I think Ive got it (Saving Private Ryan)

Ive found some disagreement on several forums over wether the German, who kills the Jewish ranger with his own bayonet is in fact the same as the one they took POW earlier.
Im pretty sure hes not.
Many base the argument that the stabber is the POW on the fact, that the stabber loses his helmet, and the POW later shows up without one, too.
I think I have identified both Germans (the stabber and the POW) in the same sequence of the movie.
When the Germans reach the shore of the river, right at the bridge, at the end of the film, they spread out along the bank, and among the Germans are two without their helmets. One runs across the screen to the right - thats the stabber.
Another stays on the screen - thats the POW. So they are not one and the same.

Henrik

 

As much as I respect the people who know so much about the war and SPR. Like about the bullet proof window guard thing.

I honestly think if any of you lot directed a movie it'd be dire.

Come on! How boring would Saving private Ryan be if there was no excitement? If it was ALL based on fact people would then doubt the things they say.. then it would get even worse.

You might aswell jump onto the Matrix saying its impossible to dodge bullets...

 

I liked the movie when i thought it was the Same German who Killed the guy, now you have given me some doubts...But why did the German just walk by him on the stairs? cause he knew him and had saved his life before so there was no reason to kill him.

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Out side is America!

 

Willie and the Stabber are two different people. Willie wear Wehrmacht collar tabs and an Army-splinter pattern Zeltbahn.

The Stabber clearly wears SS pattern collar tabs and an SS pattern Tarnjacke (smock).

Willie was saved at the radar station by Miller, and comes back at the end to shoot Miller, and is shot in turn by Upham.

The Stabber is only seen in one scene - where he kills Mellish, and then passes Upham on the stairs.

Killing in the heat of battle is different from killing in cold blood - the SS man was obviously shaken up by having to stick the bayonet (and NO it was not the HJ knife from Omaha Beach) into Mellish's heart. Upham was so pathetic that the Stabber couldn't bring himself to kill him. Very realistic, actually - I talked to a veteran of Panzer Grenadier Lehr Regiment 901 who had a similar encounter in Normandy - he met a Canadian in a bombed out house - they met each other by surprise, both had drawn weapons - but they just looked at each other and then backed their way out. Tough to kill someone at the drop of a hat - and this German vet was no rookie - he served in Poland, France 1940, Italy, and Russia.

As for "realistic" movies - I wasn't aware Hollywood had ever made one about World War Two. I don't think they've ever tried, quite honestly. The Bridge at Remagen came close, actually.

 

I agree Rommel! I like to nitpick too! As long as the MAIN details are right (like plane and ship models) Then things that are of smaller detail aren't bad...but are fun to try and find...
As for the soldier who killed Mellish in SPR; I read an article back when the movie was still in theaters actually saying that it was NOT the same guy. They were two seperate actors and characters. They put the article in the paper because so many people thought that they were the same! I in fact thought so too...but the article changed my mind...plus i can now see they are different...the one that kills mellish is obviously more broad than the POW. The paper was the Star Ledger but thats all i remember.

 

Just another point about 'movie reality' - I remember reading somewhere an interview with William Goldman, screenwriter for 'A Bridge Too Far'.

In it he wryly discussed how some US critics 'panned' the film, citing various scenes that were 'too fantastic and unvbelievable'. Of course, these were scenes that Goldman and Director Attenborough had thoroughly researched as being actual events.

'I guess we were too real to be real' said Goldman.....

 

Several differences between the men should be noted:-
1) THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ENTIRELY
2) The men's voices are different
3) The trooper magically goes from Heer to SS then back to Heer, in the heat of the battle for Ramelle, he has time to stop change uniforms and procure a Zeltbahn!!!

 

Bravo Otto!

 

You can't argue with that post, they are definitely two different men, one SS, the other Wehrmacht.

I second that motion C-Game. It's all about citation. And we know that Crapgame would certainly appreciate that! You are the master of good. well researched posts my friend!

A Sherman can give you a very nice.....edge.

 

Thank you Peppy!

It's a mother beautiful bridge, and it's going to be there.

 

Heh heh heh--Peppy and Crapgame--I got the Jist of your last posts--heh heh heh.