In 2003, the Library of Congress selected Patton for the National Film Registry for preservation. According to Library of Congress’ webpage, the National Film Registry is:
“a list of films deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" that are earmarked for preservation by the Library of Congress. These films are not selected as the 'best' American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring importance to American culture. They reflect who we are as a people and as a nation.”
For some, the selection to the National Film Registry is what definitively marks a film as culturally significant but can a film’s cultural significance endure through the continual passage of time? What may have been crucial to the culture of …show more content…
The late 1960s and early 1970s were a tumultuous time for American culture. It is at this moment in time that countercultural movements were at full force. The growing resentment of the war, the civil rights movement, and the ongoing Cold War had heavy impacts on American lives. There is no doubt that the circumstances had an impact on Patton’s success. The contrast between the ongoing Vietnam War and the Second World War coupled with the growing disillusionment of the former and romanticization of the latter greatly influenced the cultural impact of the film. Could Patton’s success be attributed to the public’s yearning for simpler times when there were clear enemies to defeat and obvious objectives to be met? There was nothing complicated about the Second World War: stop the Nazi advances and atrocities in Europe and seek retribution for the cowardly Japanese attack. The Vietnam War was confusing for the American public to digest. Why did young men have to go over across the world to get slaughtered in abhorrent conditions? What was there to gain from repelling the communist North Vietnamese for American interests? These questions began to influence the American mindset and Patton romanticized the past for easier consumption. It is this romanticization and the portrayal of a strong leader that led Patton to become successful and resonate as a …show more content…
It is intriguing that enough time has passed from the Second World War and the film’s released that public perception of Patton as a historical figure and the film are intertwined. In fact, George S. Patton’s official biographer, Martin Blumenson notes that “George C. Scott’s role as the general in the film Patton is a remarkably accurate portrayal of the public figure.” Careful attention was paid to the historical accuracy of the film despite Francis Ford Coppola, the screenwriter, being unable to gain permission from Patton’s widow to access personal diaries and attain family involvement in the film. Involvement from historical figures was gathered through General Omar Bradley who was consulted as a historical advisor. Alan Landau from Brooklyn College noted that the film appeared to have an inherent bias due to Bradley’s involvement but others disagree, indicating that the film maintains a good balance. Adding onto the intertwined nature of film and figure, Carlo D’Este, an American military scholar, has identified Patton as the reason why the military general is revered as an American hero today. Patton remains a relic of the 1970s due to it being one of two films shot in the Dimension 150 format. Dimension 150 was created for the new curved screens of