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What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

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What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Old 07-11-09, 01:42 PM
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What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Seeing how this is my favorite film, I'm really intrigued as to what films Speilberg looked at for inspiration. I just finished OVERLORD which shared alot of similarities with the opening shot of the men in the Higgins boat.
Old 07-11-09, 01:49 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

A technically masterful opening sequence followed by a mediocre-to-crappy war film?
Old 07-11-09, 01:52 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Overlord did come out about 23 years earlier then SPR...
Old 07-11-09, 02:16 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

As far as the filmmaking style, I don't know. But the plot was inspired by the true story of the Sullivan brothers.
Old 07-11-09, 02:37 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

My guess was that he wanted to make a John Ford war movie for the 90's
Old 07-11-09, 02:40 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

There are a few Kurosawa influences.

The solider who picks his severed arm up during the fighting (Forgot which Kurosawa film originated this)

And the scene when Upham is watching a battle from the distance is reminiscent of the spy-abduction sequence from Seven Samurai when Katsushiro watches the event from a distance.
Old 07-11-09, 02:59 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by Mondo Kane
The solider who picks his severed arm up during the fighting (Forgot which Kurosawa film originated this)
Do you mean Yojimbo, in which a stray dog carries a human hand in it's mouth?
Old 07-11-09, 03:05 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by Mr. Salty
As far as the filmmaking style, I don't know. But the plot was inspired by the true story of the Sullivan brothers.
Actually, it was closer to the story of the Niland Brothers
Old 07-11-09, 03:10 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

I know Spielberg is a WWII buff and being Jewish has a lot of meaning for him personally. It is also one of my favorite films and at the top of my list for upgrades to Blu-ray.
Old 07-11-09, 03:57 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by JimRochester
I know Spielberg is a WWII buff and being Jewish has a lot of meaning for him personally. It is also one of my favorite films and at the top of my list for upgrades to Blu-ray.
Steven Spielberg is JEWISH?!
Old 07-11-09, 05:23 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Cornel Wilde's Beach Red was a big influence on SPR and The Thin Red Line.
Old 07-11-09, 05:37 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by Hokeyboy
Steven Spielberg is JEWISH?!
You wouldn't think it from looking at his last name, but it's true. He was born Steven Spielstein, but changed his name once he got to Hollywood because he was worried it would sound too "ethnic".
Old 07-11-09, 05:58 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by Hokeyboy
Steven Spielberg is JEWISH?!
I thought he was a Mexican.
Old 07-11-09, 06:00 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by RocShemp
I thought he was a Mexican.
Old 07-11-09, 06:15 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

If I had to guess I'd say he stole everything from the secret CIA files on Frank Dux.
Old 07-11-09, 06:52 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by NoirFan
Now who's a bright penny?
Old 07-11-09, 11:30 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Spielberg's biggest influences for Saving Private Ryan were:

1) The highly, highly acclaimed "The Story Of GI Joe"
2) "The Fighting Sullivans"
Old 07-11-09, 11:41 PM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

He's actually a Mexican Jew.
Old 07-12-09, 12:00 AM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Originally Posted by cdollaz
He's actually a Mexican Jew.
I fking hate this site
Old 07-12-09, 09:27 AM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Really disappointing that no one has mentioned this yet.



gglass4269, Spielberg's style from SPR seems to come, IMHO at least in part, from Elem Klimov's Idi I Smotri (Come and See).

You should check it out.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091251/
Old 07-12-09, 11:43 AM
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Re: What were Speilberg's influences for Saving Private Ryan?

Check out a film called "A Walk in the Sun".

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