Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Timing: 2:49 (169 min)

8.223/10
17053

8.188/10
333282

8.6/10
1600000

All about film

Video 11

Photo 99

Actors and characters

Release date

1998-07-24

Country

United States

Production

Amblin Entertainment, Paramount, DreamWorks Pictures, Mutual Film Company

Genre

Drama, History, War

Budget

$70 000 000

Revenue

$481 840 909

Website

Director

Steven Spielberg

Actors

Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Matt Damon, Ted Danson
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Robert Rodat

Producer

Gary Levinsohn, Steven Spielberg, Mark Gordon, Ian Bryce

Operator

Janusz Kamiński

Composer

John Williams

Artist

Kevin Kavanaugh

Audition

Denise Chamian

Editing

Michael Kahn
All team (209)

• Due to circumstances, the main part of the film's shooting was moved from the territory of Great Britain to Irish lands. The British Ministry of Defence refused to provide the film crew with the necessary assistance, offering its soldiers as extras. It was then that Irish soldiers (about 250 people) came to Spielberg’s rescue.
• Director Steven Spielberg began considering Matt Damon for the project after watching "Courage Under Fire," but for a long time, he considered the actor too thin. Through the suggestion of Robin Williams, Spielberg met Damon on the set of "Good Will Hunting" and changed his opinion.
• The role of Caparzo was written specifically for Vin Diesel after Spielberg reviewed the actor's previous work.
• All the leading actors were required to undergo military training for several days; the only exception was Matt Damon, who, despite the surname of his character suggesting otherwise, was ultimately assigned a supporting role.
• In the original script, Tom Hanks' character's speech to the other members of the combat unit was much longer (in it, the hero talks about what he is willing to do to return home). Hanks objected, stating that his character should not talk so much. Spielberg agreed, and the monologue was significantly cut down.
• Despite the fact that Steven Spielberg intentionally reduced the color saturation of the film by approximately 60%, relying on the fact that the action of the film takes place in a time when color television did not yet exist, two leading American cable companies (DirecTV and Dish) restored the original colors when showing the film on their channels. After the first two days of broadcast, the support centers of these channels were flooded with calls from dissatisfied citizens complaining about the lack of color in the transmitted picture.
• The film is based on real events that happened to the Niland brothers during World War II.
• Many war veterans expressed their gratitude to Steven Spielberg, who, in their opinion, made an authentic film. It was they who advised Steven to show numerous naturalistic moments in the footage, thereby bringing the narrative closer to real events.
• In Singapore, the film received an unprecedented NC-16 rating (ages 16 and up). On the one hand, the film was quite violent, which ruled out a PG rating; on the other hand, there was no sexual content whatsoever, which meant an R rating was also not possible. A compromise rating was then found.
• The film depicts 206 corpses.
• For the filming of the first scene of the film, the actors’ equipment was made of wood, as it was too difficult to carry metal on them for an endless number of takes.
• Edward Norton was considered for the role of Private Ryan.
• The last film edited 'in the old-fashioned way,' without the use of digital technology, became a winner at the Oscars ceremony in the 'Best Editing' category.
• The film was not allowed to be released by Indian censors due to the excessive number of violent scenes. Because of this, Spielberg was asked to cut the most brutal moments from the Indian version of the film. However, to the surprise of Indian distributors, Steven refused and offered India to forgo the release altogether. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, the Prime Minister of India decided to watch the film himself and, deeply moved by what he saw, decided to release the original, uncut version in the country.
• In one episode, Apheam (Jeremy Davies) is reprimanded for saluting his commander (Tom Hanks), thereby indicating him to snipers. In 'Forrest Gump' (1994), Tom Hanks' character was punished in a similar situation.
• Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson were contenders for the lead role before Tom Hanks.
• Camouflaged T-34-85 tanks were used as PzKpfw VI "Tiger" tanks in the film, which is noticeable due to the characteristic design of the tanks' running gear.
• Real disabled people were invited to film the scenes where soldiers have their arms and legs torn off.
• In the game "Call of Duty: World at War", the first mission features a mini-reference to this film. A burning Japanese soldier attacks a Private Ryan.
• The film was shot in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France.