Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)

A dramatization of the 90 days leading up to Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, and how General Dwight Eisenhower, against all odds, brilliantly orchestrated the most important military maneuver in modern history.

Director:

Robert Harmon

Writer:

Lionel Chetwynd

Stars:

Tom Selleck, James Remar, Timothy Bottoms

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Selleck	...	Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
James Remar	...	Gen. Omar Bradley
Timothy Bottoms	...	Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith
Ian Mune	...	Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Bruce Phillips	...	Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery
John Bach	...	Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory
Nick Blake	...	Air Marshal Arthur W. Tedder
Kevin J. Wilson	...	RAdm. Bert Ramsay
Gerald McRaney	...	Patton
Christopher James Baker	...	Group Cpt. Major James Stagg (as Christopher Baker)
George Shevtsov	...	General Charles DeGaulle
Gregor McLennan	...	Captain Chapman
Paul Gittins	...	Major General Henry Miller
Bruce Hopkins	...	U.S. Colonel at Savoy
Catherine Boniface	...	Woman at Savoy

Storyline

This is the story of the senior-level preparations for the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 from the time of Dwight D. Eisenhower's appointment as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, to the establishment of the beachhead in Normandy. The film recounts many of the trials and tribulation Ike had to face, not the least of which were the many prima donnas surrounding him (Patton, Montgomery and especially de Gaulle) and the need for tact and diplomacy to bring all sides together for what would be the largest amphibious assault ever attempted.

---

Plot Keywords:

invasion | operation overlord | general | allies | preparation | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Tom Selleck and co-star Timothy Bottoms portray men who went to become President. Tom Selleck playing Dwight D Eisenhower who became President after Harry S. Truman; Timothy Bottoms portrayed George W. Bush, President from 2001 to 2009 in DC 9/11: Time of Crisis (2003), also written by Lionel Chetwynd.

---

Goofs

At 6'4", Tom Selleck towers over most of the other characters. Eisenhower was only 5'10" and was shorter by 4 inches than George Patton, at 6'2".

---

Quotes

General Charles DeGaulle: You say local administrations will stay in place?
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: For stability, General.
General Charles DeGaulle: Only I shall decide what to do with Vichy officials. No, no, it is all quite impossible. I will never accept that you can speak for all of the allies.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: The British have, the Canadians, the Australians, the exiled Dutch and Poles. Roosevelt and Churchill have agreed. Come to think of it, you're the only exception.
General Charles DeGaulle: You will not treat us like Italy. We are not German allies.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: In fact the Vichy government is precisely that, General....
[...]

---

Connections

Features Cover Girl (1944)

User Reviews

Superb - true war drama without combat

I would really recommend seeing the DVD due to the excellent commentary by Selleck, the writer and director.

Argument about the Second World War - what went wrong, what went right, why things were done - and of course about the historical accuracy of any depiction in film - is one of those great indulgences of mankind.

But I think this movie very faithful to history - and those who say that a single particular meeting with Churchill at which Y was decided did not occur, because instead there were a dozen meetings in which Y was gradually decided -- or that there were also A, B and C people at other meetings - are simply not dealing with every movie's need to compress a true story.

I think this movie (though it does acknowledge that there was some condensing of character and incident) is truly excellent.

There is a maturity about the playing (and Selleck is really superb - a tribute to the seriousness with which he took the task of playing a hero who had an obviously immense impact on history) and sober approach to the issues -- that make it very moving.

The movie does a wonderful job at showing Ike grappling with:

a) the difficulties of others' personalities (DeGaulle, Patton, Miller, Montgomery),

b) the tactical decisions (how near to the landing do you have the paratroops drop - and do you change your mind as you learn of German troop movements? The need for a full or half moon as well as good weather; the likelihood of further delay to see if things improve -causing a loss of German surprise about place of invasion).

It's just superb in every way - it will make you wish this were part of a 12 or 14 hour series about Eisenhower in wartime.

Selleck (with his Midwestern accent and - for this movie - very deliberate in movement and speech - makes a superb Eisenhower).

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ike: Thunder in June

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Airport, Ardmore, Auckland, New Zealand

Company Credits

Production Co:

A+E Networks, Lionel Chetwynd Productions, Stephanie Germain Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9