Saving Private Ryan - Save the Cat Movie Example Beat Sheet
Saving Private Ryan Save the Cat – War Structure
Saving Private Ryan (1998), directed by Steven Spielberg, is a harrowing war film that explores the brutality of World War II while focusing on themes of sacrifice, duty, and brotherhood. Using Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! beat sheet, we’ll break down the film’s structure and examine how it’s continued to engage audiences for years.
For a refresher on the Save the Cat story structure, check out our last article where we go over each Blake Snyder beat in detail. Save the Cat! is Stop #2 on our journey through popular structure theories. First, we looked at Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, and next we’ll dive into John Truby’s Anatomy of Story.
Save the Cat - All 15 Steps:
Beat #1: Opening Image
The film opens on the WWII cemetery in Normany. A sea of graves surrounds an elderly man. He moves to one grave in particular and is taken by it, capturing his emotion.
Beat #2: Set-Up
During the D-Day sequence, the story introduces Captain Miller and his unit in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. They’re an efficient team, highly skilled in the art of war, and they work together well. We set up that this team is capable of pulling off a high-stakes mission.
Beat #3: Theme Stated
General George C. Marshall learns about James Francis Ryan’s situation and how his three brothers have already been killed. He reads a letter from Abraham Lincoln that he sent to a mother of five during the Civil War. The letter moves everyone in the room.
Marshall then states that will in fact send out a rescue team to find Ryan and get him home because he doesn’t want to have to write that letter that Lincoln did.
The theme is about the importance of the individual soldier vs. the army as a whole. The one is as important as the many. But also, as a secondary theme, we recognize the sacrifices necessary to win a war and keep a country safe.
Beat #4: Catalyst
Captain Miller receives the mission of finding and saving Private Ryan.
Beat #5: Debate
Sergeant Horvath debates with Captain Miller about the mission to find Ryan. He pokes holes in it, raising questions to Miller. Corporal Upham does something similar. He’s also nervous about the trip to Neuville, where there are heavy German reinforcements.
The team is hesitant to take on the mission, emphasizing their fear and its danger.
Beat #6: Break Into Two
Captain Miller and his team embark on the journey, trekking through the French countryside.
Beat #7: B Story
The B Story, in the case of Saving Private Ryan, is not about connecting or meeting a specific person, rather it’s about learning more about the true identity of Captain Miller. Rumors and whispers arise from the men. Each wants to know who he really is and where he’s from.
This subplot is more of a discussion subplot, but it enriches the story and the theme. It also tells us more about the characters and the perspective of each on the war.
Beat #8: Fun and Games
Perhaps not appropriately titled for this film, but the Fun and Games section involves Miller and his squad going on their first series of mini-missions. They travel to different French cities and communes searching for James Francis Ryan.
Along the way, they face skirmishes with the Germans, and a sniper kills Private Caparzo.
Beat #9: Midpoint
At the Midpoint, the hero typically faces a “false victory” or “false defeat.” In Saving Private Ryan, Captain Miller’s crew locates Private Ryan, only to find out he’s the wrong Private Ryan. They’re back to square one. The entire team feels frustrated. This is a false defeat.
Beat #10: Bad Guys Close In
Saving Private Ryan takes another interesting approach to this beat on the Blake Snyder beat sheet. The inner demons of the men and their frustrations began to eat away at them.
There’s fighting amongst them, conflicts of choices and decisions. Captain Miller makes a questionable call about attacking a German machine gun. They let a German go free who ends up coming back to attack them later. Wade, the medic, dies.
Beat #11: All is Lost
Miller and his men finally locate Ryan at a bridge in Ramelle, but Ryan refuses to go with them. They go back and forth with Ryan trying to convince him to leave the bridge, but Ryan stands firm. Miller’s team is obviously very frustrated with this decision considering everything they’ve been through.
Beat #12: Dark Night of the Soul
Miller and his team debate what they should do. Their mission is complete, but at the same time, it’s not. Do they leave Ryan to die, or do they stay and try to help him protect the bridge? They’re at a loss.
Beat #13: Break Into Three
The men decide to stay and protect the bridge with Private Ryan. A German infantry with tanks and heavy weaponry closes in on their position. The tension and pace increase as we push in toward the climax.
Beat #14: Finale
Miller, his team, Private Ryan, Ryan’s group battle it out against the Germans. They’re heavily outnumbered and outgunned. The retreat to blow the bridge. The Germans kill many of the team, including Captain Miller.
The last of the men are rescued by reinforcements and air support. Ryan looks down at Captain Miller’s body, grateful for his sacrifice. He realize had Miller and his men left, he might not have made it this far and probably would’ve died before the reinforcements arrived.
Beat #15: Final Image
Back to the cemetery from the opening scene. We see the same the image again. But before, where thought it was Captain Miller, we realize it is Private Ryan. He survived the war. He looks down at Captain Miller’s grave and remembers and appreciates his sacrifice.
Save the Cat Structure - Final Thoughts
It’s important to analyze popular films and stories to see how they're structured and how you can learn to apply structure and use it to your advantage. Save the Cat! is just one of the many structure theories. Check out our next article on John Truby’s 7 Story Structure Steps.
The Save the Cat method is a good overview, but it is not an all-encompassing beat sheet. It’s an introductory tool to structure. Emotionally dynamic films like Saving Private Ryan have many more steps. Save the Cat story structure isn’t giving us all the beats and act breaks, just the main ones.
Regardless, it is the structure of and building of intensity of the war beats in Saving Private Ryan that make it resonate, make it impactful, and make it one of the best war films ever made.
