Free | CinemaNow
Posted: 5/27/2012
Widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's greatest war films, THE LONGEST DAY is a spectacular account of the events leading up to and through the Allied Forces' invasion of Normandy, France on D-Day (June 6), 1944 to fight the occupying Germans. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck spared no expense in recreating this heroic, extremely complex and massive invasion, which consisted of more than 3.5 million Allied soldiers, two-thirds of them American. Featuring a huge and talented cast headed by John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Sean Connery and Robert Mitchum, THE LONGEST DAY tells the story of D-Day from the viewpoint of all of its participants, German and French included. In order to make the film as authentic as possible, Zanuck employed the actual locations called for in Cornelius Ryan's screenplay, such as the command posts occupied by the Germans, the French underground network, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach and sites in England. The film is a sobering examination of D-Day, particularly from the perspective of the Germans, who are overwhelmed by the forces brought against them. It is in fact a German officer, at the start of the day, who gives the story its title, as he looks at the approaching armada and says, This will be the longest day. All the characters speak in their own languages with subtitles, which adds to the documentary feeling of this gigantic and fascinating war epic. THE LONGEST DAY won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects, and earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Editing and Art Direction.