Saving private Ryan

I got to wondering how many think this is based on a true story.

sorry....I believe it was based on a compilation of stories from WWII.....and that option isn't there. I guess I would have to say fiction the way your answers are worded.

I believe it was based on a true story although I seem to recall two of the four brothers died on D-Day, one was presumed dead, and the forth was pulled from combat. Later the the brother presumed dead turned up alive somewhere. Great movie, one of the few I have watched more than once.

While a powerful movie, it is a work of fiction.

While the main story is mostly made up, the realistic part of the movie is the long opening sequence of the D-Day invasion. It had a few minor errors as well, but the movie did a great job of showing what a bloody mess the invasion was, and the heroism involved.

Stephen Ambrose liked to request synopsis from a lot of people and then write a book based on a compilation of those stories. He got one from my dad for "Into the Wild Blue" right before he died.

Just FYI:
Sullivan brothers:
The Sullivan brothers were five siblings who were all killed in action during or shortly after the sinking of the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52), the vessel on which they all served, on November 13, 1942, in World War II.

The Sullivans, natives of Waterloo, Iowa, were the sons of Tom and Alleta Sullivan. They were:

George Thomas Sullivan, 27 (born December 14, 1914), Gunner's Mate Second Class (George had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Gunner's Mate Third Class.)
Francis "Frank" Henry Sullivan, 26 (born February 18, 1916), Coxswain (Frank had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Seaman First Class.)
Joseph "Joe" Eugene Sullivan, 24 (born August 28, 1918), Seaman Second Class
Madison "Matt" Abel Sullivan, 23 (born November 8, 1919), Seaman Second Class
Albert "Al" Leo Sullivan, 20 (born July 8, 1922), Seaman Second Class


The brothers' story was filmed as the 1944 movie The Sullivans (later renamed The Fighting Sullivans) and inspired, at least in part, the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan.[9] The Sullivans were also briefly mentioned in Saving Private Ryan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_brothers

Based on or inspired by...

Goes to show that if you don't know how to write questions, you shouldn't write them.

2wlady wrote: Based on or inspired by...

Goes to show that if you don't know how to write questions, you shouldn't write them.

Why so critical? I guess I should stop asking questions too since I didn't excel in Engish.

Yep, CB (with the critical in YOUR name), be quiet.

Any question in a poll or survey should be clear. Questions should not be written so as to confuse the person answering the questions.

And this is more than just English grammar. There is an art/science combination to writing proper questions. I know this because I must write legally defensible questions for certifications. Very stringent rules. And a pain in the behind, although quite challenging.

This question and the answers in this survey were not clear, as evidenced by the many comments expounding on various meanings:

compilation of WWII stories
based on a true WWII story
work of fiction
main story made up
the Sullivans

Did the write actually want to know if it was based on a true story or inspired by a true story? If based on a true story, then the answers should have been different.