Summary
World War II historian John McManus breaks down the historical accuracy inSaving Private Ryan’s ending. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon,Saving Private Ryanremains a critically acclaimed film known for showing the 1944 invasion of Normandy, known as D-Day, and for its unflinching portrayal of war. It is still widely regarded among the best war movies of all time, along with being one ofSpielberg’s best movies.
In a video withInsider,McManus assesses the historical accuracy duringSaving Private Ryan’s ending, in which the American soldiers face a German tank.
McManus is mostly impressed with these scenes, as he praises many of the historically accurate details, including the types of weapons the soldiers use, how they react to specific moments during the fighting, and the overall strategy involved. However, he is critical of a few details. Check out his explanation below:
This is, apparently, portraying a Tiger tank. Now, there’s no evidence that the Americans ever faced a Tiger tank in Normandy. Behind it, though, we have a self-propelled gun of the exact type that you would’ve encountered in this kind of town fighting. Now, it would’ve taken a lot of guts to do what those American soldiers are doing there. The sticky bombs are accurate. That was supposed to be a kind of last line of defense to knock the tread off a tank. So all of that is really actually accurate. But to actually get close enough, like they are, to do it, I think it would’ve been very difficult to get that close to a tank.
All this action is taking place in a fictional town called Ramelle. It doesn’t really exist, but it’s well-described, because earlier in the movie, they’re talking about how it’s a major point over the Meredet River which the Americans simply have to have any bridge over that river so they can advance westward and then get Cherbourg and get most of the rest of Normandy. So that would’ve been, as they put it, a solid gold objective.
I love how the movie gun is portrayed, you know, firing at that exact position where the Germans are moving through. And they’re saying, we need .30 cal. And they’re going through it very quickly, in the context of battle. That’s so 100% true.
In the second part here, with the Molotov cocktails, you certainly would’ve used that to fight against a self-propelled gun like this, maybe even a tank, if you had soldiers courageous enough to do it, then to get into position. I don’t know about you, but if it’s me, I’m either going to open fire at these guys before they can, or I’m going to jump out of that vehicle. Instead, they just hunker down, which guarantees that they’re going to get burned, so I’ve never quite understood that reaction.
This is one of the most disturbing parts of the movie, in my opinion. The close-quarters battle with the tank would’ve been unlikely, of course, but if you could’ve done that, we see that the tank commander apparently coming out of the hatch there, and they just shoot him. I think that’s dead-on right with that kind of desperation of the moment. But I don’t know if you need to throw more grenades in there, and you might need them later. So here comes that 20 MM Flak gun, and that is so well portrayed, because it’s an incredibly devastating weapon designed to shoot vehicles and planes, and you’re talking about using it against people. I’ll give this scene a 9 out of 10.
Saving Private Ryan’s Strengths Go Beyond Historical Accuracy
It Has Stood The Test Of Time For Other Reasons
As McManus highlights, there is a great deal of historical accuracy inSaving Private Ryan’s ending, although there are inevitable discrepancies. While the accuracy of these details enhances the film, it is only part of what has allowed it to endure.What truly distinguishes the film is its brutal depiction of war, shown immediately inSaving Private Ryan’s opening scenesas the troops storm the beaches of Normandy, and contrasted with the admirable heart, loyalty, and camaraderie of the soldiers.
The story never glorifies warand puts the chaos and carnage on full display in a way that is still impactful decades after the film’s theatrical release. As difficult as it is to watch, it is necessary in order to understand the true nature and horrors of war, including theevents of D-Day. Despite the grimness this presents,Saving Private Ryanstill offers hope with the soldiers' determination to bring the titular Private Ryan (Damon) safely home after his three brothers have died during the war.
Saving Private Ryan’s 10 Best Quotes
Saving Private Ryan is remembered for its stellar cast and story. However, the 1998 epic war film has some of the best quotes in cinematic history.
Even though they are caught in the center of unimaginable horrors,the soldiers still find a way to trust and believe in each other, and effectively work together to complete their mission. Including the scenes analyzed by McManus, there are inevitably moments of desperation, leading to actions that in any context outside of war would be unforgivable. Despite this,Saving Private Ryanshows these soldiers' unbreakable bond and determination to fight for something greater than any one individual.
Saving Private Ryan
Cast
Saving Private Ryan: Directed by Steven Spielberg, this World War II drama follows Captain John Miller, portrayed by Tom Hanks, as he leads a group of U.S. soldiers on a mission to rescue Private James Ryan, the sole surviving brother of four, from behind enemy lines in German-occupied France.
