The film’s cast’s training was grueling and intense, but it helped them create a truly authentic portrayal of soldiers on the front lines.
In 1998, during a press junket for the critically acclaimed war film “Saving Private Ryan,” Tom Hanks shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes tidbit about the cast’s odd way of resting between takes.
Hanks claimed that despite the dramatic nature of the film, which chronicled the terrifying experiences of troops during World War II, the actors would frequently take advantage of the downtime by sleeping, even in the thick of the chaos of the battlefield.
Hanks, who played Captain Miller in the masterwork directed by Steven Spielberg, stated that the physically taxing nature of filming “Saving Private Ryan” made sleep a valuable resource. The whole cast had gone through a demanding boot camp before filming in order to represent the weariness and struggles experienced by troops faithfully.
The movie’s opening sequence, which notably showed the bloody D-Day landing on Omaha Beach, served as a prelude to Miller’s troop’s stressful quest to find Matt Damon’s character, Private Ryan, and established the tone for their difficult trip.
At the press conference, Hanks recalled how the cast would take advantage of every chance to re-energize. The actors would retire to the green fields and really sleep, simulating the rest habits of real soldiers during downtime while the team was prepping for a protracted setup or during intervals between acts.
Hanks humorously remarked, “While the camera was setting up the very first shot of the day, we were doing what real soldiers do when they don’t have anything expected of them. We laid down in the grass and went to sleep because we were still so tired from the boot camp.”
For the actors, the actual boot camp experience had a transforming effect. They underwent a rigorous training program designed to create a feeling of discipline and authenticity under the direction of retired U.S. Marine Corps Captain Dale Dye, who had previously worked with Hanks on the movie “Forrest Gump.”
Hanks stressed the difficult nature of the program, which included physical endurance, tactical training, historical information, and little sleep. He acknowledged that actors could never genuinely become soldiers, but he underlined the severity of the program’s demands.
In addition, he shed light on the challenging conditions they faced during the boot camp, mentioning the lack of sleep and the adverse weather conditions, saying, “It was very cold, and we were up and yeah, we did throw up and things like that and guys started getting sick, but we also learned tactics, and we learned history. We learned that even though you’re tired, you can walk an extra couple miles. And even though you want to go to sleep, you can stay up ’til two o’clock, three o’clock in the morning.”
With that, Hanks acknowledged the boot camp’s influence on the cast’s performances and discussed how it enhanced their characters’ comprehension and relationships with props, costumes, and weaponry. They were able to inhabit their roles more accurately due to the rigorous training, adding a new level of realism to the movie.
“I tell you, by the time the first day rolled around, we were ready to go long before the camera crew was,” the actor stated. “If we hadn’t been through that training camp period, we would’ve been asking the costumers how to tie our leggings. We would have asked the prop guys well, where should I put this? The weaponeers would’ve been telling us things about the weapons that we already knew.”
A classic in cinematic history, “Saving Private Ryan” is lauded for its compelling depiction of battle and its moving plot. The cast’s passion and commitment to giving a really captivating and realistic performance is demonstrated by Hanks’ admission regarding the cast’s unusual sleeping patterns while filming.