A 1940's War Movie Without the Hays Code Restrictions

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2005)

We saw "Saving Private Ryan" as a family. My husband, who watches the War Channels constantly to the extent that I walk by teasing him that I'll let him know the end - "The Germans lose!", thought it was a fresh spin on traditional war movies by showing the doubts of the soldiers.
I thought it was just a color WWII movie as young 'uns refuse to see black and white movies these days. I could match that this actor was playing the William Bendix role, this one John Garfield's, this one Robert Ryan's, this one Montgomery Clift, etc.
Those movies were restricted by the Hays Code and the need to spur war time spirit that they couldn't show doubts, though I remember some revisionist movies made after about the impact on Berlin, another with Robert Taylor vs. the Japanese on some island. Or even Bridge on the River Kwai. So they weren't all jingoistic.
I walked out of "Ryan" saying "Gee, war is hell."
Edward Burns was excellent.
The cinematography was terrific and compelling.
(originally written 8/26/1998)