I know this is way off subject, but figured this forum would be the best place for a response. Do any of you guys (ladies) know of any recordings of Gen. Patton giving a speech or just talking conversationally? It is said that he had a high, squeaky voice that was contrary to his persona. I would really like to hear a recording of him speaking so I can put a voice to his quotations.
The 2nd Armor Division museum at Fort Hood, Texas had a wax statue of Patton and when you pushed a button he made his famous blood and guts speech. There was the uncut version and the PG version.
I’m not sure if it is still there since the 2AD reflagged to the 4th ID in 1995. I can check the Patton Museum display here at Knox to see if there is one.
I’ve never heard a recording of Patton’s voice, but I used to know a retired Army officer who was on Patton’s staff during the last months of WW II, in addition to having served under him before the war when Patton was still only a major. My friend often remarked on Patton’s style of speaking, which was usually a continuous stream of profanity delivered, somwhat incongruously, in a high, sqeaky voice!
I have heard it…sad, but George C Scott sounded better
Try books on tape, I believe they will have a voice cockpit recording of George. talking about (War as I know it)
Thanks guys, I found a site that has an uncensored transcript of his speech. It is quite good. http://www.pattonhq.com/speech.html Check it out if profanity doesn’t bother you.
I’m going to try that books on tape website, thanks wf6h.
I agree with JWest21. George C. Scott sounded better. Some people say Patton used so much profanity to compensate for his voice.
On the latest (2006?) DVD release of Patton, there is some good archival footage of Patton, including one of his “buy war bonds” speeches, I think it was. Not too profane… but that voice really was startling!
I have a DVD set called “World War II with Walter Cronkite” which has a Patton speech from the Summer of 1945. This was a speech in the US to a suit and tie kind of audience, so there wasn’t profanity. He described the sacrifices of the soldiers of the 3rd Army, so his tone was somber. Maybe that’s why his voice didn’t sound abnormally high and shrilly as it has been described many times. The speech seemed to be contradictory to his brash reputation, so it’s pretty interesting.
Chris
I’m a huge fan of Patton…you’ll notice one of his quotes in my signiture…I skimmed through the DVD (the latest release as far as i know) and couldn’t find that war bond speech but it may just be in the middle of one of the many documentories, I’d love to actually be able to put a voice with his quotes as well, when ever i read quotes of his in biographies i have George C. Scotts voice in my head
DAng…
I found a link with an audio recording of Patton giving a speech.
Dont click on it unless you want your images of his gruff nature ruined…
http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/wwii/dos-PattonEntersMessina430817.mp3.html
Maybe it’s just me, but his voice sounds pretty normal to me. No, it doesn’t sound as mean or gruff as George C. Scott. However, it doesn’t sound abnormally high pitched or “shrilly.” It sounds very… normal. Thanks for the links cj95 and subfixer.
Semper Fi,
Chris
We always want our “heroic” figures to have this deep, booming voice and presence because it reinforces the “larger than life” image that they take on in our collective imaginations. Descriptions of Lincoln’s voice for example often describe him in similar terms to that of Patton vs. the “movie” voice often attributed to any readings of his speeches or writings. Patton’s voice in that recording sounds normal…and there’s the disconnect…it’s not a “movie” voice at all, just a “normal” one. [;)]
I couldn’t get that link to work. I used this instead… http://www.earthstation1.com/General_George_S._Patton.html
He sounded fine to me.