The Longest Day (1962)
Director: Ken Annakin (British exterior episodes), Andrew Marton (American exterior episodes), Bernhard Wicki (German episodes)
Starring: 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), Fred Dur (U.S. Army Ranger major), Fabian (U.S. Army Ranger), Mel Ferrer (Maj. Gen. Robert Haines), Henry Fonda (Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr), Steve Forrest (Capt. Harding), Gert Fröbe (Sgt. Kaffekanne), Leo Genn (Brig. Gen. Edwin P. Parker Jr.), John Gregson (British Padre), Paul Hartmann (Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt), Peter Helm (Young GI), Werner Hinz (Field Marshal Erwin Rommel), Donald Houston (RAF pilot at flight base), Jeffrey Hunter (Sgt., later Lt., John H. Fuller), Karl John (Gen. Wolfgang Hager), Curd Jürgens (Maj. Gen. Gunther Blumentritt), Alexander Knox (Maj. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith), Peter Lawford (Lord Lovat), Fernand Ledoux (Louis), Christian Marquand (Cmdr. Philippe Kieffer, commando leader), Dewey Martin (Pvt. Wilder), Roddy McDowall (Pvt. Morris), Michael Medwin (Pvt. Watney), Sal Mineo (Pvt. Martini), Robert Mitchum (Brig. Gen. Norman Cota), Kenneth More (Capt. Colin Maud), Richard Münch (Gen. Erich Marcks), Edmond O'Brien (Gen. Raymond D. Barton), Leslie Phillips (Royal Air Force officer), Wolfgang Preiss (Maj. Gen. Max Pemsel), Ron Randell (Joe Williams), Madeleine Renaud (Mother Superior), Georges RiviPre (Sgt. Guy de Montlaur), Norman Rossington (Pvt. Clough), Robert Ryan (Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin), Tommy Sands (U.S. Army Ranger), George Segal (U.S. Army Ranger), Jean Servais (RAdm. Janjard), Rod Steiger (Destroyer commander), Richard Todd (Maj. John Howard), Tom Tryon (Lt. Wilson), Peter van Eyck (Lt. Col. Ocker), Robert Wagner (U.S. Army Ranger), Richard Wattis (British soldier), Stuart Whitman (Lt. Sheen), Georges Wilson (Alexandre Renaud), John Wayne (Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort).
Awards: Best Cinematography, black and white and Best Special Effects.
This is a very long, but excellent movie about the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-day. The contributions of the Americans, British and Canadians and the French are covered and credited. In addition, the role of the French resistance in France is also shown.
The great confusion among the German commanders about whether this was the real invasion or just a diversion (or even an invasion at all) is revealed very effectively.
Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort (John Wayne) with his paratroopers is given the task of capturing the key town of Sainte Mere-Eglise; Major John Howard (Richard Todd) is to take and hold the Orne River Bridge until relieved; Lord Lovat (Peter Lawford) is to relieve Major Howard at the Orne River Bridge.
The only drawback is that there are so many Hollywood stars that one's attention is constantly drawn to talking about the star or trying to figure out the name of the star. But on the other hand, that can be fun in and of itself.
Patrick L. Cooney, Ph. D.
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