After "The Rock," Old Gilbert, Gilbert's father, seemed to develop a fondness for making cameo appearances in his son's films. This time was no different. For the opening scene at the cemetery, portraying the elderly James Ryan, Gilbert asked Old Gilbert to step in. Even though it was a brief role, lasting only a few minutes, the old man was incredibly excited, diligently memorizing his lines and delivering his performance.
After filming wrapped, the old man told Gilbert, "It'll be tough for you to win Best Director at the Oscars with this one. Those old folks at the Academy will give you a nomination, but they won't hand you the award just yet. But that's good! After accumulating two or three nominations, if you make a similar film in the future, the Academy will eventually give you the award, considering your past performance and contributions."
"Just getting a nomination would be great; I'm not expecting to win outright," Gilbert replied. He's always been meticulous with his manners, leaving no room for the Academy's old guard to pick flaws, unlike that young Leo in his past life, who somehow managed to offend the Oscars. However, with Gilbert's reminders, Leo seems to be taking the Oscars seriously now. While it's still tough for a handsome actor to win an award without paying a price, at least the Academy won't ignore him for over a decade, only to give him an award simply because he finally showed enough remorse.
Young Gilbert is also a handsome director, so he doesn't need to play roles like psychopaths, perverts, or homosexuals. His only concern is that most of his films are too commercial, not aligning with the Academy's ideals. In a strict sense, "Saving Private Ryan" is Gilbert's first mainstream film that leans towards Oscar recognition. While the film still has a strong commercial feel, it's enough to appeal to the old folks at the Academy. Of course, even with a favorable subject, necessary public relations work is still required.
Young Gilbert stated, "Dad, when the time comes, please put in a good word for me with the Jewish and Italian judges."
The old man confidently replied, "No problem. I can't guarantee an award, but I can definitely get you a nomination."
"That's great..." Young Gilbert was thrilled to have his father's assurance.
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Old Gilbert's first day on set was also his last, as his scenes were completed successfully. The crew then filmed another scene in Los Angeles, featuring Christopher Lee as the renowned General George Marshall. This was a promise Gilbert made to the old actor, ensuring him a role. Despite being British, Christopher Lee was clearly overjoyed to portray such a famous general, so much so that his initial excitement led to some shaky performances on set. However, with Gilbert's guidance, Christopher Lee quickly regained his composure.
"The four brothers served in the same company of the 29th Division, but after the Sullivan brothers died on the USS Juneau, we assigned them to different companies," Christopher Lee, as General Marshall, stated. The Sullivan brothers mentioned here are based on a real story where five brothers served together and died together on the USS Juneau. Before World War II, during the conscription era, the U.S. military would often place siblings—whether two, three, or five brothers—in the same unit or company. This even extended to twins or close brothers in the same squad or vehicle, which tragically led to multiple siblings dying simultaneously, leaving their parents to mourn.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, American patriotism surged. The five sons of Thomas and Alleta Sullivan, Irish immigrants from Iowa, decided to enlist in the Navy together, vowing to fight for their country. United in their purpose, the five brothers requested to serve on the same ship if conditions allowed. The military, recognizing the rarity of five brothers enlisting simultaneously, granted their request, assigning them to the light cruiser USS Juneau. The Juneau, carrying the five Sullivan brothers and over eight hundred other crew members, participated in various battles, including the Guadalcanal Campaign, demonstrating great bravery. In November 1942, the Juneau was ambushed by a Japanese submarine and hit by a torpedo. All eight hundred-plus crew members, including the five Sullivan brothers, perished.
The simultaneous deaths of the Sullivan brothers shocked the entire nation. President Roosevelt himself wrote a letter of apology to the brothers' parents and subsequently pushed for the Sole Survivor Policy, later enacting the famous Sullivan Act. The film's inclusion of this event is clearly intended to resonate with American audiences. Most older individuals who lived through the war would likely be familiar with this story, providing powerful material for publicity. "Saving Private Ryan" aims to broaden its appeal to include those who experienced the war era.
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Back on set, General Marshall, played by Christopher Lee, spoke in a hushed tone, "Can you reach the fourth brother, James?"
"Not yet," the aide replied. "He parachuted fifteen miles inland from Neuville, deep into enemy territory."
Another general chimed in, "It's impossible to know where he landed. The 101st Airborne Division is scattered everywhere. There are many misdropped troops in Normandy. Even if Ryan landed safely, there's no telling where he is."
