|
Dvds Direct |
 |
|
The Longest Day ( 1962)
|
Genre: Action Drama History War
Runtime: 178 min
Cast of Characters| 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 B ttner | ... | 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 |
Plot Outline: The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view. England in June 1944. Unseasonal storms. Allied troops are massed ready for the invasion of France, some already on the boats. The Normandy beaches will be their destination while paratroopers are dropped inland to take key towns and bridges. On the other side of the Channel the Germans still expect the invasion at Calais, and anyway the weather makes them think nothing is likely to be imminent. Eisenhower decides to go. Hitler sleeps on.
Runtime: 178 min
Language: English German French
Color: Black and White
Aspect Ratio: 2.20 : 1
Sound Mix: 4-Track Stereo 70 mm 6-Track
Certification:Australia:PG Finland:K-16 Norway:16 South Korea:18 Spain:T Sweden:15 UK:PG USA:G West Germany:12
Quotes: [ to his generals, observing the English Channel] Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : Just look at it, gentlemen. How calm... how peaceful it is. A strip of water between England and the continent... between the Allies and us. But beyond that peaceful horizon... a monster waits. A coiled spring of men, ships, and planes... straining to be released against us. But, gentlemen, not a single Allied soldier shall reach the shore. Whenever and wherever this invasion may come, gentlemen...
Awards: Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations
Comments:
This is perhaps one of the most ambitious, epic WW2 films to have been made; certainly it is the last of the
classic B&W films made about the subject. Featuring an all-star cast (John Wayne, Richard Burton, Kurt Jurgens... even a cameo by Sean Connery!), it comprehensively details the build-up and execution of the Normandy
landings in 1944, taking care to show how the event was perceived by Allied and Axis soldiers and commanders, as
well as the Free French resistance. This is a film that takes great care in documenting the events of the day,
without lapsing into sickly sentimentalism or getting distracted with fictional characters' personal lives (a
failing of many WW2 movies since about 1970), or over-emphasising any one nation's importance in the operation
(although, admittedly, Canadians may feel a little short-changed).
Classic moments abound, notably the landing at St.Mere-Eglise and the soldier who gets caught in the
church steeple, the frustrations of the front-line German commanders and fighters, and the numerous cameos for
film nerds to keep track of.
If you want a wartime romance, or an appearance by Matt Damon or Ben Affleck, or long, loving shots of the
Stars & Stripes in slo-mo, or a gritty blood'n'guts fest, you'll be disappointed. This film has broader
concerns, and was made with much more thoroughness. There is no agenda at work here, pro-war or anti-. It is
solely concerned with documenting Operation "Overlord" for the film-going public, and succeeds brilliantly; a
shame then, that it has not made the top 50 war films list.
A must-see for any fan of war films.
UPC 024543029977
