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:

John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Richard Burton

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

In 1944, the U.S. Army and Allied forces plan a huge invasion landing in Normandy, France. Despite bad weather, General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the okay and the Allies land at Normandy. General Norma Cota travels with his men onto Omaha Beach. With much effort, and lost life, they get off the beach, traveling deep into French territory. The German military, due to arrogance, ignorance and a sleeping Adolf Hitler, delay their response to the Allied landing, with crippling results.

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Plot Keywords:

world war two | year 1944 | amphibious assault | parachute drop | invasion | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was considered for the role of himself, and indicated his willingness. However, it was decided that make-up artists couldn't make him appear young enough to play his World War II self.

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Goofs

The image is flopped for one of the ships shown at the start of the naval bombardment (third close-up). The letters "HONNEU" on a plaque are reversed. The visible letters "honneu" are part of the French naval motto: Honneur, patrie, valeur, discipline (honor, country, valor, discipline).

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Quotes

Lt. Col. Ocker: [Pluskat, inside a bunker, has just realized the Normandy invasion has begun and is warning Ocker, who is skeptical] And just where, my dear Pluskat, are those ships going?
Maj. Werner Pluskat: Straight for me!

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Crazy Credits

There is a 20-second overture on a black screen, no 20th Century Fox logo (in spite of this being one of their most expensive productions), and a six-minute cold open before the title is displayed. Apart from the title, there are no credits at the beginning of the film. All cast and crew credits are at the end of the film.

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Alternate Versions

Some video copies omit Jeffrey Hunter's "dear John discussion" with a fellow soldier abourd a troop transport. Jean Servais' part as a French admiral giving a speech about firing upon one's homeland was cut out too.

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Connections

Referenced in Film 2018: Never Say Never Again Special (1983)

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Soundtracks

The Longest Day
Written by Paul Anka
Performed by Mitch Miller with His Orchestra and Chorus

User Reviews

One of the Greatest War Films Ever Bar None!!!

The Longest Day is one of the greatest war films ever. Bar none. The acting, the cinematography, the storline and the acuraccy are great. if any of you fans watch AMC watch the Backstory behind this movie. It's amazing that it was even made. This is Zanuck's greatest work. The perspective from the different combatants regardless of their rank is great. Like somebody else said it did not portray the Germans as cartoonish evil doers. It gave a good honest portrayal that I wish more war movies would have. As a history buff I love to see movies from other countries soldier perspectives. This captures it better than every other war movie. The only one that comes close is Tora, Tora, Tora. There is one drawback however and that is the rangers at Pointe De Hoc. They did find the big guns but,they were further inland and later destroyed before they could be used. Zanuck used this to show the futility and waste of war. Other than that is a classic with very few flaws. The comparison between SPR and TLD are well like comparing apples and oranges. Yes, SPR has gritty realism that stuns you, but like another reviewer said, this was 1962 and the movie was about the entire scope of the battle. It was not meant to be up close and personal like SPR. Many of us appreciate movies from different perspctives. This is not a movie you should not rent. You should own it as part of your video collection. This movie may appear to be pro-war and patriotic, but Zanuck himself said he wanted to make an anti-war film. I think he did so magnificantly. He captured the essence of the book where Cornelius Ryan said he wrote about the men,not the battles. That is why Zanucks film is so successful. He captured the men and their feelings, whether they were American, British,German's or French and what they were feeling going into one WW2's most decisive battle. This is a Four Star Classic!!!!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

4 October 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Longest Day

Filming Locations:

Bénouville, Calvados, France

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Darryl F. Zanuck Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

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