CONSENSUS #7. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

 

SYNOPSIS:  "Saving Private Ryan" is a fictional tale of the hunt for the last surviving sibling of three WWII soldiers.  A small unit of Army Rangers (led by Tom Hanks) is sent into the Normandy countryside to locate Ryan who had paradropped as part of the D-Day invasion.  The movie opens with the famous Omaha Beach scene and closes with the defense of a bridge in a French town.

BACK-STORY:  “Saving Private Ryan” originated from writer Robert Rodat seeing a monument to eight siblings killed in the Civil War.  He brought the idea to producer Mark Gordon.  The movie was a huge critical and box office success.  Made for around $70 million, it made over $480 million and was the highest grossing film of the year.  The Omaha Beach set and reenactment cost $12 million and used 1,500 extras (including amputees) and 40 gallons of fake blood.  The Ramelle set was built from scratch, including the bridge and the river.  It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 5 (Cinematography, Sound, Sound Editing, Film Editing, and Director).  Incredibly it lost Best Picture to “Shakespeare in Love” in the most egregious miscarriage in Oscar history.  Almost as perplexing was Hanks’ loss to Roberto Bergnini.  The movie is currently #71 on AFI’s list of greatest movies of all time.  It is #10 on their list of Cheers, #8 on the Epics list, and #10 on the Inspiring list.

TRIVIA: 

1.  It was the first Spielberg film that he did not develop himself.  His agent sent him the script.  It was also sent to Tom Hanks at the same time.  When they found out they both had the script and both were interested, they decided to corroborate.

2.  Spielberg meant the film to be a tribute to his father who was a radio operator on a B-25 in WWII.  His first films as a teenager were WWII movies.

 

3.  The story was based on the four Niland brothers.  Edward was paradropped into Burma and presumed dead.  Bob was with the 82^nd Airborne and was killed in D-Day fighting a rearguard action.  Preston was also a paratrooper in D-Day and was killed the day after Bob while assaulting a German artillery position.  When the Pentagon learned of the three deaths, a chaplain was sent to find Fritz who was with the 101^st Airborne (he was friends with Warren Muck and Don Malarkey of “Band of Brothers” fame).  Fritz also fought in D-Day.  He was sent back to America.  Later, it was learned that Edward was taken captive by the Japanese and escaped from a prison camp.

 

4.  The actors were put through a ten-day boot camp by Dale Dye.  It featured marching, living in tents, eating MREs, and weapons training.  Damon did not participate so the other actors would develop animosity toward the character.

 

5.    Robin Williams introduced Matt Damon to Spielberg.  Spielberg was looking for an unknown actor for Ryan, he had no idea “Good Willing Hunting” would explode.  Edward Norton turned down the role to make “American History X”.  Damon ad-libbed the story about his brother and the ugly girl.

 

6.  Michael Madsden turned down Horvath, but suggested the next best thing – his buddy Tom Sizemore.  Sizemore was in the midst of his drug problems so Spielberg insisted he take regular drug tests and promised him he would be fired immediately and the part reshot if he failed any.  Billy Bob Thornton turned down the role because he was afraid of water and did not like the beach scene.

 

7.  The Omaha Beach cinematography was inspired partly by Robert Capa’s photos.  The reduced color caused DirecTV and the Dish Network to add the color back for showings due to complaints from idiot viewers who thought there was something wrong with their TVs. 

 

8.   The French town was built on an abandoned WWII air base.  It took four months.  Rubble was brought in from nearby construction projects.

 

9.  3,500 custom-made uniforms were used.  2,000 replica weapons were made, 500 were capable of firing blanks.

 

10.   The film was shot in chronological order.  It took 59 days.  25 were used just for the beach scene.  That famous scene was not storyboarded.  Most of the extras were from the Irish Army Reserve and local reenactment groups.  The scene used 20-30 amputees for dismemberments.  Supposedly 40 barrels of fake blood were used.

 

11.  The Tiger tank was a remodeled T-34/85.  Two of the landing craft were WWII vintage.

 

12.  Although he claimed he would have accepted an NC-17 rating in order to avoid cutting any violence, sources say five minutes were cut to get the R-rating. 

