So I'm watching Saving Private Ryan and trying to keep from my usual bawling. I thought to myself, since this is a "fictional" story, are the scenes of the old man Ryan in the cemetery at the beginning and the end of the movie, the real cemetery? If so, I have a real problem with that. I do not think footage like that should ever be used for some Hollywood profit. Does anyone know if (and I pray) the cemetery was fake?

If you got anything from the story itself, it wouldn’t matter if the cemetery was real or fake.

I have seen pictures of Arlington cemetery, what difference would a little footage matter? I never really thought about it that way.

NO, It matters. Using a memorial like that for monetary gain is not only morally wrong, it is spiritually decrepit.

Would you like the graves of your kin used in such a manner? Making profit for an industry that would spit on them?

I don't think it's wrong. That movie is more a less a tribute to those that saved the world from the nazis as far as I can tell.

A valid rebuttal.

I heard at one time that the story was indeed fictional. Yet meant to move the veiwer from one place to the next as they searched for Ryan. Some of the scenes and skirmishes were based off actual individual soldier stories. From the beach landing to the end.
You could probably goggle your question. Is tons of info out there.

Mac

The actual movie is 100% fiction. That is well known. every scene had probably played out in WWII but that is a different conversation. The question here is, should Hollywood be desecrating graveyards to make a buck? If the beginning and the end were filmed in a real graveyard?

The cemetery in the movie isn't Arlington National Cemetery, it would be, or meant to be the U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery at Normandy, France.
As a veteran, I'm not offended by it.

Thanks for your input

If it took that “rebuttal” for you to understand, I’d suggest rewatching the movie. The Cemetary is real, the grave stone is not. You can travel to Normandy to see the Cemetery if you’d like. It’s the American Cemetery.

I don't think you are grasping the conversation and being somewhat rude with your ignorance.

No, I understand you’re trying to find fault with something that isn’t there and want someone to agree with you so a debate can start and then someone has a little too much to drink on a Friday night and gets it deleted.

Why even comment? Although we are not talking about a real battle, we are talking about real people and a real war that has given you the freedom to be so "smug". Perhaps you sould learn some respect and how to honor those that have given you what you obviously take for granted.

Sorry you feel that way and I'll leave it at that.

I remember when the movie came out a veteran of World War 2 who was in the first wave to hit Omaha beach was interviewed. He said he felt like he was back on the beech due to the realism.

My personal belief is that Hollywood will desecrate anything to make a buck, especially the military. Platoon is a good example. There may be some reality but they won't hesitate to make military look badly.

You must also remember the state of OUR country when this was made. NOT ALL THIS woke crap. Dang good movie . There is a cemetery here "MILL SPRINGS NATIONAL cemetery the graves look just like that .
The movie was based on NILAND Brothers story of the war. Edward, Preston, Robert and Fredrick. They were from Tonawanda NY.The "mission" was fictional ... Not the depiction of the events.......

It depends on the director. Clint eastwood did a dang good job with American sniper. A Memorial for one of the greatest snipers in world history. And that wasn't that long ago really