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.

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Plot Keywords:

invasion | operation overlord | general | allies | preparation | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Details

Official Sites:

A&E

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 Television Networks,Lionel Chetwynd Productions,Stephanie Germain Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Selleck, a non-smoker, temporarily took up the habit to play Dwight Eisenhower, who was, according to Selleck in the DVD's bonus feature, a four-pack-a-day smoker at the time. In 1949, Eisenhower was advised by his doctor and friend, Howard Snyder, to cut down on the cigarettes to one pack per day. Eisenhower initially did so, but after a few days, he decided that counting cigarettes was worse than smoking and quit permanently in 1949. He never smoked again.

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Goofs

The person forecasting the weather mentioned "the jet stream" as the cause for the rapid moving weather pattern. The jet stream wasn't fully understood until the fall of 1944 and wasn't named until even later.

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Quotes

Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery: I'll be off, then.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: I'll walk you out.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supposed to be a good movie.
Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery: Not much taste for the cinema myself. Besides, Never enough time for preparation, is there?
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Well, we all need some recreation. A movie once a week, let the hair down seems to do the trick.
Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery: If you say so. Although, if you don't mind me saying so... that jeering when you came on the screen. A bit much.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Good natured as I see it.
Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery: Undisciplined.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: So is using German troop movements to push your plan for a dagger thrust again. The broad...
[...]

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Connections

Features Sahara (1943)

User Reviews

Compelling character study of Ike, gripping D-Day strategy tale

There are no combat scenes in this wartime drama, yet it offers a compelling portrait of Ike and a gripping depiction of all the strategy meetings involved in the Allied landing in Normandy. I'm one of the few who has not yet seen Saving Private Ryan, and think this might be a useful movie to have watched first. The film chronicles the complicated planning meetings during the three month build up to D-Day, the operation masterfully orchestrated by the American General Dwight D. Eisenhower in his position as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.

Tom Selleck is positively brilliant in his portrayal of Ike. Like every other viewer, I knew what the real Eisenhower looked like but while watching this movie, I didn't see Tom Selleck or Magnum. I saw Ike. The movie gives a moving portrait of this confident and decisive but not egotistical general. Fortunately, it avoids any depiction of an alleged romantic affair with his chauffeur Sommersby, best not to cast needless aspersions. It especially provides a touching glimpse into this leader's inner turmoil, secret doubts, and emotional anguish at sending soldiers into a dangerous battle bound to involve high Allied casualties. The battle depicted in this film is truly Eisenhower's inner one.

The most wrenching scene is definitely the one in which Eisenhower himself visits the paratroopers on the eve of the landing. As this group is expected to suffer especially high casualties, he realizes that he is undoubtedly sending many of them off to their deaths. However, given the dire wartime situation, he realizes he has no choice. His unpretentious friendliness with these paratroopers is touching as he tries to put them at ease, shares a cigarette with them, and shows genuine interest in their personal lives...uncharacteristic of a military commander in his position.

The inner squabbling between the generals is also interesting, the various egos of those who disagree on strategy. It's obvious why there needs to be one leader with the final word! Ike exhibits both able tactical strategy but also admirable people skills, dealing respectfully with both the political leaders and the other generals, seeking their opinions, but unafraid to ultimately insist on his chosen course of action. Generals Montgomery, Patton, and Bradley are all highly involved in the planning operation. I'm no expert on the historical accuracy about any of these generals, so will leave such commentary to others better informed.

Charles DeGaulle is certainly cast as an irritating, unsympathetic, and uncooperative obstacle to the Allies' plans, though some have commented that this depiction is inaccurate. Hopefully. While I hesitate to disparage the dead, he comes across as quite despicable here. Churchill is also shown of course, behaving very Churchillian!

The planning operation of Operation Overlord makes a riveting story. I was especially taken with the operation's total dependence on the weather reports near the target date. The pressure must certainly have been on these meteorologists to get their forecast right! Sellick brought to life an historical figure I had previously really never thought much of, though Eisenhower must have been regarded quite heroically in public opinion for him so have gained such an endearing nickname. I hope his portrayal in this movie is accurate, because I would like to believe that Ike actually was in real life the very capable but unpretentious and compassionate man of integrity depicted here.