FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

"Saving Private Ryan" question

| Posted in General Discussion on November 24, 2001 01:15am

*
I heard that Kevin Cosner played the role of the German sniper in the tower. Is that true? I saw it the other night and it didn’t look like him.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. David_Mason | Nov 18, 2001 08:22am | #1

    *
    I don't think that was him other wise we would of heard about it by now.I've got it on DVD and will try to see if it's him.

    1. Mongo_ | Nov 18, 2001 09:26am | #2

      *I don't think it was him, because if he was in it, the movie would have been boring.

      1. Gabe_Martel | Nov 18, 2001 06:21pm | #3

        *Trivia....A company that I used to be a partner supplied all the German weapons used in the making of Saving Private Ryan.Marstar.comGabe Martel

        1. Gabe_Martel | Nov 18, 2001 10:11pm | #4

          *oops fast on the fingers slow in the thinking.marstar.caGabe

          1. Boss_Hog | Nov 19, 2001 02:29pm | #5

            *Anyone else think the swearing and other content were a bit too much for prime time TV?

          2. SHGLaw | Nov 19, 2001 02:39pm | #6

            *Are you kidding? At least it came close to giving a more historically accurate feeling. I saw five minutes of the Britney Spears concert last night as my pre-teen daughter watched, with drool coming out of the side of her mouth. Now that was disgusting for prime time TV. No redeaming social value at all.SHG

          3. Gabe_Martel | Nov 20, 2001 12:31am | #7

            *Saw the film when it first came out and thought it was intense and accurate.Too much for prime time tv, I don't think so. I would rather watch this film than Rosie O'Donnell anytime.GabeWar isn't meant to be funny and entertaining.

          4. Boss_Hog | Nov 20, 2001 02:57am | #8

            *Gabe -I have no doubts that it was fairly accurate, and I liked the movie. And I feel the same about Rosie. But it wasn't appropriate for everybody, and it dang sure was too much for primetime. No one can watch what their kids watch every second, and I don't want them watching that. (yet)

          5. Gabe_Martel | Nov 20, 2001 03:38am | #9

            *Ron,I would not, for a second, say that this movie is appropriate for all viewers. Responsible parents should take an interest in what is appropriate for their children.However, I could see this movie being part of a group discussion with young teenagers about the not so glorious side of war.Back to Rosie. Too many television programs are being used to alter/limit the way people look at things and events around them through the eyes of one mindset. Hollywood should not attempt to control a nation's thinking.People who are shot and killed one week do not come back for an encore or a guest appearance on another show. It is not cool to beat up on others, no matter who they are. Drugs/alcohol does kill. Abuse does rob people of their youth/innocence. Violence is a problem that must be addressed by honest politicians and we must demand honesty from our politicians.Off the soapboxGabe

          6. xJohn_Sprung | Nov 20, 2001 04:24am | #10

            *Um, you guys watch Rosie? ..... ;-)-- J.S.

          7. Gabe_Martel | Nov 20, 2001 04:59am | #11

            *John, What the hell made you think that, partner?Wouldn't watch that two faced gun control advocate if she was on 24/7 on all channels.Gabe

          8. kai_ | Nov 20, 2001 06:32am | #12

            *She's two-faced, Gabe? About what? I haven't watched her in years; I liked her the first year, when she was funnier, I think.

          9. Luka_ | Nov 20, 2001 06:54am | #13

            *One example, and maybe the one Gabe is thinking of...The guy who played Magnum P.I. Tom SelleckHe made a statement about gun control that was not in line with what she believes. Both of them had been public in their statements. After that, she asked him to come on her show. He responded by saying that he would come on, only if she did not talk about his public statement, or about gun control. She promised she would not do so. When he arrived, he had a talk with her backstage and reiterated that he did not want to talk about gun control. She again agreed that she would not. And what does she immediately start blasting him on, once he sits down ? Gun control, and his public statement.I have always kinda liked Rosie. But that was two-faced, devious, and flat out wrong.

