Saving Private Ryan is an epic 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. The film's prenise is very loosely based on the real-life case of the Niland brothers. It is notable for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depict the Omaha beachhead assault of June 6, 1944. This film grossed US$481.8 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing domestic film of the year.
The story begins in the morning of June 6, 1944, the beginning of the Normandy invasion, with American soldiers preparing for the perils of landing on Omaha Beach and struggling against dug-in German infantry, machine gun nests, and artillery fire, wich cut down many of the men. Captain John H. Miller leading to a breakout from the beach. Meanwhile, in the United States, General George Marshall discovers that three of four brothers in the Ryan family have all died within days of each other and that their mother will receive all three notices on the same day. He learns that the fourth son, Private James Francis Ryan is missing in the action somewhere in Normandy. Marshall orders that Ryan be found and sent home immediately.
Back in France, Miller assembles six Rangers from his company, plus one man who speaks fluent French and German, to accomplish this task. With no information about Ryan's whereabouts, Miller and his men move out to Neuville. Once they reach the rally point, Miller locates a friend of Ryan's, who reveals that Ryan is defending a strategically-important bridge over the Merderet River in the fictional town of Ramelle.
The squad finally arrives on the outskirts of Ramelle where they meet Private Ryan, and he is told of his brothers' deaths, and their mission to bring him home, and that two lives had been lost in the quest to find him. He is clearly distressed at the loss of his brothers, but does not feel it is fair to go home, saying, "these are my brothers". Miller decides to stay and help them in their task and the units regroup in Ramelle.
While attempting to blow the bridge, Miller is shot by a gun. Ryan, Reiben, and Upham arethe only main characters to survive the battle, and Ryan is with Miller as he dies and hears his last words, "James... earn this. Earn it."
