Patton Blu-ray delivers stunningly beautiful video and solid audio in this must-own Blu-ray release
Patton is a three-dimensional bronze bust of World War II field general George S. Patton who
wrote poetry, fired pistols at strafing fighter planes, and loved the United States of America with a lofty and
historical zeal. Tracing his personal rivalries with such generals as Rommel and Montgomery,
his problematic treatment of his own men, and his nearly runaway contempt for diplomacy, the
film triumphs as an enduring portrait of a complex and larger-than-life figure.
I want you to remember that 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.
Here's a movie that definitely deserved every award it received. One could easily write this
review
simply by going over each and every Oscar win and nomination this film earned and discuss why
each was warranted, all combining to form arguably the finest war film of all time and definitely
1970's best picture. Patton is nothing short of brilliant filmmaking,
foregoing any tricks, visual wonders, or worthless subplots. The film is named Patton,
and the plot never deviates from the man himself, be it showcasing the famed General's exploits
or cutting to scenes where the enemy desperately tried to figure out his next move and study up
on his background. Director Franklin J. Schaffner (Planet of the Apes) does nothing to
distract from the story, the simplicity of his filmmaking allowing the actors to shine and
express to the audience every nuance of their characters. The straightforwardness of the
direction plays opposite the straightforwardness of the Patton character, a man whose actions
speak louder than words (even his words), a man whose simplistic, historical, and conservative
approach to combat (and life) has a complexity all its own, a complexity that director Schaffner
allows us to revel in for nearly three hours of remarkable filmmaking.
'Patton' may well present cinema’s most iconic opening scene. We proudly pay homage.
After the initial American defeat at the battle of Kasserine Pass, the first major engagement
between American and German forces in World War II, a new commanding officer was sought, a
man who could stand toe-to-toe with the famed German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel (Karl
Michael
Vogler). The man chosen was General George S. Patton (George C. Scott, Doctor
Strangelove), a stickler for discipline amongst his men, a student of history, and in the war
for
personal glory as much as victory over the enemy. The film plays out a condensed version of his
life and times during World War II. Beginning with his initial engagement with the Germans at
the battle of El Qatar, the story also covers his rivalry with British General Bernard "Monty"
Montgomery (Michael Bates, A Clockwork Orange)
during the Sicily campaign, his being relieved of his command, and his reluctant performance as a
decoy before the Normandy invasion. "The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans,"
Patton recounts at the film's open, that line bookending the story of the General's rise to power
and fall from glory with the statement that "all glory is fleeting."
Of all the deserving awards garnered by the film, few if any would have been awarded had it not
been for one of the singular greatest performances in the history of cinema, that of George C.
Scott in the principle role. Not only did Scott portray Patton, he has since become Patton, one of
the few roles in cinema history where an actor has completely transformed himself into the lead
role,
convincing audiences and becoming ingrained in society as the icon of that famed individual.
Only a few performances in movie history can make that claim, and this is one of them, ranking
right up there in the same vein as Jim Caviezel's portrayal of Jesus in The Passion of the
Christ or Philip Seymour Hoffman's characterizations of Truman Capote in Capote or
Dan Mahowny in Owning Mahowny. George C. Scott is General George S. Patton, and no
matter how accurate or embellished some parts of the film may or may not be as they relate to
the real General Patton, Scott's portrayal has nevertheless done more to advance the history and
glory of the man than any biography or history text could ever accomplish.
Supporting Scott are a number of fabulous additions to the film. Perhaps nearly as stunning as
the
film's direction and acting is the famed score by legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. Every note
is appropriate to the action it accompanies, from the upbeat, militaristic marching themes to the
dread-inducing, understated music played prior to the battle of El Qatar. The music seamlessly
adds a layer of tension and inevitability to the proceedings, the score signaling the impending
death and destruction to perfection. The movie also introduces and reinforces major themes
about Patton to the audience through his adversaries. One standout scene features Field
Marshall Rommel receiving his first briefing on Patton, a scene that without intrusiveness or
logical fallacy lets the audience in on the general's personality, philosophy, and leadership skills
effortlessly and intuitively, a scene that sets the stage for both the audience and for the Germans
who will use their newfound knowledge against Patton as they anticipate his battle maneuvers
later in the war (and in the movie). In fact, the entirety of the film is a case study in how to
condense the
exploits of a historical figure into a compact three-hour runtime. From the ease with which the
audience sinks into the film, to the brilliant yet simple direction, the wonderful score, and acting
that is second-to-none, it's no wonder why Patton has been, and will continue to
be, hailed as not only one of the finest war films of all time, but one of the top cinematic
treasures in history.
