There is a reason I want my students to experience these 27 minutes. Patriotism requires something of us. There is a cost to it. We can romanticize war and rallying around the flag, but some 3,000+ soldiers died on that day. Not Call of Duty dead. Dead. And thousands of soldiers saw things they spent the rest of their lives trying to reconcile. We can talk about what is a just war and what is a necessary war, but, on the individual level, patriotism expects us to show up; requires citizens to stand up; demands we speak up.
Now, I want you to take Saving Private Ryan out of your Blu-ray player. The first thirty minutes are excellent, but now I want you to watch a better movie about the D-Day invasion and the battle toward Berlin. I was struggling to understand why Saving Private Ryan from the 30-minute mark becomes just another 'okay' war movie when I stumbled upon this commentary from a few years ago. He explains it much better than I can.
I agree with Carey. Band of Brothers is a better movie on the same event. Now, it is based on a excellent book by historian Stephen Ambrose and gets twelve to thirteen hours to tell its story and so you get more than broad stereotypes. It also has some of the best actors around--Michael Fassbender (He is in everything anymore, isn't he?), James McAvoy, Damien Lewis, Simon Pegg, Ron Livingston and Colin Hanks. Colin Hanks is the son of Saving Private Ryan star Tom Hanks and both Hanks and Ryan director Steven Spielberg are executive producers of Band of Brothers so I think they'll forgive me liking their mini-series over their movie.
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Mike B. Says ... I think "The Longest Day" is a much better D-Day tale than either Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers.
ReplyDeleteDave says ... Mike, I like The Longest Day okay, but it always feels too 'backlotty' and too 'epic' to me. I will admit is has been awhile since I saw it so I need to give it a second chance.
DeleteMike B. says ...
DeleteI thought The Longest Day more effectively captured the "epicness" of the event, incorporating multiple angles of the story, from the planning and execution by commanders to the experiences of individual soldiers. The international aspect of the event was emphasized to a much greater degree than Saving Private Ryan, as was the German reaction and response. I knew all of that stuff already, as I watched Saving Private Ryan, but I wonder what impression someone would get from that movie if they didn't have a wider background knowledge of the event- unfortunately, many peoples' understanding of D-Day is reduced to "Americans stormed the beach and saved the world." There was much more to it than that.
Dave says ... I agree with you but it is the smaller perspective I tend to be more drawn to. I agree with your concern about the US as the Cavalry and The Longest Day captures the epic scope. I like the intimate storytelling aspect of Ryan. I think Band of Brothers has that same personal story feel. Just one story of hundreds which could be told.
DeleteA teacher friend says ... I have shown both to HS seniors. Although I only show the first 15 minutes of Private Ryan...this also occurs as we are starting a research project on the invasion. Students have to write a comparison Hollywood vs, History type response. I let them watch Longest Day as a extra credit option...a bit tedious for today's teens.
ReplyDeleteMike B. says ... Tedious, perhaps, but I'm not teaching a course in film appreciation. I think The Longest Day is a much better historical treatment. I do similar "Hollywood v. History" stuff throughout the year... or at least "Popular Culture v. History"... several students did great work dissecting "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", the novel. The movie didn't open until after my school year ended, and it was a very disappointing adaptation of the book.
DeleteI'll be starting next year using parts of Disney's Pocahontas with my lowest-level students, it's a good hook.
Dave says ... Mike, are you saying the Pocahontas isn't historically accurate???
DeleteMike B. says ... It very subtly takes a few liberties with the historical record, yes.
Dave says ... Next you'll say the talking tree wasn't real and Pocahontas as Native American Barbie wasn't accurate. And everyone knows Smith and Pocahontas lived happily for ever.
Tucker B. says ... BTW Gary Gallagher would be a great contact for film myth vs. reality.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to the punch Tucker! One of my posts was going to be why Gettysburg will not be on the list and Dr. Gallagher is my go to professor.
DeleteTodd says ... When I have time... (bet we've all said that)... I show the first part of "Saving Private Ryan" & an early part of "Enemy at the Gate" to my students when covering WWII. We talk about true heroism, courage, bravery, fear, & anxiety and compare the two. In "EatG" it's when the new recruits are sent across the Volga while being strafed (sp?) by the German Luftwaffe & when they survive every other one is given a gun because of a shortage of weapons.
ReplyDeleteTodd says ... With those 2 movies it's also interesting to talk about volunteering to fight for a concept/ideal compared to being forced to fight (conscription) by the government. "No retreat! Cowardice will not be tolerated!" - - or something like that.
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