One of the Best Movie Opening Lines is Terrifyingly Relevant in 2023; Half a Century Later
Films, like all the arts, offer a chance to view humanity, philosophy and the world from a different perspective.
They can shine a light on our existence and make us question morality, the state of the universe and our own outlook.
Sometimes, for example on Never Let Me Go (2010) this is through subtle nuances that spark something in us and get us thinking. Other times, there is a moment or a quote smacks you in the face and demands you acknowledge its truth.
The opening line to Patton falls into the latter category. There's no attempt to dress it up or deliver a cryptic line.
George C. Scott simply says, in the words of General George S. Patton, "Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
The line is taken from an iconic speech that was designed to be motivational and to inspire US troops to go to war. Patton went on to describe how Americans love a battle, even comparing warfare to sport.
And this, surely, is a moment when we all ask what the point of war is. Because he's absolutely right. Many of us love a 'battle' in the context of the sporting arena. Others like competition of other sorts, be it a quiz or a business challenge.
But the opening line to Patton (1970) is very explicit that war means death. It means pitting one side against another with the intention of killing. And that's a scary thought. Because it didn't end in 1945. It kept going. And it still keeps going – all around the world.
If you listen to George C. Scott's rendition of the speech and then to the original recording of Patton delivering it in 1943, it's clear that the actor did a fantastic job of delivering it in just the way it was first spoken. And it's no surprise that Scott 'won' an Oscar for his performance.
Or to be more precise, Scott was offered an Oscar for his portrayal of Patton. But the actor refused to accept it as to do so would have been against his beliefs.
And his decision shouldn't have come as a surprise. He'd always been pretty vocal about how he viewed each dramatic performance as an individual piece of art that shouldn't be compared to others. When offered the award, he stuck to his principles, as he did again when he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor on two more occasions and refused to take part in the event.
Clearly, George C. Scott was a man true to his convictions and to equality. Perhaps if more were like him, the opening line he uttered in Patton wouldn't be quite so terrifyingly relevant in 2023.