Last night I watched a DVD of Patton, starring the terrific actor, Mr. George C. Scott. The movie, if you've somehow missed it, is a classic and a definite 4 stars out of 4. (Funny, considering it is about a General) It details the career of the famous American General. This post, however, is about the actor and not the movie.
As I watched Patton, I was again struck by what a privilege to watch an actor at the top of his game. It was a role that seemed written for him and he personified Patton to such an extent that the two are almost inseparable in conversation. He earned an Oscar for his performance, his second. He refused both, according to Wikipedia. Much of the information I share in this post is due to what I have read there. It's a terrific site as everyone knows, but I stray from my subject.
My favorite thing about George was the fact that he aspired to be a writer. That's not quite fair. He was a writer, having written several short stories. He could never quite get the novelist thing down pat, however, and at length gave it up. The world is the richer for his career change.
I noticed as I read his background that he served as a Marine and actually was a guard at Arlington National Cemetery, an occupation that he said turned him into a drinker. It chills me to think of the young man as he guarded that place of honor and then, years later delivered that savage scene as Patton slapping the soldier who had failed in his duty. "I won't have him stinking up this place of honor!" My Lord, possibly the most powerful moment in film history and now I know where the passion came from, those lonely nights with the heroes of Arlington.
As a personal matter, my favorite movie with George is still Day Of The Dolphin, a terrific sci-fi flick. I've mentioned it before on these pages, but it's worth repeating. Evil men want to use Scott's beloved dolphins to bomb a ship. It's a tear-jerker as well as a fine piece of acting. Don't allow yourself to miss this classic. If you cry a bit at the end, let me know. It would help me feel better about myself.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
As I watched Patton, I was again struck by what a privilege to watch an actor at the top of his game. It was a role that seemed written for him and he personified Patton to such an extent that the two are almost inseparable in conversation. He earned an Oscar for his performance, his second. He refused both, according to Wikipedia. Much of the information I share in this post is due to what I have read there. It's a terrific site as everyone knows, but I stray from my subject.
My favorite thing about George was the fact that he aspired to be a writer. That's not quite fair. He was a writer, having written several short stories. He could never quite get the novelist thing down pat, however, and at length gave it up. The world is the richer for his career change.
I noticed as I read his background that he served as a Marine and actually was a guard at Arlington National Cemetery, an occupation that he said turned him into a drinker. It chills me to think of the young man as he guarded that place of honor and then, years later delivered that savage scene as Patton slapping the soldier who had failed in his duty. "I won't have him stinking up this place of honor!" My Lord, possibly the most powerful moment in film history and now I know where the passion came from, those lonely nights with the heroes of Arlington.
As a personal matter, my favorite movie with George is still Day Of The Dolphin, a terrific sci-fi flick. I've mentioned it before on these pages, but it's worth repeating. Evil men want to use Scott's beloved dolphins to bomb a ship. It's a tear-jerker as well as a fine piece of acting. Don't allow yourself to miss this classic. If you cry a bit at the end, let me know. It would help me feel better about myself.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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