Television stations from Hawaii to North Carolina refused to show the film. The broadcaster ABC had scheduled it to mark Veterans’ Day and had promised to pay any government fines the affiliates incurred because of offensive language in the script.

One station owner blamed the mutiny on a new “timidity” at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which followed Janet Jackson flashing a breast during the televised Super Bowl in February. Prompted by a massive letter-writing campaign by viewers, the agency, chaired by Michael Powell, son of Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, imposed a $550,000 (£300,000) fine on CBS-owned stations that unwittingly aired the revealing moment.

Since then the FCC’s stricter application of anti-obscenity and indecency laws has prompted stations to blur out nudity, even in a non-sexual context. Some television executives predict further self-censorship with the re-election of President Bush, who has the backing of groups that accuse Hollywood of wilfully promoting a decay in moral values.

Defenders of Saving Private Ryan, which stars Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, say that its use of the “f” and the “s” words and the gut-spilling are hardly gratuitous. But stations are nervous of losing their licences when they come up for renewal if they go along with ABC’s decision not to replace the swearing with polite alternatives.

Resistance to the film comes at a time of huge support among American Christians for Mel Gibson’s gruesome portrayal of Christ’s crucifixion in The Passion.

But Randy Sharp, of the American Family Association in Mississippi, said: “The Passion comes nowhere near the violence of Saving Private Ryan.”

He said that 4,000 supporters had promised to file complaints with the FCC if local stations showed the Spielberg film before 10pm, as planned.

In a statement, Mr Sharp said his group was not against the film and its “graphic depictions of atrocious injuries, mental stress, profane language, and brutality,” just the decision not to edit out the rude words.

Last night ABC vowed to show Saving Private Ryan unedited, in prime time, setting itself up for a possible showdown with the FCC.

Stations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Honolulu, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando and Phoenix said they planned to replace the film, even though many showed it on Veterans’ Day in 2001 and 2002.

Citadel Communications, which owns stations in Des Moines, Sioux City and Lincoln, Nebraska, said it too was reluctantly scrapping the film.

“We think it’s a patriotic, artistic tribute to our fighting forces,” Ray Cole, Citadel’s president, said. “To be put in this position is unfortunate and reflects the timidity that exists at the commission right now.”

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