# A question about Saving Private Ryan **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407 "2011-03-12T13:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/61 "2011-03-16T04:15:17Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > As far as I know, yeah. Left the building without taking on Upham and disappears into the street. Ah, I thought maybe some detail oriented person might have spotted him being shot in the background at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/62 "2011-03-16T11:34:33Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > At 4:07, Mellish says something which I can’t hear. Anyone have any idea? > > Also, he starts crying at that moment, any interpretation as to what he’s crying about? Just nerves? Seeing a HY knife having that much effect on him? Something else? Oh feck, was he stabbed with the HY knife handed to him at the start of the film? Didn’t realise that either and I’m usually fairly observant when watching films. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/63 "2011-03-16T12:14:02Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Following the links, I see that you’re right. Wow, they sure look alike in the context of the movie. I wonder what possessed Spielberg to make them look so similar; it’s very confusing. Maybe it was intentional? All the German soldiers look alike, they might as well be the same guy. It dehumanizes them a bit, because they become “They”, an “other” group who you are opposed to. You’d be amazed what you can do to any of a group of people because you can’t be bothered to tell them apart as individuals. Also, fun fact, the soldiers who get killed as they come out of the bunker to surrender in the beginning of the movie were specifically not speaking German. They were supposed to be Eastern Europeans, the implication being that they were taken prisoner on the Eastern Front and forced to fight in the German army against the Americans and British, who didn’t know better or cared when faced with them trying to surrender. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/64 "2011-03-16T16:32:14Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Oh feck, was he stabbed with the HY knife handed to him at the start of the film? … No way it’s the same knife. [Hitler Youth Knife](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hitler_youth_knife_IMG_4406.png) [Mellish getting stabbed](http://www.sproe.com/images/screenshots/mellish-08-large.jpg) It does [_appear_](http://www.antiqueswords.com/category-13-Bayonets.htm) to be an American [M1](http://www.antiqueswords.com/product-1463-WWII-Period-U.S.-M1-Rifle-Bayonet--O.L.-1943-.htm) or [M-1905E1](http://www.olive-drab.com/od_edged_weapons_bayonet_m1905.php) bayonet, so it’s _possible_\* it is Mellish’s. :eek: (_There’s a set of hooks on the scabbard mouthpiece that engage with the scabbard catch on the bayonet to lock the bayonet in the scabbard of the M1. The scabbard catch button also actuates the hook that engages with the bayonet lug on the Garand so the button can’t be removed. Unless you removed of one of the scabbard hooks or didn’t push the bayonet all the way into the scabbard_, drawing the M1 in a struggle, let alone pulling someone else’s, could be . . . challenging. Enough of a problem that the catch button was completely redesigned for the [M5 bayonet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M5_bayonet). \*One of those details that they never deal with in movies, so I have no idea how, if at all, this was dealt with by soldiers in the field.) > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > At 4:07, Mellish says something which I can’t hear. Anyone have any idea? … From the SPROE, > [@](#): > > … Handed a Hitler Youth knife by Caparzo shortly after making their way off of the beach, Mellish joked that it was now a Shabbat challah cutter, a Jewish bread knife. … > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > … Also, he starts crying at that moment, any interpretation as to what he’s crying about? … He managed to survive the landing, instant battle fatigue. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/65 "2011-03-16T16:47:21Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > [Mellish getting stabbed](http://www.sproe.com/images/screenshots/mellish-08-large.jpg) This link didn’t work for me. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/66 "2011-03-16T16:50:59Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > This link didn’t work for me. [Screenshot 8](http://www.sproe.com/m/mellish.html) CMC fnord! > **[Saving Private Ryan: PFC Mellish](http://www.sproe.com/m/mellish.html)** > > private first class mellish (adam goldberg) in saving private ryan ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407/67 "2011-03-16T16:53:44Z")
Much better. Thanks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-saving-private-ryan/574407.md?page=3)