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22nd July 2018
10:37am BST

Despite having the various true stories and first-hand accounts to lean back on for inspiration, Spielberg had a clear vision of what he wanted to make on the film because his own father was a soldier during the war - he was stationed in Burma as radio operator on a B-25 - and as the director said on the DVD documentary: " He never really told me about the horror stories of war, just the friendships he had."
This theme is prevalent throughout the film as Tom Hanks' Captain Miller leads a motley crew of U.S. soldiers as they go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action. It should also be noted that Spielberg's dad also featured in the director's earlier WWII films, Escape to Nowhere and Fighter Squad.
In terms of Hollywood productions, Saving Private Ryan was unique because the film was actually shot in chronological order. Over a four-week period, Spielberg moved the action up the beach shot-by-shot and day-by-day. Just like the actual real-life battle itself.
In order to get the required level of authenticity and performances from the actors, the producers hired Captain Dale Dye, an army advisor and 21-year Marine veteran who saw combat in Vietnam, Beirut, and the Gulf, to whip them into shape during an intensive ten-day boot camp.
Dye was very much the real deal as his bullet wounds, shrapnel scars and three Purple Hearts were a testament to his levels of commitment, dedication, and bravery. This being said, the main cast and the extras (mostly Irish military personnel) might have mixed feelings about Dye because he pushed them to the limits of their endurance.
As the following video depicts, the members of the Irish military were familiar with using tactics and training that deployed during the 90s - every one of them had to be retrained by Captain Dye's company, Warriors Incorporated. Dye's company had previously helped create the battle sequences in Platoon, Outbreak, and Forrest Gump.
You can see his influence in the production process in this Irish Defence Forces video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-_Q8Kb-8AE
Regarding the main actors - Hanks, Sizemore, Diesel, Burns, Goldberg etc. - Dye made them train, eat, sleep and live in the exact same conditions that any other soldier would experience.
Weapons training, food rations, intense physical training, sleeping in the dirt, marching in the rain, learning about combat techniques, they were all part of the ordeal.
Dye also had a fond nickname for these major Hollywood actors, The Turds.
In fact, he randomly ordered "atomic" sit-ups, "caterpillar" push-ups and simulated Nazi attacks - often just as 'The Turds' had finally got to sleep. Such was Dye's instance on authenticity, if any actor referred to a colleague by anything but the name of their character there were push-ups. If the actors started to talk about movies during their training? Push-ups. If the actors called their gun a "gun" and not a "weapon"? More push-ups.
Eagle-eyed fans might be able to spot Dye in the film too - he's the Colonel who gives General George Marshall the death notifications about the Ryan brothers at the start of the film.
Cleverly, Matt Damon wasn't subjected to this bootcamp because the filmmakers felt that his absence would increase the levels of hostility that the other actors had towards his character - just like the film.
As for this bootcamp? "It was the worst experience of my life," said Edward Burns, but there's no denying that it had the desired effect.
Ultimately, the director was more than impressed by the professionalism, standards and brilliant work that the Irish military provided. Spielberg said: "Your men (Defence Forces) are just brilliant and fantastic. Those opening shots are just wonderful. The Irish Army is just wonderful - all their training and know-how. That's the difference between the scene looking like a bunch of amateur soldiers and what they are, professionals."
You can see Hanks and Spielberg discuss their experience of working with the Defence Forces from 12:30 onwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-TsJ5iJyCw
To depict the horrors of war that unfolded on the beaches of Normandy, forty barrels of fake blood was used and the casting department also used genuine amputees for increased effect. In fact, Colonel Bryce, played by Bryan Cranston, is the only person in the movie that's a fake amputee.
In terms of the aesthetic approach, Spielberg has been very open about the fact that Robert Capa was his inspiration - Capa was a famous photojournalist and director who landed with the Normandy invasion forces to capture the whole event.
As previously stated, none of the Omaha Beach sequence was storyboarded in advance and rather than dictate what's to be filmed, the director gave a free licence to his camera crew and director of photography, Janusz Kaminski.
Essentially, the only direction that Spielberg gave his camera crew was to imagine what it felt like to be in the middle of the war and document the carnage that unfolds.
That's the reason why the camera is never static or fixed on one particular image/character during that whole sequence. In fact, the various pans, zooms, and shots of blood splattering on the lens have a very deliberate intention. It's to make the audience feel that they're a participant in the horror that's unfolding around them.
When the camera shakes during explosions, it was because Steven Spielberg used drills attached to the side of the camera, which was turned on when shaking was required. While shooting with this effect, the crew's photographer let Spielberg know that there was a shaker lens for cameras. They also used a technique which allowed for the bleaching process of colour film while retaining the silver hue - basically, this gave the film a desaturated, washed-out look which added to the bleakness of how the D-Day battle looked.
After the carnage is over, there's an exquisite scene where Adam Goldberg's character, Private Mellish, takes a moment to gather his thoughts, process the horror of what he has just seen and calm down.
In this quiet after the storm, he just breaks down and starts crying. He's inconsolable because just like everyone else, he knows that nothing will ever be the same.
Commandant Frank Burns said it best: "I think this film will be a big leap. We are so used to the good guys beating the Germans but I think this will totally reflect and show a completely different side of war. The carnage, destruction, and loss of life on the American side - a lot of it through human error. I think this is going to have quite an impact on the public."
Twenty years later, the Omaha Beach sequence is still as powerful as when it was first released. The film went on to win five Oscars - oddly, it lost out in the Best Picture category to Shakespeare In Love - but Spielberg's film continues to be hailed as a masterpiece.
In doing so, the Oscar-winning director ensured that new generations will never forget the bravery, sacrifice, and courage that those men showed when they stormed the beaches of Normandy. In that regard, Ireland and our military personnel can also be incredibly proud of the role that they had in the beloved film.
Clips via - Irish Defence ForcesExplore more on these topics:

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