Director : Steven Spielburg Stars : Tom Hanks ... Captain John H. Miller Tom Sizemore ... Sergeant Mike Horvath Edward Burns ... Pvt. Richard Reiben Barry Pepper ... Pvt. Daniel Jackson Adam Goldberg ... Pvt. Stanley Mellish Vin Diesel ... Private Adrian Caparzo Giovanni Ribisi ... T-4 Medic Irwin Wade Jeremy Davies ... Cpl. Timothy P. Upham Matt Damon ... Private James Francis Ryan

Preparation :
Read the movie reviews by Roger Ebert and the NY Times Review. Also read The History Place review and the Stephen Ambrose review.

Historical/Social Significance :
When noted WW II historian Stephen Ambrose saw the final screening of Saving Private Ryan, he asked the projectionist to stop the film after the opening sequence on Omaha Beach. "I said, "I've got to catch my breath.' I felt as if I hadn't breathed in a half an hour. I walked up the stairs and down the stairs in the theater about 10 times. Finally I got myself composed and said, "OK, roll it!' " The beach approach in the LCVPs is absolutely real, Ambrose said. President Eisenhower had told him, "If Andy Higgins hadn't designed and built these landing craft, we never could have gone in over an open beach. I don't know how we ever would have gotten back into Europe."

This is absolutely the best American war movie ever made. And the timing for the making and release of this film is perfect, coming at the end of a century which has witnessed two World Wars, and at a time when many of those who fought in World War II are rapidly fading away. (The History Place Review)

Synopsis :
Opening with the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, members of the 2nd Ranger Battalion under Cpt. Miller fight ashore to secure a beachhead. Amidst the fighting, two brothers are killed in action. Earlier in New Guinea, a third brother is KIA. Their mother, Mrs. Ryan, is to receive all three of the grave telegrams on the same day. The United States Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall, is given an opportunity to alleviate some of her grief when he learns of a fourth brother, Private James Ryan, and decides to send out 8 men (Cpt. Miller and select members from 2nd Rangers) to find him and bring him back home to his mother.

Guided Questions for Viewing :
Assessment questions will be based on the following :
• Did Captain Miller and the squad think Private Ryan was worth risking their lives for? Did their views change?
• Would the mission make more sense if it was composed strictly of volunteers? Would you volunteer?
• What do you think Spielberg was trying to achieve through this film?
• To what extent do you think the way that war is portrayed so graphically in this film is justified?
• In the movie American soldiers laugh and joke as they kill surrendering German soldiers. What point do you think Spielberg is making here?
• Corp. Upham, the linguist, kills the German that he had previously saved. Discuss the two scenes and Upham's motivations. Is Spielburh making any kind of judgement on him?
• Why did Captain John Miller say “earn this” to Private Ryan?
• Do you think this is an anti-war film or a pro-war film? Discuss with scenes from the movie.