 

13.  Historian Stephen Ambrose had to ask for the film to be stopped at around the twenty minute mark during a special showing so he could compose himself.

 

14.  The two Germans who are shot while trying to surrender on the bluff behind the bunker are actually trying to tell the Americans that they were conscripted Czechs.

 

15.  When Miller tries to call “CATF, CATF” on the radio, it stands for Commander:  Amphibious Task Force.

 

16.  It is possible to throw mortar rounds after striking them on the base plate.  Charles Kelly did this during his Medal of Honor exploit in WWII Italy.

 

17.  The body count is over 200.  

 

18.  Mellish and Caparzo were not in the original script.  Neither was Steamboat Willie.

 

19.  Vin Diesel was paid only $100,000 which means this was the last movie where he was paid what his acting was worth.

 

20.  Here is what the German is telling Mellish as he stabs him:  “Give up.  You have no chance.  This is much more easy for you.  Much easier.”

 

Belle and Blade  =  4.0

Brassey’s              =  5.0

Video Hound       =  5.0

War Movies         =  N/A

Military History  =  #8

Channel 4             =  #1

Film Site                =  yes

101 War Movies  =  yes

Rotten Tomatoes  =  #38  

HISTORICAL ACCURACY:  SPR does not claim to be based on a true story, it does not even claim to be inspired by a true story.  This is a bit surprising because it could legitimately claim that inspiration by way of two sources.  The 5 Sullivan Brothers all perished when the U.S.S. Juneau went down off Guadalcanal. This led to the adoption of the Sole Survivor Rule in which the Pentagon attempted to avoid the loss of entire sibling sets.  A stronger connection to the film is to the Niland family.  Frederick Niland was a paratrooper in Normandy who was pulled out of combat and returned home after two brothers were lost in D-Day and a third was shot down over Burma (and survived Japanese imprisonment).  In spite of the similarity to the Niland story, it is obvious that Spielberg’s film is meant to be fictional.  For that reason, it is more appropriate to discuss how realistic it is rather than how accurate it is.

                The Omaha Beach scene has been justifiably lauded for its realism (including by veterans of the assault) and still remains the most realistic reenactment of any combat in war movie history.  However, it is not perfect.  The Americans landing on Dog Green sector were actually transported on British landing craft, not Higgins Boats.  The carnage rings true, but the time compression makes the conquest of the bluff seem much too quick and easy.  And by the way, bullets lose too much momentum when they enter water to be able to kill men, as depicted in the film.  (I am certainly not arguing against that cinematic decision.)

                As to the mission, it seems unlikely that a crack squad of Rangers would have been sent on this type of mission to find one man.  In reality, a chaplain located Fritz Niland.  The sniper duel is reminiscent of a confrontation involving Marine sniper Carlos Hatchcock in the Vietnam War.  He put a bullet through the enemy’s scope at about 100 yards.  In the film, Jackson estimates his shot at 450 yards which puts it out of the range of possibility given gravity’s effect on a bullet’s trajectory.  The assault on the radar installation makes no sense other than to develop the plot.  Considering that the unit was on a mission that originated with Gen. Marshall himself, it is highly unlikely they would have taken on a risky, unnecessary scrum.  To make matters worse, the heroic Capt. Miller decides to make a frontal assault with the medic tagging along.  As far as allowing the prisoner to go, Miller certainly would not have faced charges for the common sense alternative.        

                As far as the last battle is concerned, there are several problems.  Although there were such things as “Sticky Bombs”, they were a British experiment and were not make-shift.  I found no evidence that they were described in the U.S. Army Field Manual.  It was possible that mortar shells could be armed by hitting them on the base plate and then thrown to explode on a target.  As far as the tanks are concerned, there were no Tiger tanks in that part of Normandy at that stage of the war.  Also, tactically the Germans would probably have sent the infantry in first.  By the way, the tanks used in the film were Soviet T-34s mocked-up to look like Tigers.  I have no problem with that.  What I do have a problem with is why the tanks did not use their machine guns.  I suppose that game changer would have messed with the plot.  Speaking of tanks, Miller would not have been able to fire a machine gun into the tank’s viewer.  One last thing:  the P-51 that arrives to save the day had no ability to fire a rocket or drop a bomb.  (Joining all the other fighter planes in war movie history that dropped ordinance they did not have.)

