Top 27 Saving Private Ryan Movie Facts

Following is our collection of Saving Private Ryan facts. Handpicked and verified, these little-known details can be obscure enough most people will miss. These behind the scene easter eggs and hidden messages will give you another view of Saving Private Ryan film message.

Jackson has a bruise on his thumb that was a common injury during WWII from soldiers' thumbs getting caught in the loading mechanism of M1 Garands.

When the military personnel pull up to inform Ms. Ryan about her three sons that were killed, there's a photo with all four boys on the right with the American flag covering the face of presumably James Ryan who is missing.
When the military personnel pull up to inform Ms. Ryan about her three sons that were killed, there's a photo with all four boys on the right with the American flag covering the face of presumably James Ryan who is missing.

Saving Private Ryan Trivia

These trivia from Reddit and other sources can be used as questions with answers in quizzes or games.

  1. After Wade is wounded he requests "a little more morphine". Morphine syrettes during WWII contained a very strong dose, and two for someone with blood loss as severe as his would be fatal. The rest of the unit knows this, which is why they hesitate before giving it to him

  2. Sniper Jackson shoots the German sniper in the eye, through the scope, is a bit of an homage to Marine Corps sniper Carlos Hathcock. In Vietnam, Hathcock shot an enemy sniper through the scope, a feat that many have tried to duplicate but none have succeeded.

Saving Private Ryan Hidden Details

1 - The German sniper had a clear view of the whole platoon but waited to see who the leader was before he took the shot. Private Adrian Caparzo, who points towards the family, is mistaken to be the platoon leader and thus, singled out and shot by the German sniper.
The German sniper had a clear view of the whole platoon but waited to see who the leader was before he took the shot. Private Adrian Caparzo, who points towards the family, is mistaken to be the platoon leader and thus, singled out and shot by the German sniper.
1 - There are no subtitles provided for the German soldiers that are shot after the D-Day invasion. They were in fact speaking Czech and were saying this:
There are no subtitles provided for the German soldiers that are shot after the D-Day invasion. They were in fact speaking Czech and were saying this:

The German that "lands" on the table in this scene initially missed it, but quickly recovers to land back properly on the table. It happens very quickly but you can notice him missing and then picking himself up.

1 - During the Omaha Beach invasion, two german soldiers attempt to surrender, speaking in what is assumed to be german, but the actors are really speaking Czech. When translated are saying "Please don't shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn't kill anyone!"
During the Omaha Beach invasion, two german soldiers attempt to surrender, speaking in what is assumed to be german, but the actors are really speaking Czech. When translated are saying "Please don't shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn't kill anyone!"
1 - Private Jackson (aka the Sniper) has a bruised right thumb due to operating the bolt mechanism on his rifle too quickly.
Private Jackson (aka the Sniper) has a bruised right thumb due to operating the bolt mechanism on his rifle too quickly.
1 - A phonecall in Saving Private Ryan (1998) can be heard discussing getting tanks inland to help the 'Band of Brothers' in Carentan
A phonecall in Saving Private Ryan (1998) can be heard discussing getting tanks inland to help the 'Band of Brothers' in Carentan
1 - During the D-day scene one of the medics (far left) gets shot through his canteen, he immediately reacts and begins to treat his injury.
During the D-day scene one of the medics (far left) gets shot through his canteen, he immediately reacts and begins to treat his injury.
1 - When the mother is about to receive the news 3 of her 4 sons have died in war, you can see a photo on her desk showing the faces of her 3 sons who have died. The 4th son (James Ryan) has the US flag covering his face symbolizing he is in US care and not dead.
When the mother is about to receive the news 3 of her 4 sons have died in war, you can see a photo on her desk showing the faces of her 3 sons who have died. The 4th son (James Ryan) has the US flag covering his face symbolizing he is in US care and not dead.

Sgt. Horvath tells his men to space out on the beach landing because "five men is a juicy opportunity, one man is a waste of ammo." A few minutes later we see a German machine gunner shooting one man.

The two surrendering enemies they shoot are actually saying they are Czechs that the germans forced to fight

We get an early hint about Captain Miller's life as a civilian when he explains Upham's quotation of "The Charge of the Light Brigade", a poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson.

1 - You can tell that the old man in the opening scene is actually Private Ryan instead of Captain Miller due to the Airborne pin on his shirt, indicating that he was a paratrooper.
You can tell that the old man in the opening scene is actually Private Ryan instead of Captain Miller due to the Airborne pin on his shirt, indicating that he was a paratrooper.
1 - A paratrooper in Ramelle tells Captain Miller that they have enough composition B to blow the bridge twice. Later, we see the sticky bombs being assembled from charges taken from the bridge that are clearly marked TNT.
A paratrooper in Ramelle tells Captain Miller that they have enough composition B to blow the bridge twice. Later, we see the sticky bombs being assembled from charges taken from the bridge that are clearly marked TNT.

The scene where Captain Miller is shooting at the tank with his pistol. You can see after the second shot his pistol has jammed.

During the scene where the soldiers start rushing through Omaha Beach, the camera begins following John Miller from a distance, but after a cut, we transition to his first person P.O.V of the battle (notable by his grunting sounding much closer despite him not being visible)

The telegraph pole beach obstacles are the wrong way round

1 - : The brutal killing of Private Mellish while Upham is immobilized by fear is an allegory for the Holocaust and America refusing to enter the war; a Jew begs for salvation from death at the hands of a Nazi, while an American watches on from afar.
: The brutal killing of Private Mellish while Upham is immobilized by fear is an allegory for the Holocaust and America refusing to enter the war; a Jew begs for salvation from death at the hands of a Nazi, while an American watches on from afar.

One of the medics (left side) working on a fallen soldier - is shot through his canteen, which first drains the water inside, then leaks blood

1 - The two Nazi soldiers begging to not be shot at Omaha are actually Czech, not Germans.
The two Nazi soldiers begging to not be shot at Omaha are actually Czech, not Germans.

The medic on the beach gets shot in the leg and the water in his canteen turns red from blood.

1 - . In the opening and ending scene we see that Private Ryan is at the memorial park where he see the graves of the soldiers who fought with him in the final battle. Did anyone else notice the star of david in the memorial park and if so is that the grave of Private Mellish?
. In the opening and ending scene we see that Private Ryan is at the memorial park where he see the graves of the soldiers who fought with him in the final battle. Did anyone else notice the star of david in the memorial park and if so is that the grave of Private Mellish?

A medic attending to a wounded soldier appears to get shot in his hip through his canteen. Water begins to pour out of the bullet hole in the canteen, but after a few seconds, blood begins to pour out of it.

Cast and Details

Here are the full cast and crew of Saving Private Ryan. The goofs, crazy credits, and trivia they have performed may have not taken your attention. Some are hidden for a reason, while others randomly forgotten.

Related movies