The Longest Day

Rating:
Summary: Comparisons are inevitable; they're also unhelpful
Review: The comparisons are of course between THE LONGEST DAY and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. The only similarities are: both movies depict the allied landings at Normandy on D-Day, they are tributes to the servicemen of WWII, and most importantly, both are good movies. That said, general comparisons are unhelpful because the realism that made Spielberg's movie so memorable is totally absent from THE LONGEST DAY; for two very good reasons: (1) technically, the capability was unavailable in 1962 and (2) morally, that level of graphic violence would have been unacceptable. Also, Mr Zanuck, as director, did not want to make bloody messes of his numerous stars.

Realism aside, on its own merits THE LONGEST DAY is a tribute that has stood the test of time. The huge collection of stars (over 40) and the near 3 hour length qualifies it as epic. On an emotional level, it is a patriotic salute to the soldiers who went ashore. With a scope larger than Omaha beach, the focus is not exclusively American; the movie depicts the role of the British, and other allied troops, as well as the work of the French resistance. German dialogue is subtitled to add some realism. Perhaps the best aspect of the movie is that as an adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book of the same name, it is based on a historically accurate account of the battle.

For realism, patriotism, and a sentimental heroic story, only partially based on real events of D-Day, watch SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. For an old fashioned, "clean" war movie based on history with good acting (Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Curt Jurgens) watch THE LONGEST DAY. Better yet, view both, just don't spoil the experience with a lot of comparisons.

Rating:
Summary: Spielberg may have better FX but this one's got substance
Review: This epic 1962 film about the D-Day invasion has got a lot to it. First the all star cast. Henry Fonda portrays Teddy Roosevelt's son, John Wayne as a Lt. Colonel, Richard Burton as a paratrooper, Robert Mitchum as a Brigadier General, and lesser roles from George Segal, Eddie Albert, Sean Connery, Edmunt O'Brien, Rod Steiger, Roddy McDowell, Robert Ryan, Sal Mineo, and many more. We get D-Day from the German's point of view (In German with subtitles) as well as the French, British, American, and even Irish (Connery's line "yeah, it takes an Irishman to play the pipes).

There's some good humor here as well as realism, even if you don't see much blood and gore. But though Saving Pvt. Ryan had more gore, it had much less substance and aside from the 25 minute beginning was less realistic than this. This one really sets the whole day of June 6th, 1944 in a way that you really feel the importance of it. The license they took with some of the facts doesn't detract from it's realization of one of the most important days in history. And this of course was one of the few wars where the US fought on the right side (though pre-war US corporate-Nazis ties are a whole other discussion).

The 3 hour film has a few scenes with Rommel (Werner Hinz)as well as the beautiful Irina Demick as a French resistance fighter. I didn't like Richard Beymer's (West Side Story) scene with the card game thing because it was just dumb...Getting rid of $2000 just for some superstition. And he spoke his lines overly dramatically, and when he has a scene with Richard Burton it's like Davy and Goliath in terms of acting. Watch for a bit part with Richard Dawson.

This film remains a great tribute to those who risked and gave their lives to save Europe.

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Summary: BEWARE Widescreen Television Owners
Review: Widescreen television owners normally can purchase a non-anamorphic widescreen movie, and assume, though the picture will be softened, that they can watch it using the zoom picture on their television.

BE FORWARNED.....IF YOU HAVE A WIDESCREEN TELEVISION, AND NO VERTICAL IMAGE ADJUSTMENT TO THE ZOOM FEATURE, you will not be able to watch this movie on your set (except in normal mode).

The manufacturers, in their infinite wisdom, decided to place the subtitles in the black dead space BELOW THE PICTURE. On a widescreen television, they are truncated.

Fortunately for me, I can adjust the image upward on the screen, revealing the full subtitles. However, this is really not something I should HAVE to do.

An anamorphic release would have cured this....but even without one....just using some brains when producing this DVD would have helped!

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Summary: Great war epic that should NOT be compared to Pvt. Ryan.
Review: This great movie not only tells the story of the invasion of Normandy in 1944, it also symbolizes the movie era in which is was made. This is evident by the lack of blood and gore, and the sometimes melodramatic acting of the famous cast. This film is made to be an historic account of the events surrounding Operation Overlord and I think it does a fine job telling the story from both the allied and axis perspectives as well as that of the French Underground resistance fighters. The viewer must keep in mind that the violence is toned down compared to the newer war movies, and its comparison to Saving Private Ryan should not be an issue - they are two completely different movies made in different times with two vastly different messages. The Longest Day doesn't try to tell the viewer the "war is hell" story - it tells the viewer "here's what happened leading up to and on D-Day". If you have a fondness for old movies and history, this movie should please you. If you want blood and violence, you'll likely be disapointed. I have enjoyed this movie many times, and it serves as a history lesson for both its topic and vintage cinematic elements.