OPINION:  The acting in “Saving Private Ryan” is very good. Tom Hanks is his usual outstanding self, but the supporting cast is strong and there are no weak performances. Even Vin Diesel (thankfully not in the film long enough to do damage) ups his game and dies well. Speaking of which, SPR has the highest quality of death scenes that I have seen in a war movie.  SPR is famous for the ten-day boot camp the actors were put through by Dale Dye in preparation for their roles. Matt Damon (Ryan) was purposely left out so he would be treated subconsciously as an outsider. For a movie that attempts to be as close to reality as possible, the actors do not come off as like they are playing army men. They gripe a lot and question the mission. They do not want to accept the new guy (Upham) and never really bond with him. They respect Capt. Miller, but only grudgingly follow him when he issues questionable orders.  This is realistic considering some of the stupid decisions he makes.  

“Saving Private Ryan” is not remembered for its dialogue. In fact, in one of the most powerful scenes (when Mrs. Ryan is notified about her sons’ deaths), there is not a spoken word. The movie does have some nice dialogue. Robert Rodat’s script was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Much of the dialogue is terse and the most famous line is simply: “Earn this.” The monologues are well done, especially when Wade describes pretending to be asleep when his mother would come home and when Miller finally reveals his previous life. Best line: “This Ryan better be worth it. He'd better go home and cure some disease or invent a longer-lasting lightbulb or something. 'Cause the truth is, I wouldn't trade 10 Ryans for one Vecchio or one Caparzo.” (Miller)

SPR was lauded for creating a new style war movie when it came out and many of the masses swallowed this analysis. In reality, it merely puts a different spin on the classic war movie template. It is after all a hero leading a small unit on a mission. The hero is forced to assume command. The unit is heterogeneous.  There is a conflict within the group between Reiben and Horvath that is resolved by external pressure. There is a ritual recalling the peaceful past (listening to the song on the gramophone). The movie clearly alternates from combat to rest/exposition. The movie does lack a redemption character.

SPR combines two standard war movie plot tropes. The first half is the patrol on a mission and the second half is a last stand. Both segments incorporate the “who will survive?” angle. Although not groundbreaking as far as those tried and true elements, the way the screenwriter handles them is quite good. The objective is certainly outside the box- a mission to rescue one soldier. The plot is very manipulative of the audience and takes advantage the non-war movie lovers who would find much of it fresh. It pulls all the emotional strings reaching a crescendo at the end. It throws in a German character to link key scenes and contrive the ending. As ridiculously implausible as this arc is, it is not embarrassing like in “The Big Red One”.

Although incorrectly credited with modernizing the war movie plot, SPR can be credited with taking war movie combat to a new level of realism. It is popular these days to downplay the greatness of the movie, but the opening scene is still the most amazing combat scene ever filmed and has not been topped after fifteen years and many challengers. That one scene will be remembered as a seminal moment in war movie history. I also would like to remind everyone that Dale Dye was the technical advisor.

The cinematography of Janusz Kaminski richly deserved the Oscar.  He managed to get a newsreel feel by desaturating the colors.  Equally impressive are the sound effects.  The sounds of battle have seldom been better hearing due to explosions and combat stress. The monstrous roar of the Tiger tanks in the final battle is straight out of a horror movie. It could be argued that SPR has the best sound and visual effects of any war movie.

                In conclusion, it is popular lately to take shots at “Saving Private Ryan” and I have to admit that upon watching it for the tenth time and reading about some of the mistakes, it is not perfect.  However, it is clearly a masterpiece as entertainment for the masses.  People like me have to remind ourselves that not everyone has seen a lot of war movies.  Tropes are not as obvious to average viewers.  More specifically, most people are not concerned with the use of a Higgins Boat in place of British LCAs.  You can accuse Spielberg of manipulating the emotions of the audience, but he is a master at this and he is at the top of his game here.  When you watch some of his more recent efforts like “War Horse”, you can appreciate the relative sublety of this film and be thankful it’s earlier Spielberg.  In my opinion, its position in the top ten is appropriate.  And it is better than the next two by far.