Patton debuts in high definition with an image quality that's simply stunning, far superior
to any and all expectations I had for the transfer. The film's 1080p, 2:20:1 framed imagery looks
like it was filmed yesterday. The movie screams to be witnessed on a large screen,
and I felt my 65" television didn't do the scope of the movie justice. This Blu-ray disc is simply a
revelation,
and any and all fans of Patton are going to be ecstatic. The transfer is crisp, absolutely
pristine, beautiful, and features exquisite detail, this Blu-ray edition far surpasing the quality of
the
two-disc DVD version of the film I own that came out in late 1999. It's not even close, really, the
difference night and day, the
DVD appearing soft, far less vibrant, and showcasing painfully less detail than is evident on this
incredible Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray is virtually free of any and all print blemishes, scratches, and
pops that are clearly evident over the entirety of the DVD image, although a few stray hairs and
nicks do creep up every now and then. Look at the image of a dead
body with two scorpions walking on it just after the beginning credits are through rolling. Every
single rock and grain of sand are seen individually, the detail so high that the viewer is put
right in the middle of this war-ravaged area. I also noticed small nuances to the scene I had
never seen before, the post-battle carnage a bit more gruesome than I remembered. The film's
opening is glorious, the detail so fine on Patton's jacket and the medals thereon so vivid that you
can almost reach through the screen and touch them. From first
frame to last, the image is incredibly bright and clean, always sharp and radiant with excellent
color
reproduction and very little softness. Blacks are true and deep, and flesh tones rate as
impeccably perfect. This film has barely aged a day in nearly 40
years (at least on this version), and while Patton doesn't look like I, Robot, this disc merits a top rating
nevertheless, this 1970 film looking far superior to most discs on the market, 38 year old
catalogue title or not.
Patton fights on Blu-ray with an uncompressed DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound mix. The most
noticeable problem here is a hiss that accompanies parts of the sound mix,
a hiss that was also evident on my DVD copy's Dolby Digital 5.1 track. It's unfortunate, because
that's the only thing keeping this track from achieving a level of excellence rarely heard on a
soundtrack of this age. It's not as dynamic, crisp, or
detailed
as the tracks accompanying the new releases, but still packs quite the wallop nevertheless.
The
film is more dialogue-driven than it is action-oriented, and the listener is never disappointed with
this
aspect of the track. George C. Scott's harsh tone comes through loud and clear. The film's
opening
imagery along with Scott's excellent delivery definitely succeeds in making us feel like a member
of
the audience Patton is addressing. Jerry Goldsmith's fantastic and Oscar-nominated score comes
to
life like never before, every note crystal-clear and exciting, all the pomp and circumstance of
the score at a parade in honor of Patton early in the film sounding better than ever. Surrounds
are put to
fine use at times, but ambiance and nuances are not generally to be heard. Directionality
and panning are very good during the battle sequences. As two German planes strafe Patton's
headquarters in chapter nine (in one of the film's most famous scenes), the roar of the engines
and
the speed of the planes can be felt encircling the room and buzzing back and forth for their runs.
Bass isn't earth-shattering, but there are definitely some rumblings to be heard in the action
sequences. The battle of El Qatar, found in chapter 11, is the first major engagement of the
film. The action is loud but not as well-defined as would be expected of a newer, flashier flick, but
what we do hear is frighteningly effective as explosions rock every channel and gunfire erupts
from all around the viewer. Unfortunately the hiss is also audible here and proves somewhat
distracting. Still, as a dialogue-driven biopic rather than a straight action film, what Fox has
delivered
for this Blu-ray package is nearly marvelous, all things considered.
Patton arrives on Blu-ray with a supplemental package that is second-to-none in
breadth and quality. Writer Francis Ford Coppola provides an introduction to the film (480p,
4:54) as well as a
feature-length
commentary track on disc one. His introduction describes the process of writing Patton,
including the importance of penning a film that would appeal to both those who adore and those
who disdain the general. He discusses his research, being fired from the project for writing the
now-famous opening scene of the the movie, and his eventual Oscar for the script (and the
weight it
carried in allowing him to complete The Godfather). His commentary track is equally
fantastic, not only discussing the on-screen action but cuing us in on nuances we may not have
noticed before. He points out sequences that angered studio executives, recaps and expands on
comments from his introduction, and offers too many wonderful stories and insights to mention
here. This is undoubtedly one of the finest commentary tracks I've ever had the privilege of
listening to, and is a must-listen for fans of the movie, aspiring screenwriters, filmmakers, and
historians.
