Presented by Mustang International, the Bosque Film Society hosts the first Bosque County Veterans Day Tribute by screening the Academy Award-winning historical war classic “Patton” free to the public at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton Nov. 12
By E. BRETT VOSS
Bosque Film Society Founder & Board President
“We’re gonna keep fighting. Is that CLEAR? We’re gonna attack all night, we’re gonna attack tomorrow morning. If we are not VICTORIOUS, let no man come back alive!”
Celebrating and honoring all U.S. military veterans who freely made the choice to put themselves in harm’s way for our country from Bosque County, Mustang International will present the 1970 Academy Award-winning historical war classic “PATTON” free to the public for the first Bosque County Veterans Day Tribute hosted by the Bosque Film Society at the historic Cliftex Theater on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
With admission free to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis thanks to the generous sponsorship from Bosque Film Society founding board members Matt and Miriam Wallace of Mustang International, relive the sweeping historical drama of “Patton,” starring Best Actor award winner George C. Scott in the title role. This 1970 cinematic triumph won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The epic biographical World War II film chronicles the controversial yet undeniably brilliant career of General George S. Patton. Witness his strategic dominance against Rommel in Africa and his relentless drive across Europe after D-Day, all brought to life in a film that stands as a testament to classic filmmaking of Best Director award winner Franklin J. Schaffner.
“It was one of the last significant films that had no special effects in spite of the grand battle scenes,” said Matt Wallace, who counts this as one of his top-favorite movies of all time. “This is a fantastic, significant, historic film that portrays one of the 20th century’s greatest military geniuses. And George C Scott embodies this character in such a compelling way, it’s hard not to get sucked in.”
Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay by basing their script on “Patton: Ordeal and Triumph” by Ladislas Farago and General Omar Bradley’s memoir, “A Soldier’s Story.” Karl Malden plays General Bradley in the film.
The opening monologue, delivered by Scott as General Patton with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film. In 2003, “Patton” was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
As the famous tank commander of World War II, Patton’s battlefield genius garners him fear and respect from the Germans, and resentment and misunderstanding from the Allies. A military historian and poet, he believes he was a warrior in many past lives, and that he is destined for something great during this life, but his stubbornness and controversial methods nearly prevent the fulfillment of that destiny.
The film begins with Patton’s career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Europe and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton’s numerous faults such his temper and tendency toward insubordination, faults that would prevent him from becoming the lead American general in the Normandy Invasion as well as to his being relieved as Occupation Commander of Germany.
Specifically serving its membership, the 2024 Film Appreciation Night At The Movies Series concludes with the 5th Annual Christmas Party featuring “Die Hard” (1994) Dec. 17 introduced by J Matt Wallace. In addition to refreshments and Christmas treats provided for its members, the Bosque Film Society will be using a real-time voting system allowing members to choose 12 Film Appreciation Night presentations for 2025.
For information and details about becoming a 2025 Bosque Film Society member, visit our website at: https://bosquefilm.com/membership/ and join the non-profit efforts to support The Cliftex Theatre – the longest continuously operating movie house in Texas, showing motion pictures on the silver screen since 1916.