          10. Gabe_Martel | Nov 20, 2001 02:20pm | #14

            *Not only that Luka but she preaches gun control for everyone else other than her own body guard.BTW Tom Selleck is one hell of a fly fisherman and puts in the full day at it when he comes up to BC. A friend of mine used to guide him and was impressed by his honesty to the sport.Gabe

          11. Boss_Hog | Nov 20, 2001 02:57pm | #15

            *> Responsible parents should take an interest in what is appropriate for their children.I agree, but you can't watch them every second. My kids are old enough that I leave them home for short periods of time if I run to the store or some other errand. When I'm gone what's to keep them from picking up the remote and flipping through the channels? That's the kind of stuff that concerns me.

          12. Boss_Hog | Nov 20, 2001 02:59pm | #16

            *Maybe Gabe said she's 2 faced because of her double chin......

          13. jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Nov 20, 2001 05:19pm | #17

            *I have a question about that movie. You remember when they captured that German, and several of the guys wanted to shoot him, but Tom Hanks let him go? Was that the same character who killed the G.I. with a bayonet, then shot Tom Hanks, then the interpreter shot him?

          14. Stephen_Hazlett | Nov 20, 2001 05:40pm | #18

            *Gabe,I think I would be happy to see a bit more gun controll, But I will agree with you on Rosie's essential dishonesty. Anybody else remember her comercials for Kmart( Who sells guns and ammo)

          15. Ron_Teti | Nov 20, 2001 05:53pm | #19

            *Gabe,i remember that she advocate gun control= take our guns away but she file for a concealed weopons permit for her own body guard because of supposed threats. so what she is saying is the because shes the size of 747 and ray charles could hit her with a bb gun at 200 yards , her safety is a exception to her belief. What a crock and people still watch that fat cow. i used to think she was funny and intertaining until she went public with the gun control stuff, now I dont watch her show and if i ever saw her advertise wouldnt buy anything that porker she was hocking.

          16. Doug_Recko_ | Nov 20, 2001 06:33pm | #20

            *Crazy Legs-I don;t know if that German was the one who slowly stabbed the American up in the bell tower (boy that scene made me so angry...guess it's good movie making), but he was the German that Upham (the interpreter) eventually shot.But I don't know if he was the one that shot Capt Miller (Tom Hanks)So basically, I didn't answer your questins, did I??

          17. Cloud_Hidden | Nov 21, 2001 03:17am | #21

            *The one they let go was the one who stabbed the guy, me thinks, and that scene's why I won't watch the movie a second time. The desperation in the GI's face--the way he wanted time to stop for just another second so he could think clearly--it creeps me out more than any other scene in any other movie. Usually I watch movies and DW says, "how can so-and-so say that" and I'll say "be/c the script writer made him, duuuuh." But this scene was waaaaay to real for me to put myself through again.

          18. Mongo_ | Nov 21, 2001 06:45am | #22

            *The German that Hanks let go was the one that shot Hanks.This is the only movie that I've ever gone to see with my Dad. He asked me to go with him. After the movie was over and the theater lights came on, some young'un sitting behind us said something like "Wow that was just like being there..."My Dad turned to him and said "Not even close...If it were 'just like being there,' about a third of the people in this theater would be dead."I thought it a very vivid portrayal of combat. A sign of the intensity of the film was that, while sitting through the movie, I heard virtually no one talking, whispering, giggling, munching popcorn, or slurping soda.I never considered SPR as a movie for kids, a movie for teens, or a movie for adults. It's a movie about combat, and it's a fairly honest portrayal.

          19. Rich_Beckman | Nov 21, 2001 06:53am | #23

            *A bit of a tangent...Mercifully, I have no experience with combat, but another film that I suspect gives a reasonably accurate picture of combat is b Enemy At The Gates.As in SPR, the openning sequence is especially disturbing.Rich Beckman

          20. kai_ | Nov 21, 2001 07:59am | #24

            *Thanks Luka and Gabe. Definitely sounds two-faced.

