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Chapter 150: The Meaning of Rescue
🕑 Added 2024-12-23 17:44:01 +0000 UTCGilbert's father, Gilbert Sr, seemed to have fallen in love with cameo appearances in Gilbert's films ever since The Rock.
This time was no different. In a cemetery scene at the beginning of the film, the elderly James Ryan was portrayed by Gilbert Sr in a cameo role.
Although the screen time was very short, just a few minutes, the old man was still quite excited, memorizing his lines diligently and completing the performance.
After filming, the old man said to Gilbert, "If you want to win the Oscar for Best Director with this film, it's probably going to be very difficult.
Those old men at the Academy will give you a nomination, but they absolutely won't give you the award at this stage.
However, this is not a bad thing. After accumulating two or three nominations, if you make a similar film in the future, the Academy will consider your past contributions and performances and eventually give you the award."
"Getting a nomination is already very good; I don't aspire to win the award directly," Gilbert said.
He was very courteous in his dealings, leaving no room for criticism from the old men at the Academy. Unlike Leo, who had offended the Oscars in his previous life.
Now, reminded by Gilbert, Leo was evidently taking the Oscars seriously.
Although it was still very difficult for a handsome actor to win an award, sacrifices were necessary.
At the very least, the Oscars would no longer ignore Leo for over a decade, finally giving him an award only after he showed sufficient remorse.
As a handsome director, Gilbert did not need to play roles like a lunatic, a pervert, or a homosexual.
The only concern was that most of his films leaned too heavily on commercial elements, which went against the principles advocated by the Oscars.
Strictly speaking, Saving Private Ryan was Gilbert's first mainstream film aimed at the Oscars.
Although the film still had a strong commercial flavor, it was enough to make the old men at the Academy have a favorable impression of it.
Of course, while the film's subject matter was appealing, necessary public relations efforts were still needed.
Gilbert said, "Dad, when the time comes, please help me with the Jewish and Italian members of the Academy."
The old man promised, "That's no problem. I can't guarantee the award, but I can ensure you get a nomination."
"That's great..." With his father's assurance, Gilbert was delighted.
On his first day in the crew, the old man completed his scenes successfully, while the crew filmed another scene in Los Angeles. Christopher Lee played the famous General George Marshall.
This was a promise Gilbert had made, giving the old man a role.
Although he was British, Christopher Lee was obviously very pleased to play a famous general, and he was so excited that it affected his performance on set.
Under Gilbert's guidance, Christopher Lee quickly regained his state.
"All four brothers served in the 29th Infantry Division, but after the Sullivan brothers were killed on the USS Juneau, we reassigned them to different units."
The story of the Sullivan brothers also had a real-life basis. Five brothers served together and died together on the USS Juneau.
Before World War II, when the U.S. military implemented a recruitment policy, brothers—whether two, three, or five—were often assigned to the same unit.
Even twins or siblings would serve in the same team or tank. This practice led to tragedies where multiple brothers would die together, leaving their parents to mourn all their children.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, American enthusiasm for enlistment surged.
The five sons of Irish immigrants Thomas and Alleta Sullivan from Iowa decided to enlist together, expressing their desire to serve on the same ship.
The military considered the rarity of five brothers enlisting together and granted their request, assigning them to the USS Juneau.
The USS Juneau, carrying the five Sullivan brothers and over 800 crew members, participated in battles like the Guadalcanal Campaign and performed heroically.
In November 1942, the Juneau was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank, killing all 800 crew members, including the Sullivan brothers.
The simultaneous deaths of the five Sullivan brothers shocked the nation. President Roosevelt personally wrote a letter of apology to their parents and subsequently pushed for the Sole Survivor Policy, later known as the Sullivan Act.
Mentioning this incident in the film was clearly intended to resonate with American audiences.
Many elderly people who had experienced the war would likely be familiar with this story, providing a strong point for promotional efforts.
The target audience for Saving Private Ryan needed to extend to the elderly who had lived through wartime.
Back on set, General Marshall, played by Christopher Lee, asked in a somber tone, "Can we locate the fourth brother, James?"
