Saving Private Ryan’s Terrifying Impact on Wexford Beach
How filming Saving Private Ryan shook an Irish beach
2 days ago
In 1997, the usually peaceful Curracloe Beach in County Wexford was transformed into a scene of bloodshed and horror as Steven Spielberg recreated D-Day in Ireland. Saving Private Ryan was released to critical and veterans’ acclaim for how it depicted the American assault on Omaha Beach. The story followed the mission of Cpt John Miller, played by Tom Hanks, who was tasked with locating James Francis Ryan, a private whose three brothers had been killed in action.
Northern Ireland filmmaker Mark Huffam was Saving Private Ryan’s unit production manager and associate producer. He said the sights and sound of that iconic beach scene, more than 20 minutes in length, were “terrifying” to witness. Huffam mentioned that the brief from the beginning was to make the scenes look as real as possible.
The planning for the film, which took less than 60 days to shoot, was meticulously done. Spielberg’s attention to detail and quest for accuracy was evident throughout the production. Irish army reservists and ex-Royal Marines were part of the cast and crew, adding an authentic touch to the recreation of Omaha Beach.
The dedication to realism extended to the actors as well. Tom Hanks and other stars were put through a rigorous boot camp to train as soldiers. The challenges they faced during filming, from learning to fire weapons to eating rations, added to the authenticity of the movie.
The impact of Saving Private Ryan on Curracloe Beach was profound, with hundreds of crew members working tirelessly to bring Spielberg’s vision to life. The film went on to win five Academy Awards, including best director, and continues to be lauded for its realistic portrayal of war.
As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches, special commemorations are being held to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in one of the most significant campaigns of World War Two.