The second disc of this Blu-ray special edition of Patton is actually a DVD disc. Three
documentaries lead off the proceedings, the first entitled History Through the Lens. 'Patton:
A
Rebel Revisited' (480p, 4:3, 1:30:10). Decidedly not your run-of-the-mill documentary,
this is a History Channel-quality feature that takes an extremely detailed look at both the history
behind the film and the film itself. It features numerous clips from the film, real footage from
the war, and interviews with former 20th Century Fox studio executives, historians, World War
II veterans, and even General Patton's grandson. Examined herein, for example, is the
painstaking detail that went into making the film as historically accurate as possible but also
looking at some of the embellishments added to the script for dramatic flair and effect, such as
the rivalry between Patton and British General Bernard "Monty" Montgomery. This documentary
runs the gamut of Patton, from the securing of the rights to the story to the omission of
key moments in history, such as "The Hammelburg Raid," and finally to the film's reception by
both "hawks" and "doves," its receipt of numerous Oscars, the reaction of the Patton family
itself, and the film's status as a true American and cinematic classic.
Patton's Ghost Corps (480p, 4:3, 46:38) is the first recounting in 60 years of the
stories told by The
XX Corps, 63
veterans of Patton's 3rd Army. Like the first documentary, this is
first-rate material. The "Ghost Corps" was a group of men Patton left behind with little support
so that the General could move the bulk of his men and material to fight the Battle of the Bulge.
Told from the perspective of the soldiers who actually fought in the "Ghost Corps," the drama
and raw emotion is palpable from beginning to end, the stories frightening and highly detailed,
and it proved difficult not to come to tears as we hear the stories recounted by the men, and
they themselves sometimes break down as they tell them.
The Making of Patton (480p, 4:3, 49:49) is the original making-of feature. It includes
interviews with actor George C. Scott, Oliver Stone, composer Jerry Goldsmith, and
director Franklin J. Schaffner, amongst others. This is far better than the cookie-cutter
documentaries coming out these days. It goes in-depth behind the film itself and its successes.
Some of the basic information heard here repeats what we learned in Patton: A Rebel
Revisited, but much of what is only touched on there is detailed here, the entire feature a
captivating watch as the movie comes to life.
The second disc also contains a series of still galleries. Viewers have the option of watching two
sets of stills, the first set gracing the screen and accompanied by Jerry Goldsmith's complete
musical
score. The gallery is presented in 1080p high definition and runs for 36:24. Goldsmith's score
plays as a 2 channel Dolby Digital track. However, it's the Charls M. Provence historical essay
track (480p, 53:19)
that plays over the second gallery that proves the most entertaining and informative. Provence
is both founder and president of the George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society. He shares some
wonderful insights into the famed and controversial World War II general. This is a fantastic way
of bringing to life an otherwise dull feature, and I hope that studios take note and present future
still galleries with audio accompaniment. Concluding the special features is Patton's
original theatrical trailer (480p, 1:46).
Patton is nothing short of spectacular. The movie plays out like a seemingly true-to-life
retrospective of one of the greatest American heroes of not only the Second World War, but in all
of American history. The movie also plays out as a "how-to" in filmmaking, a perfect example of
just what it takes to produce a classic and enduring motion picture. As a historian and fan of war
films, I'm ecstatic with this complete Blu-ray package. Patton
looks marvelous on Blu-ray, surpassing The Searchers as the definitive example of just how fantastic a classic
movie
can look on Blu-ray. The audio quality is also good, though I found myself a bit underwhelmed
with the experience, the hissing sound the primary culprit. While the
supplemental materials may not be the most numerous I've seen on a Blu-ray disc, what we do
have here is, in my opinion, the finest and highest quality extras on the format yet, the entire
supplemental package reason enough to warrant a purchase of Patton. No matter your
take on 20th Century Fox's prices for catalogue titles or the lack of extras found on many discs,
Patton is certainly an exception and a bargain at its current price. Fox has done a
marvelous job giving this four-star General the five-star treatment, and this package deserves a
spot in every Blu-ray collection. Patton on Blu-ray receives my highest
recommendation.
Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment have announced five war film classics coming to Blu-ray on June 3rd. MGM will bring 'Battle of Britain' and 'A Bridge Too Far', while 'The Longest Day', 'Patton', and 'The Sand Pebbles' will come from Fox. Video ...
Fox Home Entertainment has revealed the the specs and special features that will be included with the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Patton', due to hit store shelves on June 3rd. Video will be presented in 1080p AVC and be accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio lossless ...
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