When it comes to diversity in filmmaking, Steven Spielberg tops the list. Over many decades of being one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, Spielberg has shown that he can never be boxed into one specific genre by becoming the master in everything. From action thrillers to intense dramas to historical biopics, he has proved that nothing is beyond his reach.
One of his most acclaimed films was the intense World War 2 drama Saving Private Ryan. The Oscar winner’s depiction of the horrors brought on by the war was deeply felt by every audience member across the globe. Interestingly, a pivotal and terrifying scene that amplified the suffering and sacrifice of the soldiers, was actually orchestrated by writer and director Frank Darabont.
This Director Can Take Credit For An Unforgettable Scene In Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan
When it comes to collaborations between a director and an actor, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have shared a memorable partnership that has seen the two celebrities work together in 5 films and 3 miniseries. Over the decades, the duo’s movies have left an indelible mark on audiences across the globe.
In 1998, Hanks and Spielberg joined forces for the gripping and intense World War 2 drama Saving Private Ryan. The narrative follows a group of soldiers led by Captain John Miller, played by Hanks, who are appointed to find Private James Francis Ryan and bring him home after his three brothers have been killed in action.
The film went on to become a big blockbuster and made a deep impact on viewers, especially with regard to how the horrors of the war during the Holocaust were shown. In particular, the chilling Omaha beach segment brought forth these disturbing realities in a terrifying and tangible manner.
The scene is set during the D-Day landings of World War 2. It follows the experiences of Captain John Miller and his team of soldiers as they land on the beach to face intense firing from the German side. While Spielberg’s handheld camera technique made audiences experience the fear of the soliders, another significant decision for the scene made it even more unforgettable.
A post by All The Right Movies reveals that Spielberg roped in writer and director Frank Darabont, who is famously known for directing The Shawshank Redemption, to create some magic for this scene. Looking back, fans will notice that the Omaha beach scene begins with Hanks and his battalion arriving at a time when death and chaos are already rampant.
Witnessing the characters watching the horror unfold in front of them while having to defend themselves, made this scene even more disturbing to watch. This was where Darabont stepped in. He suggested that the impact of the sequence would be much deeper like ‘Hell On Earth’, if executed in this manner, as opposed to the soldiers landing on an empty beach.
Sure enough, the Omaha beach scene succeeded in sending chills down people’s spines, thanks to Spielberg’s instincts about Darabont and the latter’s brilliant idea for the sequence.
This Scene Orchestrated By Steven Spielberg Terrified Tom Hanks
While Darabont was responsible for giving Steven Spielberg one of the most harrowing and impactful scenes in Saving Private Ryan, the Schindler’s List director expertly improvised another chilling sequence in the film. This scene was so powerful and disturbing that it deeply affected his lead actor Tom Hanks.
Speaking to The Guardian, Spielberg elaborated on this segment which featured a Jewish soldier named Private Mellish being slowly killed with a knife by a German soldier. He sadistically talks him through the terrifying ordeal, like an adult speaking to a child. Seeing this moment unfold before him left Hanks catching his breath in admiration.
The blood drained out of my body. I could not believe what he had done.
This scene was not only significant for its context in the 2nd World War, but also for the fact that Spielberg himself is of Jewish descent. While the filmmaker stated that making a Jewish soldier the victim of that moment was not intentional, Hanks believed differently. He stated that this was the director’s way of paying tribute to his ancestry and acknowledging the bravery of the Jewish soldiers in the face of injustice.
I think who Steven fantasizes himself being is Mellish, who pulls out his Star of David, and says ‘Juden, Juden’, as the German POWs are going by. I think Steven, for his Jewishness, wants to be that guy who, when the time comes, can pop a guy in the mouth with the butt of his M1.
Needless to say, the film got all the recognition it deserved. For the above-mentioned sequence and many more, the movie won Spielberg the Oscar for Best Director, while also bagging golden statuettes for Film Editing and Cinematography.
Saving Private Ryan can be streamed on Amazon Prime
