Saturday, December 8, 2012

Preview DID 1/6 scale George C. Scott as General George Smith Patton 12-inch figure

"Patton" is a 1970 American biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. It stars George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates, and Karl Michael Vogler. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a script by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, who based their screenplay on the biography Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley's memoir A Soldier's Story. "Patton" won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as General Patton with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film. The film was a success and has become an American classic. 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".


DID will be releasing this 1/6 scale George C. Scott as General George Smith Patton 12-inch figure as he is seen in the movie "Patton". DID Corp. may have labelled this release as General Patton but the head sculpt is that of George C. Scott as the General in the movie. Nonetheless, head sculpt not withstanding, this is another amazing 12-inch military figure to be released by DID.




Dragon Models Limited (DML) had released a 1/6 scale 12-inch General George S Patton figure in 2006 wearing this exact same attire. You can check out my toy blog post HERE for the review and pictures I took in 2009. Unlike this upcoming DID General Patton figure, Dragon based their head sculpt on the actual person and though not as realistic as the head sculpts are today, it was good for its time.


12-inch General Patton wears M44 Jacket (also known as "Ike Jacket") over his Officer's Khaki Cotton Shirt and Necktie with US Third Army Shoulder Sleeve insignia, "US" collar patch, Ribbon Bar, Collar Stars and Shoulder Stars. General Patton is in his trademark Officer's Riding Breeches and knee high cavalry riding boots. Around his waist is his brown leather belt with two holsters for his guns, one on each side.


General Patton deliberately cultivated a flashy, distinctive image in the belief that this would motivate his troops. He was usually seen wearing a highly polished helmet, riding pants and high cavalry boots. He carried flashy ivory-handled, nickel-plated revolvers as his most famous sidearms (a Colt Single Action Army .45 "Peacemaker" and a S&W Model 27 .357).


George C. Scott's performance as General George S Patton won him an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1971. He famously refused to accept it, citing a dislike of the voting and even the actual concept of acting competitions. He was the first actor to do so. Roger Ebert said of George C. Scott, "It is one of those sublime performances in which the personalities of the actor and the character are fulfilled in one another."


Besides the Ike Jacket, DID will include another tunic that has all George S Patton's medals on it! It is loaded with decorations.


General Patton and fellow Californian Army Air Forces Lieutenant General Jimmy Doolittle were honored on June 9, 1945, with a parade through Los Angeles, California and a reception at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before a crowd of over 100,000 people.


The next day, Patton and Doolittle toured the metropolitan Los Angeles area. Patton spoke in front of the Burbank City Hall and at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He wore his helmet with a straight line of stars, chest full of medals, and two ivory-handled (not pearl, as is often incorrectly asserted) revolvers.


He punctuated his speech with some of the same profanity that he had used with the troops. He spoke about conditions in Europe and the Russian allies to the adoring crowds. This may be the only time in America when civilians, en masse, heard and saw the famous warrior on the podium.


Besides the helmet with four stars, DID 1/6 scale George C. Scott as General George Smith Patton 12-inch figure will also come with his garrison cap.


The General looks very impressive indeed!




DID spared no expense and shows us what is under the General's tunics (two are provided) - Officer's Khaki Cotton Shirt and Necktie, Officer's Riding Breeches with suspenders.


To achieve the authentic look, DID has a 'fat' suit under the clothes to give the General his wide girth



Other Generals that I have posted earlier:
MAY 21, 2009 - Hasbro G.I. Joe Classic Collection Historical Commanders Edition: General Dwight D Eisenhower
MAY 22, 2009 - Hasbro G.I. Joe Classic Collection Historical Commanders Edition: General George S Patton
MAY 24, 2009 - Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6 scale General George S Patton, Commander U.S. Third Army 12-inch figure
MAY 25, 2009 - Hasbro G.I. Joe Classic Collection Historical Commanders Edition: General Omar Nelson Bradley
MAY 27, 2009 - "Generals, Fall IN!" All three Hasbro G.I. Joe 12-inch Generals standing side-by-side

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