Saving Private Ryan
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"Saving Private Ryan", the true story.
On July 26, 1998 Steven Speilberg's World War Two epic film 'Saving Private Ryan' will open in the movie theaters. The film we understand opens with the title "Based on a true story." We do not know if this will be in the final cut.
The story takes place during the invasion of Normandy in World War Two. Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe, June 1944. The invasion and the war happened. The film's story is that Private Ryan, a paratrooper, has been accidentally dropped behind German lines.Unfortunately, his three brothers have already been killed: one on Omaha beach, one on Utah beach, during the D-Day invasion, and the third in the Pacific. In order to prevent Ryan's mother having all her sons killed in the war, he is ordered from combat. The problem is he is behind the German lines. So how do they get him out?
The true story was - according to our research, the Ryan character is based on Fritz Niland, who lost two brothers in Normandy and a third brother, who was M.I.A. in Burma, was presumed dead. The third brother was later found alive. Niland, (the real soldier) was dropped behind German lines as were many other paratroopers mis-dropped all over Normandy.
The military rule about sole surviving son's being allowed out of combat is true. It was enacted after the five Sullivan brothers were killed in 1942 when the U.S.S. Juneau was sunk in the Pacific. The rule of the surviving son is common to many armies, the American, the Canadian, the British and the Israeli.
In the film a below strength squad of Rangers, led by a Ranger Captain (Tom Hanks) is sent behind German lines to find and rescue private Ryan. They travel through German held territory, risking life and limb. They find Ryan and a small group of Paratrooper's trying to hold onto a key bridge. But there's more! The bridge is about to be attacked by a German Panzer Group with Tiger tanks. Will they save the bridge, and the invasion ? To find out go and see the film.
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US jeep that's been hit near St. Lo, France, June 1944. |
The true story is that the missing trooper - Niland - spent 18 days behind German lines evading enemy patrols helped by local French civilians. He finally walked into US controlled territory on his own. When he reported in the story goes he was told, "oh, we've been looking for you." A Chaplain drove Niland down to the beach in a jeep so he could be evacuated. There was no rescue, no risking a group of men to save one, no bridge, and no TIGER tank! The German Tigers were attacking further west in the British sector.
The main part of the film's story is the rescue attempt by Tom Hanks and his fellow soldiers. Hanks is the star of the film, and this action is the main story of the film. The fictional story of Private Ryan is the film's backstory. In reality there was no rescue attempt, to save Niland, (they army had no way of knowing where he was ). The main story of the film Tom, Hanks and his band of brothers finding and saving Private Ryan and fighting a crucial battle in Normandy is pure fiction. So is the bridge defense against Tiger tanks.
The film's basis for claiming it is based on a true story are the facts, there was a missing 506th paratrooper, (Niland), and the Americans, British and Canadians did invade Normandy in June 1944.
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The problem with films like this is that very quickly they are accepted as "the" version of what really happened in history. In 2 or 3 years teachers will use this film in schools to 'teach' World War Two. Too many people will accept that the entire story is true. For the vast majority of the population this film will be the invasion of Normandy. Schindler's List and Amistad, were promoted as being "real history", so was 'Roots", and it was complete fiction. This film is a fictional story placed in what seems like "real history." Does it matter? Only if you think people should know the truth about our history. |
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US soldiers fighting in Normandy, July 1944.
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