Rating:
Summary: "We'll start the war from here!"
Review: Take your "Saving Private Ryans", your "Big Red Ones", your "Band of Brothers"', put them together; they'll never match the excitement and apparent authenticity of this 1962 gem. Unlike "Ryan", which followed a powerful subplot, "TLD" relies on the experiences of the average soldiers, the resistance fighters, and leaders (both Nazi and Allied) in a chronological retelling of the D-Day Invasion itself. Eisenhower is seen making the final decision to invade; Rommel leavinig Normandy because he knows the Allies would never land in the rain. In other words, this film tells the whole story, American, British Commonwealth, German, and French. Those who complain that this seems too broad a brush with which to paint would be surprised at how well Zanuck knit the various scenes together, in part because of the comeraderie built among the allied troops and their leaders.

It is true that "Ryan" showed a bloodier, and therefore probably more war-like, beach landing, but once again this is due to different motives: Speilberg's, to bring our emotion around the suffering of the main characters; Zanuck et al to show the events of the war in a human context, without being glib. And the black and white shots make it more family-friendly.

"Patriotic" films, especially from former decades, tend to portray the enemy as cartoonish or monstrous; TLD is not one of those films. The German characters are portrayed as human; their place in the film seems to illustrate the tragic mistakes their leaders have made in their plans, not to show us how "bad" Germans were. (This was not a film designed to explore the horrors of the Nazis' extracurricular activities; but it does not give a sense of avoiding them).

The French and German characters speak French and German, not English with French and German accents, and not bad French and German. In many cases German actors portray the Nazi leaders and soldiers at the beach.

And who can beat this film for it's star-studded glory? Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Sal Mineo, Eddie Albert, Paul Anka as a Ranger scaling Pointe du Hoc, Sean Connery, Richard Burton...Red Buttons has the unenviable job of playing paratrooper John Stele, 101st Airborne, who ended up with his chute caught on a church steeple, German gunfire all around him. (The church in Ste. Mere Eglise still has a "dummy" chutist hanging there to memorialize Steele, who died in 1969, as well as stained glass windows telling the chutists' story). In one of the neatest twists, British D-Day vet Richard Todd, a screenstar there, plays Maj. Richard Howard. One wonders where Brigadier General Jimmy Stewart was at casting time...maybe he was already too busy with "Cheyenne Autumn" or "How the West Was Won." Regardless, if you like American film from this era, you're sure to find one or two of your favorite male actors here.

The DVD is nice for its letterbox view, and the trailers are fun to watch. This year marks the 60th anniversary of D-Day. If you and your family are looking for media that teaches accurately the important events of that pivotal day, this one is highly recommended.

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Summary: Longest Day & Pvt. Ryan both accomplish goals!!
Review: Just a quick note here in responce to the "spotlight review" by sixtiesuniverse.
In correctly praising The Longest Day, you saw fit to critize Spielbergs Pvt.Ryan. I find the claim that Ryan lacked substance almost laughable,and that TLD was loaded with substance not very accurate.
First, we really shouldnt compare these two films as they are very different, not only in the technology but in their messages and goals. Yes some of both seep over to the other, but not for a fair comparison.
TLD was not as much a movie of deep substance as it was a grand reinactment of a very historical battle. Zanuck decided to tell the whole story of D-Day in much the same manner as Cornileus Ryan had written the history. This he did brilliantly, and the film to this day is a marvel to watch and a great national history lesson.
SPR on the other hand was about the very personnal sacrifice, and answer to the call made by the young men who hit those beaches and jumped into that night sky. Yes, Spielberg had great EFX, and used them well in the harrowing opening of the film, as well as all the other battle scenes. But the fact that there was rarely a dry eye in the theatre at the end, tells me his emotional goals were met, and we got a little better understanding of the sacrifice.
Brilliant....this word applies to both of these great achievments in film making and in departing history to those of us not old enough to remember.

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Summary: a great war movie based on a great book
Review: This is one of the only movies that acctually use the book. The movie follows the book perfectly. Every detail in the book is in the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than TORA,TORA,TORA!
Review: THE LONGEST DAY is a great epic war film which is better than most of its kind - especially TORA,TORA,TORA. The cast includes about every male star available in Hollywood in 1962 including Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, John Wayne, Sean Connery and Rod Steiger. Nobody in the huge cast manages to dominate the movie. The viewer will probably remember best the vivid action scenes.

