The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Patton: A Real American Hero

Posted on | January 26, 2010 | 31 Comments

CubaChi on Twitter:

Alright! @MarkLevinShow is playing the Patton music now! You know this is going to be good!

Great taste in music, ma’am!

This is super-cool — Francis Ford Coppola describes how he got fired for writing the Oscar-winning screenplay:

The original theatrical trailer:

Here’s another version of the trailer:

My cousin Mark and I were always big war-movie fans as kids and when we were 11, Mark’s mom (my Aunt Pat) took us to see Patton. She was mortified by the profanity and was quite apologetic to my mother for having inadvertantly exposed us to this. But there was no need to apologize to Mark and me — we loved it!

For all his faults, his arrogance and stubbornness and irascible temper, Patton is a great role model because of his firm faith and single-minded devotion to his profession. He was aristocratic by nature, and didn’t sit around worrying about what some rear-echelon type might think of him. He desired a soldier’s true glory — the prestige of victory — not the sort of “popularity” that is false and transient, gained by fawning sycophancy.

Patton is a one of the most inspiring films in history, a celebration of a uniquely American hero.

Category: Culture, History, Movies, Music

Comments

31 Responses to “Patton: A Real American Hero”

  1. Joe
    January 27th, 2010 @ 12:38 am

    My wife when she was 11 wrote a paper on Patton called “Old Blood and Guts” and got an A. She is still very proud of it.

    Patton was just a bigger than life guy who lived at the perfect time, did what he needed to do, and then was tragically injured and died. It is just amazing.

    In a related aside, Jerry Goldsmith did the music for Soarin’ at Disneyland and Disney World. I highly recommend that ride.

  2. Joe
    January 26th, 2010 @ 7:38 pm

    My wife when she was 11 wrote a paper on Patton called “Old Blood and Guts” and got an A. She is still very proud of it.

    Patton was just a bigger than life guy who lived at the perfect time, did what he needed to do, and then was tragically injured and died. It is just amazing.

    In a related aside, Jerry Goldsmith did the music for Soarin’ at Disneyland and Disney World. I highly recommend that ride.

  3. Ran / Si Vis pacem
    January 27th, 2010 @ 12:42 am

    Hero? Tell that to the Bonus Army.

    Want an army hero? Here is one. Behenna deserves our help and support. Remember Ramos & Compean. The Seals. No repeats.

  4. Ran / Si Vis pacem
    January 26th, 2010 @ 7:42 pm

    Hero? Tell that to the Bonus Army.

    Want an army hero? Here is one. Behenna deserves our help and support. Remember Ramos & Compean. The Seals. No repeats.

  5. Victoria_29
    January 27th, 2010 @ 12:59 am

    I have a degree in history thanks to Patton. I saw the movie as a child, my uncle had been with Patton, he was a true inspiration.

  6. Victoria_29
    January 26th, 2010 @ 7:59 pm

    I have a degree in history thanks to Patton. I saw the movie as a child, my uncle had been with Patton, he was a true inspiration.

  7. Bob Belvedere
    January 27th, 2010 @ 1:02 am

    We need a son of a bitch like Georgie Patton now.

    Great movie…magnificent man.

    Stacy: If you ever get the chance, read the two volume The Patton Papers. It is several thousand pages long, but contains most of his writings from throughtout his life. Usually these kind of books are only useful for reference purposes, but this one is a great read.

  8. Bob Belvedere
    January 26th, 2010 @ 8:02 pm

    We need a son of a bitch like Georgie Patton now.

    Great movie…magnificent man.

    Stacy: If you ever get the chance, read the two volume The Patton Papers. It is several thousand pages long, but contains most of his writings from throughtout his life. Usually these kind of books are only useful for reference purposes, but this one is a great read.

  9. That's Right
    January 26th, 2010 @ 9:03 pm

    Is She Dead Maw?…

    Dare I to dream? With no clear path forward on major health care legislation, Democr ……

  10. Stogie
    January 27th, 2010 @ 2:07 am

    I took my oldest son to see “Patton” when it first appeared in movie theaters. He was about 4 at the time and was very impressed with Patton. He wanted to shave his head so he could be bald like Patton!

    My Uncle Theo served under Patton in North Africa and Sicily, with the 2nd Armored Division.

  11. Stogie
    January 26th, 2010 @ 9:07 pm

    I took my oldest son to see “Patton” when it first appeared in movie theaters. He was about 4 at the time and was very impressed with Patton. He wanted to shave his head so he could be bald like Patton!

    My Uncle Theo served under Patton in North Africa and Sicily, with the 2nd Armored Division.