"Not yet," replied the adjutant. "He parachuted 15 miles inland from Neuville, deep behind enemy lines."
Another general added, "It's impossible to know where he landed. The 101st Airborne is scattered everywhere.
There were numerous misdrops during the Normandy landings. Even if Ryan landed safely, there's no way to know his location."
The generals opposed sending a rescue team, believing it wasn't worth risking so many soldiers to save one man.
Christopher Lee waved them off, walked to his desk, and took out a book, pulling out a letter.
It was a letter written by Lincoln to a mother in Boston who lost five sons in the Civil War.
The content of the letter was authentic; Lincoln did write such a letter.
The original is housed in the Boston Historical Museum, and the crew's version was a copy.
After reading the letter, George Marshall looked at the generals, who were deep in thought, and said, "That boy is still alive. We must find him and bring him back from the battlefield."
This scene, set after the brutal Normandy landing sequence, was meant to provoke reflection among the audience.
Is it worth sending an elite squad to rescue an ordinary soldier? Audiences would have differing opinions, and Tom Hanks' character had his own perspective.
This scene was filmed in Los Angeles, with the main cast, fresh from military training, present to observe.
During a break, the actors discussed whether the mission was worth it.
Tom Sizemore, who played Sergeant Mike Horvath, said, "I don't think it's worth it. Ryan's family isn't the only one to make sacrifices during the war.
Many sons, fathers, and husbands paid the ultimate price in this brutal conflict.
Instead of risking an elite squad to bring one soldier home, it's better to use that squad to end the war sooner so everyone can return home."
Tom Hanks, like his character Captain John Miller, had a different take.
"Sergeant Horvath, you have a point," he began.
During filming, the cast referred to each other by their characters' names and ranks to build rapport.
"But setting aside national spirit, we must see the hope the film preserves for people.
Every family deserves to have at least one young life to carry on their lineage and the nation's future.
No matter how cruel the war or how dire the national crisis, hope gives us the courage to go on.
It comforts the soldiers fighting on the front lines and reassures the women supporting the war effort at home."
"Well said, Captain Miller," Gilbert said, clapping as he listened to the discussion.
"I'm just sharing my thoughts," Tom Hanks said, a bit embarrassed by the praise.
Gilbert added, "That's why you're perfect for this role. You truly understand the spirit this film 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 undertake such a mission," Gilbert admitted.
Seeing Vin Diesel smile, he added, "But as a soldier, obeying orders is a duty. I think I would carry out the mission, though the outcome might not be great."
"That's why you can't be Captain John Miller. Only I can," Tom Hanks joked.
Everyone laughed at this remark.
After wrapping up the North American shooting schedule, Gilbert invited Fritz Niland, the real-life inspiration for the film, to share his experiences with the cast.
Unlike the dramatic events in the movie, Fritz Niland's journey home was much smoother.
After Company E captured Carentan, the higher-ups learned of Fritz Niland's brothers' deaths: one in the 82nd Airborne Division, another at Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division, and a third reported missing after being shot down over the India-Burma border in the same week.
Mrs. Niland received three telegrams about her sons' deaths on the same day. Fritz, the family's sole surviving son, was ordered to return home.
The climactic battle in the film was fictional, and Fritz Niland's real-life return lacked the dramatic rescue depicted in the movie.
However, a purely factual retelling would lack the drama and space for audience reflection.
Thus, artistic liberties were taken to enhance the story.
Like Spielberg, Gilbert aimed to make the film compelling while offering profound insights and rich humanity.
After completing a few short scenes, Saving Private Ryan officially moved production to the UK.
Since the final battle town and Omaha Beach sets were still under construction, Gilbert prioritized filming the middle dialogue-driven scenes.
These scenes were relatively relaxed. Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, not only delivered an outstanding performance but also brought out the best in his co-stars.
Even Vin Diesel, known for his average acting skills, gave a surprisingly strong performance.
While the dialogue scenes were enjoyable, the upcoming sequences would be far more grueling for the actors.
