USA: STEVEN SPIELBERG AND TOM HANKS AT PREMIERE OF TV MOVIE SERIES "BAND OF BROTHERS" ABOUT GROUP OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Record ID: 392032

  • Title: USA: STEVEN SPIELBERG AND TOM HANKS AT PREMIERE OF TV MOVIE SERIES "BAND OF BROTHERS" ABOUT GROUP OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
  • Date: 7th September 2001
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (REUTERS) SCU STEVEN SPIELBERG, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AT PREMIERE SMV TOM HANKS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AT PREMIERE WITH WIFE RITA WILSON SCU SOUNDBITE (English) TOM HANKS SAYING, "There's no other place to do this. The material is there. Because we all took it over there, you see, in the 1940s and we didn't bother bringing it back, so a lot of this stuff is over there."
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA54RNX22QAQF2LAZWNHHKM5C4M
  • Story Text: A true epic, "Band of Brothers" painstakingly charts the progress of a single U.S. Army company from before it parachuted into France on D-Day through its capture of Hitler's Eagle Nest Hideaway at the end of World War II.
    "Band of Brothers" follows the U.S. Army's Easy Company and their journey into World War II, the details of their daily life on the warfront, and their way out of battle.
    The made-for-TV movie is executive produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg who were obviously influenced by their work together on "Saving Private Ryan." At the Los Angeles premiere for "Band of Brothers," Hanks talked about the importance of using many of the original artefacts and of shooting in Britain.
    "There's no other place to do this. The material is there. Because we all took it over there, you see, in the 1940s and we didn't bother bringing it back, so a lot of this stuff is over there," Hanks told Reuters.
    The ten-part, $120 million program will air on the U.S.
    cable channel HBO beginning September 9. The cast includes such diverse names as "Friends" star David Schwimmer and even former New Kids on the Block member Donnie Wahlberg who said the cast had amazing access to the real-life soldiers they portrayed.
    "We've spent a lot of time together since the show's been finished, but we talked probably five nights a week when I was shooting," Wahlberg said.
    And the real stars of the show, the veterans, were in agreement that everyone's hard work paid off. Veteran Dunne Verandleman said, "I think they've done an excellent job on the whole project, about the best that could be done." "Lots of tears were shed watching it," said another former soldier.
    Equally moved by the topic is Hanks. He said that even after "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers," he's not yet over his interest in World War II.
    "It's not like a thing that fills itself up and is done.
    I'm constantly amazed by what everybody went through at this time. I'm not more done with it than I am done reading about communism or the great influenza virus of 1918. There's just something about history that I find fascinating and quite calming," Hanks said.
    Hanks and Spielberg hope not to calm, but to incite interest, to educate, and to pay tribute with "Band of Brothers," a series that could prove to be a deeply moving experience for audiences.
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