Factual error: In the opening scene when Patton addresses the troops in full regalia the medal he is wearing on his neck is attached to the ribbon by the "oak leaves and swords" of the Nazi German Knight's Cross. One of Hitler's highest valor awards presented only 160 times usually by Hitler himself, but in all instances personally approved by him. Patton did obviously not receive one. Also missing from Patton's uniform is the Silver Life Saving Medal which he received for saving a man from drowning. It was reputedly the award of which he was most proud.
Patton (1970)
21 factual errors
Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Strong, Stephen Young
Factual error: In one scene of the film, Rommel is shown wearing a swastika pin. Rommel was not a member of the Nazi party and refused to wear any Nazi insignia (outside of uniform symbols which contained it), instead he wore the traditional Prussian Iron Cross.
General Omar N. Bradley: There's one big difference between you and me, George. I do this job because I've been trained to do it. You do it because you love it.
Trivia: In real life, the infamous soldier slapping scene actually had a somewhat happier outcome. Patton berated the shell shocked trooper largely out of a combination of sleep deprivation (he'd been going for nearly 48 hours without rest) and the emotional turmoil of having so many troops wind up in the hospital due to his commanding decisions. Afterwards he went to a tent, slept for several hours, came back and apologized to the solider.
Question: Is it just me or does this film seem to have some definite homosexual undertones when it comes to Patton? He dresses flamboyantly, wears lots of jewelry, designs uniforms, caresses his dead staff member, kisses a soldier tenderly after a battle. Did the writers do this intentionally and/or were there rumors about Patton's sexual orientation?
Answer: In real life Patton spoke with a high pitched effeminate voice, not the gruff George C Scott type of voice.
Answer: It's just you.