  12. rod stanton
    January 27th, 2010 @ 2:20 am

    I live little more than a stone’s throw away from where Patton was born and raised. Little known fact that he went to VMI because his dad did not have the connections (although they were rich) to get him into West Point. He like I was a Californian.
    When with Black Jack chasing Pancho he did kill Gen Cardenas (who ordered 500 RC priests shot because the Church would not let Villa take their land and give it to the peasants) with the Pearl handled revolver that is mentioned in the movie. But that was 25 years before WW2

    an old exJarhead
    Cerritros, Cal

  13. rod stanton
    January 26th, 2010 @ 9:20 pm

    I live little more than a stone’s throw away from where Patton was born and raised. Little known fact that he went to VMI because his dad did not have the connections (although they were rich) to get him into West Point. He like I was a Californian.
    When with Black Jack chasing Pancho he did kill Gen Cardenas (who ordered 500 RC priests shot because the Church would not let Villa take their land and give it to the peasants) with the Pearl handled revolver that is mentioned in the movie. But that was 25 years before WW2

    an old exJarhead
    Cerritros, Cal

  14. rod stanton
    January 27th, 2010 @ 2:24 am

    PS
    Stacy was not more than 5 miles from the Patton homstead 3 weeks ago. You probably did not know it but the family’s estate is just south of the Rose Bowl.
    You do know your compas, right?
    Old Jarhead

  15. rod stanton
    January 26th, 2010 @ 9:24 pm

    PS
    Stacy was not more than 5 miles from the Patton homstead 3 weeks ago. You probably did not know it but the family’s estate is just south of the Rose Bowl.
    You do know your compas, right?
    Old Jarhead

  16. Tuesday Quick Hits | The Lonely Conservative
    January 26th, 2010 @ 9:59 pm

    […] the lighter side, No Sheeples Here has the latest scoop on the Ellie Light mystery. The Other McCain pays tribute to Patton, a real American hero. Frugal Cafe posted video of Jon Stewart ripping […]

  17. Joe
    January 27th, 2010 @ 3:22 am

    Ran / Si Vis pacem sorry, but the Bonus Army’s allegations of “war crimes” is pretty weak. Go watch Cinderella Man.

    It is too bad Roosevelt made a recession a depression, but that was what happened.

  18. Joe
    January 26th, 2010 @ 10:22 pm

    Ran / Si Vis pacem sorry, but the Bonus Army’s allegations of “war crimes” is pretty weak. Go watch Cinderella Man.

    It is too bad Roosevelt made a recession a depression, but that was what happened.

  19. Miss Sharon
    January 27th, 2010 @ 7:05 am

    Saw George C Scott on stage with his wife Trish Van Devere at a DC theatre years ago. He tried to upstage her the whole play. I believe he was drunk. I came away thinking he was a very rude man and a poor spouse.

    However, when Levin plays this music…I know I am in for a treat. He really tore into McCain tonight. God love him.

  20. Miss Sharon
    January 27th, 2010 @ 2:05 am

    Saw George C Scott on stage with his wife Trish Van Devere at a DC theatre years ago. He tried to upstage her the whole play. I believe he was drunk. I came away thinking he was a very rude man and a poor spouse.

    However, when Levin plays this music…I know I am in for a treat. He really tore into McCain tonight. God love him.

  21. Indentured Servant Girl
    January 27th, 2010 @ 7:49 am

    Ike was a dirt bag…Patton should have been in charge!

  22. Indentured Servant Girl
    January 27th, 2010 @ 2:49 am

    Ike was a dirt bag…Patton should have been in charge!

  23. Ran / Si Vis pacem
    January 27th, 2010 @ 3:38 pm

    Joe…
    Go read newspaper accounts of Patton and MacArthur acting under Roosevelt’s direct orders. I didn’t claim he was a “war criminal”, just underscoring his first major military action as being what it was – less than heroic.

    That he recovered honor in his service is not in doubt.

  24. Ran / Si Vis pacem
    January 27th, 2010 @ 10:38 am

    Joe…
    Go read newspaper accounts of Patton and MacArthur acting under Roosevelt’s direct orders. I didn’t claim he was a “war criminal”, just underscoring his first major military action as being what it was – less than heroic.

    That he recovered honor in his service is not in doubt.

  25. Bob Belvedere
    January 30th, 2010 @ 8:36 pm

    Ran: Patton’s first major military action was: ‘On September 26, 1918, Patton was wounded in the left leg while leading six men in an attack on German machine guns during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The only survivors were Patton and his orderly Private First Class Joe Angelo, who saved Patton and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.’

    [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton#World_War_I ]

  26. Bob Belvedere
    January 30th, 2010 @ 3:36 pm

    Ran: Patton’s first major military action was: ‘On September 26, 1918, Patton was wounded in the left leg while leading six men in an attack on German machine guns during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The only survivors were Patton and his orderly Private First Class Joe Angelo, who saved Patton and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.’

    [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton#World_War_I ]

  27. Bob Belvedere
    January 30th, 2010 @ 10:02 pm

    Quote from and Linked to at:
    Cleaning Out The Cache

  28. Bob Belvedere
    January 30th, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

    Quote from and Linked to at:
    Cleaning Out The Cache

  29. Weekend Link Fest – Delicate Flower Edition « Seasons of Tumult and Discord
    January 30th, 2010 @ 11:35 pm

    […] McCain writes about General Patton with clips from the […]

  30. M. Thompson
    February 1st, 2010 @ 3:53 am

    Ya know, it was said that Patton’s daughters thought George C. Scott captured their father perfectly.

  31. M. Thompson
    January 31st, 2010 @ 10:53 pm

    Ya know, it was said that Patton’s daughters thought George C. Scott captured their father perfectly.