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Steven Spielberg has made some of the greatest films that will forever stand the test of time. The director has made films in every genre and has shown that he is a master at evoking awe and emotion in everything he does. In the 90s, Spielberg made two drastically different films based on World War II, considered among his best works.
While 1993Schindler’s List, focused on a German industrialist saving a thousand Polish Jews, 1998’sSaving Private Ryandealt with a group of soldiers trying to locate the titular Ryan in Normandy. Tom Hanks played the lead role in the latter but several actors like Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford were considered before theForrest Gumpstar.
Despite Mel Gibson’s Suggestions, Steven Spielberg Didn’t Cast Him inSaving Private Ryan
Steven Spielbergand Tom Hanks worked on the 1998 WWII filmSaving Private Ryanfor the first time. Hanks played the role of John H. Miller, who leads a group of soldiers assigned to find Private Ryan played by Matt Damon, after his brothers are killed in action.The Forrest Gumpstar played Miller with great conviction and vulnerability due to the character’s PTSD.
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However, Hanks was not the first choice for the role. As stated byJoe.ie, Harrison Ford andMel Gibsonwere originally up for the role before Hanks was confirmed. Gibson even suggested Spielberg to use Ireland for the film’s Normandy invasion sequence, after his great experience onBraveheart.
For Spielberg, he“was trying very hard to imagine what actor would not immediately want to use his teeth to pull out a pin from a hand grenade”(viaRogerEbert.com). For him, Hanks immediately came to mind, and thus eventually played the lead role. Despite not being cast inthe film, Gibson’s suggestion paid off, as the Normandy sequence is still the film’s most memorable sequence.
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Saving Private Ryanwas a big critical and commercial hit, grossing $481 million against a $70 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo), while also winning 5 Oscars. The harrowing film echoed the same sentiments in Spielberg’sSchindler’s Listabout war and its devastating effects on humankind. The two films are considered two of the best war films ever made.
Tom Hanks Was Surprised At Being Cast in Steven Spielberg’sSaving Private Ryan
Tom Hankshas always been known as the mild-mannered good guy in Hollywood and many of his films have featured him as the morally ideal character. One wouldn’t have imagined him playing a tough and battered soldier. But that was what he was in Steven Spielberg’sSaving Private Ryan. In an interview with Oprah, Hanks revealed that hewas surprisedat being approached to play the role.
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However, the actor soon started to see the vulnerabilities of the character and fear being the driving force of his actions. Being in the middle of World War II, the character is consistently challenged, which theForrest Gumpactor instantly relates to. Hanks said (viaOprah.com),
But I still have moments when I think, ‘They want me to play this role? They want me to be Captain John Miller [in ‘Saving Private Ryan’]?’ Never in my wildest scenarios would I have thought I would be able to have enough of somebody’s confidence to do such a thing.
The first time I read about Captain John Miller, here’s what I got: He’s scared. And he’s afraid in the same way that I would be in his circumstances. His fear is the reason for everything he does. And all the questions that are answered in the movie come back to that core thing.
Saving Private Ryanalso starred Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg, and Jeremy Davies. After the success of the film, Hanks and Spielberg further collaborated onThe Terminal. Catch Me if You Can, Bridge of Spies,andThe Post.Fans can watchSaving Private Ryanon Prime Video.
Rahul Thokchom
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1276
Rahul Thokchom is a senior content writer at Fandomwire who is passionate about covering the world of pop culture and entertainment. He has a Masters Degree in English that contributes to the richness and creativity in his works.
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Mel GibsonSteven SpielbergTom Hanks