The general disagreed with sending a search and rescue team, arguing that an operation to save one man deep in enemy territory was not worth the effort. Christopher Lee waved his hand, signaling the general to stop speaking. He walked to his desk, pulled a book, and from it, an envelope. It was a letter from Lincoln to a mother in Boston whose five sons had died in the Civil War. The letter's content is authentic; Lincoln did write it. However, the original is housed in the Boston Historical Museum; the one held by the crew was a copy.
After reading the letter, George Marshall observed the thoughtful expressions on his subordinate generals' faces and said, "That boy is still alive. We need to find him and bring him away from the battlefield."
This scene, set against the brutal aftermath of the Normandy landings, also prompts the audience to consider: Is it truly worth dispatching a team of elite soldiers to rescue a single ordinary soldier? Viewers might have their own opinions, and Tom Hanks, too, had his insights.
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This particular scene was filmed in Los Angeles, and all the main actors, having just completed their military training, came to observe. During a break, the actors debated whether such an action was truly worthwhile. Tom Sizemore, who plays Sergeant Mike Horvath, said, "I don't think it's worth it. Ryan's family isn't the only one making sacrifices in this war. Many other sons, fathers, and husbands have paid the ultimate price in this brutal conflict. Instead of sending one ordinary soldier home at the cost of a squad of elite soldiers, it would be better for that squad to continue fighting on the battlefield. The sooner the war ends, the sooner everyone can go home."
Tom Hanks, however, held a different view, much like Captain John Miller, the character he portrays. "Sergeant Horvath, you make a very valid point," Tom Hanks said, as they all addressed each other by their character names and ranks during filming to build camaraderie. He continued, "Putting aside national spirit, at the very least, we need to see that this film offers hope to people. Every family needs at least one young life to continue the family's and the nation's bloodline. Even if the war is cruel and the nation is in peril, having hope can give us the courage to live on, offer solace to the soldiers fighting on the front lines, and reassure the women supporting them from the rear."
"Well said, Captain Miller," Gilbert remarked from behind, having listened to the actors' discussion. He couldn't help but applaud Tom Hanks's reasoning.
"I'm just sharing my thoughts," Tom Hanks said, a bit shy after being praised by Gilbert.
But Gilbert insisted, "I knew casting you as the lead for this film was the right choice. You truly grasp the spirit the movie aims to convey."
Vin Diesel then asked Gilbert, "Director, if you had to lead a squad to rescue an ordinary soldier, would you agree?"
"Personally, I wouldn't want to do such a thing," Gilbert replied. Seeing Vin Diesel's face light up, he added, "However, as a soldier, obeying orders is my duty, so I believe I would carry out the mission, though the outcome might not be ideal."
"So, Director, you can't be Captain John Miller. Only I can," Tom Hanks joked lightly. Everyone chuckled at his remark.
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After the filming schedule in North America concluded, Gilbert used the remaining time to invite the real-life inspiration, Fritz Niland, to speak with the actors and share his experiences. Compared to the twists and turns in the movie, Fritz Niland's journey home was undoubtedly much smoother.
After Easy Company captured Carentan, the military learned that Fritz Niland's brother, Bob, of the 82nd Airborne Division, had been killed. Simultaneously, another brother in the 4th Infantry Division died on Utah Beach, and shortly after, his third brother was reported missing after being shot down on the Burma-India border in the same week. On the same day, Mrs. Niland received three telegrams confirming the deaths of her sons. Fritz was the last surviving son in the family, so the Army ordered his priority return home.
The final battle in the film is a fictionalized sequence; in reality, Fritz Niland's return home was straightforward, without any rescue mission involved. However, if the film had followed the exact true story, it would have lacked much of its dramatic flair and the thought-provoking elements for the audience. Therefore, adding a certain degree of artistic license to the original story was essential. Young Gilbert, much like Spielberg, aimed to create a film that was not only engaging but also offered insightful reflections and a profound humanistic touch.
After completing a few brief scenes, "Saving Private Ryan" officially moved its production to the UK. Since the final battle's town and the Omaha Beach set from the film were still under construction, Gilbert prioritized shooting the intermediate dramatic scenes. This part of the filming was remarkably relaxed. Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, not only delivered an outstanding performance himself but also successfully elevated the performances of other cast members. Even Vin Diesel, whose acting can be somewhat inconsistent, delivered a very commendable performance. The dramatic scenes were, without a doubt, a pleasant experience, but for the actors, the most challenging part was yet to begin.
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