I heard a year or more ago that they were making a movie of the Airborne troopers that held the causeway off Utah Beach on the second day. It was a terrible battle, and there were many heros that day. Is this that movie? Didn't look like it to me.
It is still very early in post-production, but I can fill you in on a few things....
This is not a sequel/prequel or anything like that. It is a stand alone project. The name "saints and soldiers" is only used for branding, product identification and packaging.
Looking back, if I thought I would ever get anther chance to make a subsequent WWII film after the original "Saints" we probably would have made it easier to do a pre-quill or sequel scenario, but hindsight is what it is....
We hope to eventually have several more "saints" films that we will be shooting over the next few years.
The troopers in this film are from the 517th CIT during operation dragoon, in the south of France, August 1944. It covers a brief period of time shortly after the initial invasion drop.
Very observant about Actor Corbin Allred who was "deacon" in the original "saints". He desperately wanted in on this project and pretty much called in all his favors with Ryan to get it done. The carbine, haircut and different uniform were all in an effort to "conceal" his identity from his part in the previous film. Corbin is a pretty amazing individual. He is, in my opinion, undervalued for his acting, enthusiasm and professionalism. He is not a froo-froo guy in any way, he is mans-man. He takes care of his family and works full time as a paramedic for a municipality and on many film sets. He is a genuinely nice guy, funny with one liners all day, serious when he needs to be, never whines, adds a lot of interpretive dialog to the character and always willing to talk to ANYBODY on set.
An additional (and personally favorable) dimension about Corbin is that he is very gun savvy. He is not bothered when surrounded with tons of fully armed extras. He has a Utah C.C. P. (even the beautiful makeup artist for the film has a CCP, the "ill show you mine if you show me yours" stories were commonplace)and actively carries his own personal sidearm. He literally lives with his weapons on set. For his roles he becomes intimately comfortably with the weapon he is using. He knows how they function, loads, un-load, safety, cleaning etc. He is as careful with his rifle as a real GI who lives by his weapon would be. Often at lunch break (along with most of the other cast) you would see him with his carbine over his shoulder as he stood in the chow line. Only on a rare occasion would he drop off his carbine to me while he was doing something else. (**** breaks mostly).
AP,
Not worried about long posts... just the content!
That would be cool to have more War films come out... the truth needs to be told, and remain relavent for future generations. All "we" ask... is to remain factual and accurate as possible!
these films look big, but are on a small budget footing. Unless the forests/deserts of Utah can double as the tropics of the pacific, I doubt we will ever have the $ to do it.
Last edited by American Patrol; 10-08-2011 at 01:17 PM.
Reason: mispelled words
The most brutal war? Try WW1! And the germans were just as nasty back then.
How about the Civil War?
AND every war before that?
Atilla the Hun could have given the nazi's a few lessons.
PM
