If you have never seen it, HELL YES WATCH IT !!! That, and “A Bridge Too Far” adapted from the Cornelius Ryan book of same name. Both of these movies had “technical advisers” who were the real participants in these events; not like those Military RomCom movies (i. e. “Pearl Harbor”) being put out by anti-military Hollyweird.
“John has a long mustache.”
--------------------- DJT-45/47 MAGA !!!!!
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it." — Mark Twain
“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” — H. L. Mencken
Posts: 2931 | Location: Falls of the Ohio River, Kain-tuk-e | Registered: January 13, 2005
As a very studious 4th grader, I read both books mentioned as well as Ryan’s “The Final Battle.” Nerd much was I, yes, haha, but great material.
Ridiculously, I’ve not watched “The Longest Day” movie (I need to fix that!) but the film treatment of “A Bridge Too Far” premiered when I was still a kid and it remains one of my favorites. And talk about a star-studded cast!
"The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli." - George Costanza
Of the WWII productions, The Longest Day and Victory at Sea are my favorites. Two very different projects, one an ensemble cast about a specific event, the other a multi-part documentary using archival footage and a fantastic music score.
Others like Saving Private Ryan, Patton, Sands of Iwo Jima, Operation Pacific, The Pacific, From Here to Eternity, Tora, Tora, Tora, Midway (both of them, for different reasons), The Big Red One, The Guns of Navarone...all are super solid and worthy of a evening each.
Posts: 15465 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
I watched it last night; hadn't watched it in its entirety for many years. Always interesting to see people who would become superstars in Hollywood, like Marlon Brando, getting knocked off after about 10 seconds of film. I consider A Bridge Too Far the more dramatically interesting and moving film; but The Longest Day is unique. I didn't remember that the German actors spoke German in the film; for me this greatly increases the credibility and seriousness of the movie. I've not read Ryan's book; I'm now interested in reading it.
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
Posts: 18987 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004
A great version of the story, especially considering the state of special effects back then. I don't think there is another movie with as many stars and stars to be in it as this one.