Tom Hanks learned the lines of Saving Private Ryan from headphones on an Irish beach

Image source, Getty Image/Fotos International
On a hot sunny day, it's hard to believe that Ballinesker Beach in the south east of Ireland, about two and a half hours road from Dublin, was for all intents and purposes a Hollywood movie set.
Over the summer of 25 years ago, Hollywood stars, including Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg, set up camp on the County Wexford beach to film part of Saving Private Ryan.
Irish Army reservists - members of the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) - were extras in the re-enactment of the D-Day landings during World War II world.< /p>
The DreamWorks film tells the story of the attempt to save the life of Private James Francis Ryan, whose three brothers had already died in action during war.
Image source, Getty Images
The FCA extras who participated in the landing scenes wore wetsuits under their uniforms to stay warm and as dry as possible.
A quarter of a century later, the One of these extras - John Fowler - vividly remembers the many rehearsals before the final takes.

Entertainment Jul 18, 2022 0 129 Add to Reading List

Tom Hanks learned the lines of Saving Private Ryan from headphones on an Irish beach

Director Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks on the set of Saving Private Ryan

On a hot sunny day, it's hard to believe that Ballinesker Beach in the south east of Ireland, about two and a half hours road from Dublin, was for all intents and purposes a Hollywood movie set.

Over the summer of 25 years ago, Hollywood stars, including Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg, set up camp on the County Wexford beach to film part of Saving Private Ryan.

Irish Army reservists - members of the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) - were extras in the re-enactment of the D-Day landings during World War II world.< /p>

The DreamWorks film tells the story of the attempt to save the life of Private James Francis Ryan, whose three brothers had already died in action during war.