Patton was actually targeted as an anti-war movie when it was produced. However, the performance of George C. Scott was so overwhelming, that any pretense of the intended message was immediately dropped after its release.
My favorite scene in that film is when the returning soldiers are flying over thousands of mothballed bombers..actual footage.and one says to the other.."Man, could we have used those a few years ago.."
I've watched some pretty extensive interviews with Francis Ford Coppola about how the movie came into being. Efforts to tell Patton's story on film started in the late 50's early 60's but there was little progress until the late 60's when the country had taken a more decidedly anti-war/anti-military stance. According to Coppola, the marketing was kept somewhat ambiguous so that younger movie goers would come to view Patton as a rebel who bucked the system, while more conservative folks would view him in the more traditional war hero role. Obviously it worked as the movie sold well with all demographics. I enjoy Patton, but for my money, A Bridge Too Far is a better movie.
I always watch Patton on Veteran’s Day. Not only because it’s Veteran’s Day. November 11, 1885 was the birthday of General George Smith Patton Jr.
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”