This was a really tough one, because 1970 produced several of my all-time favorites. But because I’m limiting myself to one per year, I had to go with Patton.
There’s little I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been said. George C. Scott is perfect as the titular general whose highs and lows during World War 2 1943-1945 are depicted in the film. He really captures the pathos of Patton, and delivers the anguish at being kept out of the fighting right when his talents are most needed, especially because it was because of his own behavior.
It’s pretty much a perfect film, and his performance is equal to that hyperbole. I remember recreating some of the scenes from the movie a few years later with my 1:35 models of Afrika Korps Germans and WW2 GIs from Tamiya.
Honorable mentions from 1970:
- Tora! Tora! Tora!
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes
- Colossus the Forbin Project
- The Twelve Chairs
- Which Way to the Front?
Bridge Too Far and Kelly’s Heroes managed to get actual Sherman tanks but Patton used 60s era tanks that looked like the type Godzilla used to step on. Really took me out of the story. Sometimes you can know too much for your own good.
There’s a sequel but I’ve never seen it. Is it any good?
Not really. It’s mostly flashbacks with some other actor for the young Patton, and George C Scott in a hospital bed as a framing device.