The Longest Day (1962)

The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.

Directors:

Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton,

Writers:

Cornelius Ryan (screenplay), Cornelius Ryan (book),

Stars:

Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Albert	...	Col. Thompson
Paul Anka	...	U.S. Army Ranger
Arletty	...	Madame Barrault
Jean-Louis Barrault	...	Father Louis Roulland
Richard Beymer	...	Pvt. Dutch Schultz
Hans Christian Blech	...	Maj. Werner Pluskat
Bourvil	...	Mayor of Colleville
Richard Burton	...	Flying Officer David Campbell
Wolfgang Büttner	...	Maj. Gen. Dr. Hans Speidel
Red Buttons	...	Pvt. John Steele
Pauline Carton	...	Maid
Sean Connery	...	Pvt. Flanagan
Ray Danton	...	Capt. Frank
Irina Demick	...	Janine Boitard (as Irina Demich)
Fred Dur	...	U.S. Army Ranger major

Storyline

Tells the story of the D-Day invasion of Normandy in WWII. There are dozens of characters, some seen only briefly, who together weave the story of five separate invasion points that made up the operation.

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Plot Keywords:

invasion | normandy | d day | free french | beach | 

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Taglines:

42 STARS IN THE LONGEST DAY

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

4 October 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

El día más largo del siglo

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

178 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Pundits nicknamed the film "Z-Day".

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Goofs

Features LCM-8s, which weren't built until 1954.

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Quotes

[a coded message to the Resistance, spoken in French]
Radio Announcer: Wounds my heart with a monotonous languor.

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Crazy Credits

Although the end credits begin with the phrase "in alphabetical order", John Wayne is listed last even though he is not last alphabetically (although he was "nearly" last).

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Connections

Referenced in A Bridge Too Far (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Fence Me In"
(uncredited)
Music by Cole Porter
Played on the radio when Gen. Cota is introduced

User Reviews

A splendid film by all counts.........

I'm old enough to have seen this epic when it was first released and, even as a nine year old, I was impressed. It was the great Daryl Zanuck's last hurrah and a fitting one (not his last film - just his last worthwhile film).

This is a great film. It's not perfect but its faults are few and minor. For me the most glaring fault is the amateurish delivery by the actor (a near ringer) portraying Ike. Also, the very beautiful actress portraying the French resistance fighter is wearing a very 1960s hairdo (a common problem with Hollywood films).

I see this film every memorial day. It helps me to remember my father, a Navy gunner's mate in the Pacific theater and my maternal grandfather, an island-hopping Sgt. in the Marine Corps. Personally, as a veteran, I find this movie as realistic as I think it was possible to be in 1961.

Is it the best American war film? No. I would place it in the top 10 alongside the following:

1. All Quiet On the Western Front (1930) 2. Platoon (1986) 3. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) 4. In Which We Serve (British - 1943) 5. Patton (1970) 6. They Were Expendable (1945) 7. Twelve O'Clock High (1949) 8. Paths of Glory (1957) 9. Grand Illusion (1940?) 10.The Longest Day (1962)