The Longest Day (1962)

Directors:

Ken Annakin
Andrew Marton

Writers:

Cornelius Ryan (screenplay)
Cornelius Ryan (book)

Release Date:

4 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

42 STARS IN THE LONGEST DAY

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Invasion | Normandy | D Day | 1944 | Paratrooper

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Eddie Albert	...	Col. Thompson
Paul Anka	...	U.S. Army Ranger
Arletty	...	Madame Barrault
Jean-Louis Barrault	...	Father Louis Roulland
Richard Beymer	...	Schultz
Hans Christian Blech	...	Maj. Werner Pluskat
Bourvil	...	Mayor of Colleville
Richard Burton	...	Flight 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

Runtime:

178 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Australia:PG | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1962) | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:G | West Germany:12 (f) (bw)

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

As would be done again later in the WWII epic, Patton (1970), the Twentieth-Century Fox logo is never shown onscreen in this film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Actors Robert Ryan and John Wayne - both in their mid 50s when the movie was made - were (and looked) some 20 and 30 years too old respectively to be portraying their real-life counterparts. Ryan's character Major General James Gavin (the youngest man to hold that rank in the U.S. Army) was only in his mid 30s at the time of D-Day, and Wayne's character Lt. Col. Ben Vandervoort was only 27.

Quotes:

Capt. Colin Maud: [pointing] The war's over there!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1962-09-16)" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Lambeth Walk

Impressive retelling on the grand scale of the path to D-Day

In this epic star filled masterpiece which culminates with the invasion of Normandy we get to see the preparations for and events before the D-Day not only from the Allied side but also the German.

Grandly retold historical events and impressive recreations of battle scenes make this an indispensable classic. The Longest Day won two Oscars and can show off with a variety of international stars. Sean Connery and future opponent Gert Fröbe (in Goldfinger) star in smaller roles along with everyone from Paul Anka to Richard Burton. Outstanding.