          21. Mike_Smith | Nov 21, 2001 08:14am | #25

            *jimbo.. as some have already said.. yes.. the one that tom hanks did right by joined up with his german buddies and came back and killed all of them..spielberg took the guys steel pot off so you could be sure to identify him.."no good deed goes unpunished"

          22. Doug_Recko_ | Nov 21, 2001 05:43pm | #26

            *Rich,Being very intrigued by the Eastern front myself, I second your recommendation of "Enemy at the Gates"I simply can't imagine what Russia went through. 20 million dead....I know this might create a big stir here, but I believe that Russia, not the US, played the more major role in defeating Hitler.Funny, but during high school history, there was nary a mention of the Russian campaign...

          23. Frenchy_Dampier | Nov 22, 2001 04:51am | #27

            *Gabe, What's going on here? I find myself in agreement with you. Saving Private Ryan is a decent portrial of combat, at least some of the realities of combat. Death arrives in gruesome gore, young men who are frightened use profane language, and if I were king I'd make every politician watch both SPR and the one that was released just before that shows the brutality of war before they make their chest thumping speech... Is it a movie for children to watch? No not young children but sometime before they reach their mid teens they need to see that kind of movie..... they need to understand what they might be asked to do

          24. Gabe_Martel | Nov 22, 2001 05:43am | #28

            *Frenchy,Stranger things have happenned.Gabe

          25. jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Nov 22, 2001 09:30am | #29

            *Doug, Cloud, Mike - yeah, I thought so. The first time I saw it I caught that he killed Tom Hanks, but then this time I picked up on the stabbing. Anybody ever read "Billy Budd" by Melville? Similar fatalistic moral."The Thin Red Line" was a pretty good war flick, too.

          26. Paul_Nelson | Nov 22, 2001 09:50am | #30

            *Jim, to back up a couple of posts, the German who killed the American GI with the bayonet was not the same one let go by Hanks. They look very similar, and both have their helmets off, but if you look very closely at the uniforms of the two soldiers, the one who killed with the bayonet was Waffen SS. You can see the lightning flashes on his collar. The one let go by Hanks was regular German army.We had a very intense argument at work a few years ago regarding this very subject and one of my colleagues was absolutely adamant that they were two different soldiers. I didn't believe it until we watched the video at work and saw the difference on freeze frame.I lost a few bucks on that bet.

          27. Frenchy_Dampier | Nov 23, 2001 10:18am | #31

            *Paul, get your money back, It's entirely possible that at the reorginization center some officer assigned him to a differant unit before sending him back into combat... The Irony of the situation is too great for a screenwriter to ignore........ IMHO

          28. Paul_Nelson | Nov 23, 2001 07:35pm | #32

            *Frenchy, you make a good point about the Re-organization center, and if there was more real time elapsed in the movie, it might work, but the battle was raging over one afternoon, and I doubt they had time to issue the soldier with a new uniform.I agree with you that the irony of having the same soldier kill Tom Hanks is too much for a screenwriter to ignore, but it was a different guy who knifed the private with a bayonet. I didn't believe it myself the first time I saw the film, but like I mentioned in my last post, we did a frame by frame comparison of the video, and it's definitely two different soldiers. The bayonet killer is bigger, and his face is different. It's the haircut that fools you.Anyway, if you want another opinion, check out this movie FAQ site: http://www.cinemayhem.com/savingprivateryan/faq/faq.htm

          29. Pete_Draganic | Nov 24, 2001 01:15am | #33

            *Not only do I think that SPR was one of the finest movies of all time, I also think that it should be required viewing for all highschool students.... maybe they should also have to write an essay on it.Pete

  2. allen_schell | Nov 24, 2001 01:15am | #34

    *
    I heard that Kevin Cosner played the role of the German sniper in the tower. Is that true? I saw it the other night and it didn't look like him.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

FHB Summit 2025 — Design, Build, Business

Join some of the most experienced and recognized building professionals for two days of presentations, panel discussions, networking, and more.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Building Codes
  • Old Boots Learn New Tricks
  • Install Denim Insulation Like a Pro

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data