The film won Oscars for Best Black & White Cinematography and Special Effects. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Black & White Art Direction and Editing. None of the directors, actors or writers received nominations.

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Summary: Been There
Review: Having toured Normandy, St. Mere Eglise, Aromanches, Bayeux, Caen and several other sites, I have to say that this movie is about as accurate as you can get, especially the part about the bridge over the Orne River, the Pegasus Bridge. Also, the scene where PFC John Steele is hanging from the steeple of the church at St. Mere Eglise conforms to the real scene right to the "t."

You have to go to Normandy and see the Longe batteries, St. Mere Eglise, Pegasus Bridge etc..., then see the movie and you will walk away with nothing but appreciation for what was done by the "Greatest Generation." I wish I had been a part of it.

A movie of this type, coupled with actually seeing the real sites makes you proud to be an American.

Rating:
Summary: "This will be the longest day...."
Review: D-Day, June 6, 1944, indeed turned out to be a long day for many soldiers from many nations as the Allies landed on the beaches at Normandy. The scope of the invasion was incredible: 5,000 ships of all sizes (ranging from battleships to landing craft), 200,000 assault troops from 4 Allied countries, 11,000 planes, 13,000 paratroopers, and as Brig. Gen. Norman Cota (Robert Mitchum) says early on in this very expensive film, "God knows how many gliders," participated in history's greatest amphibious operation.

Darryl F. Zanuck's The Longest Day, based on the book by Cornelius Ryan (who wrote the screenplay), takes its title from a quote by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (Werner Hinz), "Believe me, gentlemen, the first 24 hours of the invasion will be decisive. For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day...". It has a huge cast, including 48 major stars from four different countries, and until Steven Spielberg's 1993 Schindler's List, it was the most expensive black and white movie ever made at a cost of $8,000,000 (in 1962 dollars). Additionally, 23,000 soldiers from three NATO countries were used as extras for the huge battle scenes.
The Longest Day covers the events of June 5-6, 1944 as the Germans and Allies prepare for the long awaited invasion of France. We see the Germans desperately fortifying the northern coast of France with mines, obstacles, pillboxes, and lots of barbed wire to prevent any Allied soldiers from setting foot on the beaches. They also intercept the coded messages from Britain to the French underground that will alert the Resistance that the invasion is 24 hours away. However, they don't know where the landings will take place; their logic tells them that the Allies will attack at the Pas de Calais, the closest point between England and the Continent.
Little do they know that even as Rommel heads back to Germany to spend leave with his wife and son (June 6 was Frau Rommel's birthday), thousands of British and American paratroopers, including Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort (John Wayne) are preparing for a risky night drop to secure the flanks of the five beach invasion area. The invasion has already been postponed once and the weather is looking pretty gloomy. But fortune smiles on Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Henry Grace) and conditions improve just enough to allow Ike to say, "I don't like it, but there it is. I don't see how we can do anything else but....Go."
At this point The Longest Day really gets going, switching narrative gear from talky buildup and exposition to the more action-oriented (yet still talky at times) recreation of the events of June 6 (the capture of the Orne River bridge, the scattered airdrops of the American paratroopers, the desperate struggle for Omaha Beach).
The Longest Day features one of the biggest all-star casts assembled for one film, including Eddie Albert, Paul Anka, Richard Beymer, Bourvil, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda (as Brig. Gen. Teddy Roosevelt, Jr, who, upon seeing that the U.S. 4th Infantry Division is landing on the wrong part of Utah Beach, says, "We'll start the war from right here."), Gert Frobe, Curt Jurgens, Roddy McDowall, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, George Segal, Rod Steiger, Richard Todd (who had actually fought on the Orne River bridge on D-Day), and John Wayne, who not only got a separate credit but also was paid more than his fellow actors.
Although its battle scenes, particularly the airborne drop and the seaborne landings, are somewhat dated and tame by today's standards, the movie still manages to convey to modern audiences the scale of the Normandy invasion (which, if we counted the follow-up divisions that were based in Britain, involved 3,000,000 troops in addition to the initial 200,000 assault troops). The use of black and white -- which was still prevalent in 1962 -- not only kept costs from rivaling Cleopatra (which 20th Century Fox was filming at the same time -- but allowed the three directors (Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki) to seamlessly blend footage shot in different French locales and stock documentary footage. And although D-Day veterans point out that Ryan and the other screenwriters (including novelist James Jones) made some gaffes (the soldiers didn't scramble off the landing craft and onto the beaches yelling like banshees; they were too seasick and tired), this is still one of the best war movies ever made.