The Last Days of Patton

1986

Biography / Drama

3
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 64%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 64% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.4/10 10 1273 1.3K

world war i world war ii sequel 1940s

Plot summary

Gen. George S. Patton now works a desk job for the U.S. military after World War II. In the midst of dealing with the difficulty of adapting to his dramatic change of lifestyle, Patton is involved in an auto wreck that leaves him in critical condition. While his body fails him, Patton introspectively reminisces about his relationship with his spouse, Beatrice; his childhood; and his days on the WWI battlefields.

Director

Delbert Mann Photo
Delbert Mann

Top cast

Keith Edwards Photo
Keith Edwards as Patton's Father
Garrick Hagon Photo
Garrick Hagon as Lt. Col. Walter Kerwin
Paul Maxwell Photo
Paul Maxwell as Lt.Gen. Geoffrey Keyes
Eva Marie Saint Photo
Eva Marie Saint as Mrs. Beatrice Ayer Patton
720p.BluRay
1.26 GB
1080*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
29.97 fps
2 hr 19 min
Seeds 25

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by 7 / 10

It's no Patton (1970), but ...

... but it isn't as bad as the other commentators might make you think.Based on Ladislas Farago's followup to Patton: Ordeal and Triumph (one of the source materials for the original film), Last Days shows Patton on his deathbed, and intercuts flashbacks, mostly of his early life, his courtship of Bea Ayers, his days at the Point and before the first world war. (Patton's adventures on Pershing's 1916 Punitive Expedition to Mexico, and in World War I could make another great film, in the right hands.) Eva Marie Saint plays Bea very well, and it's always nice to see a pair of contemporaries playing an aging couple, rather than allowing the casting to be dictated by "who's hot," and then relying on makeup to age them. Overall, a good movie, although I'm tempted to agree that is was an unnecessarily long movie.
Reviewed by 5 / 10

Last part too long

It is OK that they made a sequel concerning Patton's life at the end of the war. Proud of his Anglo-Saxon heritage, he has some identification with the Germans for this reason and because he was strongly anti-communist. Whether he made some of the specific remarks he made here is open to question (it can more easily be proved that he said something than he did not say something, of course). In any event, it is historically true that he made an impolitic remark that, like his soldier-slapping, got him into trouble and transferred away from his military governor position.But after he is seriously injured (spinal column and paralysis) in the auto accident, the movie drags on way too long, over an hour when he is in a hospital bed. There are reminisces from him and many parties, flashbacks, and many well wishers and helpers. The problem is that nothing really happens of significance, it is just a failed attempt at tear-jerking. Patton himself was fiery, so not a person who lends to easy identification with all the softness. For those worried about being bored, I would stay away or leave halfway through. Clearly, a maximum of 20 minutes was needed to cover this period and the director's insistence on doing much more wrecked the movie, in my book. Adding to the pre-injury time would have been a better decision.
Reviewed by 7 / 10

Not in the same league as the original film but interesting nevertheless

July 1945. The war in Europe is over and General George S Patton, 3rd Army commander and a man who made a large contribution to the Allies' victory over Germany, is now military governor of Bavaria. True to form he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with his superiors and is prone to making comments that they don't approve of.A sequel to the excellent 1970 film Patton, of sorts. The 1970 film covered Patton's death so chronologically not a sequel but this, the 1986 film, concentrates 100% on Patton's post-war life while the 1970 film devoted about 1% to it. The fact that George C Scott reprises his role as Patton in this film having won an Oscar for his portrayal of the General in the 1970 film certainly makes this look like a sequel.The outcome is quite interesting, showing Patton's governorship of Bavaria and how his methods don't accord with General Eisenhower's policies, his reassignment and final days. Quite educational in many respects and quite accurately told. While I'm not an expert on these things, the medical procedures and prognoses towards the end seem very authentic: no dumbing down of that aspect, which is a relief. The last portion of the film is also quite emotional.Good performance by George C Scott (again) with a solid supporting cast that includes Eva Marie Saint as Patton's wife, Beatrice, and Richard Dysart as Eisenhower. I found Murray Hamilton a bit hammy and irritating as General Gay though.This film is not in the same league as the first Patton though. Admittedly, that film did win the 1971 Best Picture Oscar so it was always going to be a tough act to follow. While the first film was a compelling, enthralling depiction of the life of one of WW2's greatest generals, this film is much more subdued and conventional.
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