Germans couldn't comprehend that their enemies might actually punish one of their officers for the non-event of them slapping someone. So when Patton was assigned to the [[BatmanGambit humiliating job of decoy]] as part of Operation Fortitude while the Allies planned their Normandy invasion, the Germans were convinced (until it was too late) that Patton was leading a (fictitious) army into Calais, and it kept the German reserves inactive until the Allies had established a solid foothold in France. From the point of view of UsefulNotes/DwightEisenhower (commander over the European theater of the war) it was a win-win situation: the Germans were fooled, and he managed to sideline a general he regarded as an AxCrazy loose cannon ... ''until he could be unleashed at the right moment''.

** UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower. Film makers wanted to cast someone to have Ike appear as a cameo but it never worked out. Instead, Eisenhower becomes a God-like being, able to pass judgment on Patton and his (mis)deeds.

--> '''Bradley''': I do it because that's what I'm trained to do. You do it because *{{Beat}}* you ''love'' it, George.

** Earlier in the film, Rommel's aide reports on Kasserine Pass by remarking on the incompetence of British generals (British General Kenneth Anderson was the nominal commander there, although most of the troops engaged were American). An annoyed Rommel responds, "May I remind you that '''Montgomery''' is British?"

-->'''Army Chaplain:''' Sir, I couldn't help but notice you keep a Bible by your bed. Do you ever find time to read it?\\

'''Pattom:''' I sure do. Every goddamned day.

'''Pattom:''' I sure do. Every godddamned day.\\

-->'''Bradley:''' [''affirmatively''] Maybe.

** Earlier in the film, Rommel's aide reports on Kasserine Pass by remarking on the incompetence of British generals (British General Kenneth Anderson was the nominal commander there, although most of the troops engaged were American). An unimpressed Rommel responds, "May I remind you that '''Montgomery''' is British?"

* BattleEpic