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...
Written by J.Zelman
For the initial battle scenes in the sea, spare ammunition carried by the actors was made from wood, as metal was too heavy.
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Goofs
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
As Jackson makes a run for the ditch to take out the machine gunner, he clearly passes the wall, in the next shot though he is still leaning against the wall.
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Quotes
[first lines]
Ryan's son:
[running to comfort his father]
Dad?
[flashback to D-Day]
LCVP pilot:
Clear the ramp! Thirty seconds. God be with ya! See more »
Crazy Credits
There are no opening credits after the title is shown.
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"C'Était Une Histoire D'Amour"
Written by Henri Contet & Jean Jal Performed by Édith Piaf Courtesy of Mercury Records, France By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing
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