Ike: Countdown to D-Day

TV Movie
20042004
PGPG
1h 29m

Tom Selleck in Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)

Drama History War

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 impor... Read allA 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.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.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys
- 10 nominations total

Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)

Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhoweras Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Gen. Omar Bradleyas Gen. Omar Bradley

Timothy Bottoms

Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smithas Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith

Prime Minister Winston Churchillas Prime Minister Winston Churchill

Gen. Bernard Law Montgomeryas Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery

Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Malloryas Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory

Air Marshal Arthur W. Tedderas Air Marshal Arthur W. Tedder

Kevin J. Wilson

RAdm. Bert Ramsayas RAdm. Bert Ramsay

Gen. George S. Pattonas Gen. George S. Patton

Christopher James Baker

Group Cpt. Major James Staggas Group Cpt. Major James Stagg
(as Christopher Baker)

George Shevtsov

General Charles DeGaulleas General Charles DeGaulle

Gregor McLennan

Captain Chapmanas Captain Chapman

Major General Henry Milleras Major General Henry Miller

U.S. Colonel at Savoyas U.S. Colonel at Savoy

Catherine Boniface

Woman at Savoyas Woman at Savoy

King Georgeas King George

Queen Elizabethas Queen Elizabeth
(as Carol Seay)

Major Wiattas Major Wiatt

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. —garykmcd

invasion preparation operation overlord military general 26 more

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.

Goofs
The sound effect of the old typewriter on screen was the sound of an IBM Selectric Typewriter--the typewriter with a ball with the letters on it--a unique sound very different from an old, manual typewriter.

Quotes
King George VI: I am impressed by the detail, the comprehensiveness of your planning. The expected losses, the sheer carnage...
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: I also ache at that thought, your majesty. I remember my first trip to Europe as a young man, and I felt blessed to be here, to see it, to touch the origins of my own country that I love so dearly. I hoped one day all young Americans will have the same opportunity. Now hundreds of thousands will, along with Britons, and Canadians and European Allies fighting to return home. This kind of visit isn't what I had in mind. But if they do not offer the sacrifice in blood now, we will all pay dearly with added gallons later. So if some must die, it is in a worthy cause.

Connections
Featured in The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004)

Top review

8/10

Not a single shot fired -

thank God. The closest we come to a battle scene in "Ike" are the quotes from Laurence Olivier's "Henry V". I do believe that's a small mistake, though: I don't think that film hit the theaters until 1945, somewhat too late for D-day. However, it's justified, artistically: we think of Henry's bombast (one of the greatest speeches at that) when Ike pays his own, humble tribute to the airborne troopers just before D-day. And there is a more subtle reference to Henry V when Ike has to sacrifice an old friend (and nearly sacrifices Patton, too, another old friend.) His thoughts on that also bring Shakespeare to mind.

I loved the film. It stayed true to its purpose, the portrayal of a general making a very tough decision. Selleck was great, and so were they all. Montgomery had a human face to him, and so did DeGaulle (although 90% of it was nose) and he was just as irritating as he is supposed to have been, power-greedy and quite oblivious to the fact that most of his France had in fact sold out to Nazi Germany. The script is great - philosophical and well-written to a fault. Now, why did I think I would be bored? I wasn't, for even one second.

helpful•20

6

kaaber-2
Dec 22, 2005

Release date
- May 31, 2004 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Ike: Thunder in June
Filming locations
- Ardmore Airport, Ardmore, Auckland, New Zealand
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 29 minutes
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio
- 16:9

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Producers Guild Nominations Announced

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Tom Selleck in Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004)

Top Gap

By what name was Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004) officially released in Canada in English?

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