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Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Directed by Steven Spielberg · Shot by Janusz Kamiński · Cut by Michael Kahn · Music by John Williams · 169 min
How it was made
- Cinematographer Janusz Kamiński ran weeks of camera tests and rejected a monochrome approach, used earlier on Schindler's List, as too “pretentious,” aiming instead to emulate faded colour combat footage from the war.
- Kamiński and Spielberg studied WWII documentaries including Memphis Belle and Nazi propaganda films by Leni Riefenstahl, along with Robert Capa's Omaha Beach photographs, to shape the film's visual style.
- The principal cast underwent a six-day boot camp under military advisor Dale Dye and retired US Marines, including 5-mile runs with full packs on three hours' sleep a night; Spielberg deliberately kept Matt Damon away from it so the other actors would resent his character.
- Spielberg and Tom Hanks took reduced upfront salaries in exchange for a guaranteed 17.5 percent of the film's gross profits, a deal used to help keep the budget down.
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Behind the scenes
Elsewhere
More by Steven Spielberg
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