The Longest Day

Overview

The Longest Day is a 1962 American epic war film based on Cornelius Ryan's 1959 nonfiction book about the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for 20th Century-Fox and was directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), and Bernhard Wicki (German scenes). The screenplay was written by Ryan, with additional material written by Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall, and Jack Seddon. The film features a large international ensemble cast, many of whom play roles that were essentially cameo appearances. Several cast members had seen action as servicemen during the war. They include Richard Todd (Parachute Regt), who participated in the assault on Pegasus Bridge in the early hours of D-Day. Among others who saw active service were Eddie Albert (US Navy), Hans Christian Blech (Wehrmacht, Eastern Front), Henry Fonda (US Navy), Leo Genn (Royal Artillery), John Gregson (Royal Navy), Donald Houston (RAF rear gunner), Kenneth More (Royal Navy), Edmond O'Brien (USAAF), Heinz Reincke (Wehrmacht officer), Robert Ryan (US Marines), and Rod Steiger (US Navy). The filmmakers employed several actual Allied and Axis D-Day participants as consultants, many of whom had their roles re-enacted in the film. These included Günther Blumentritt (a former German general), James M. Gavin (an American general), Frederick Morgan (deputy chief of staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, SHAEF), John Howard (who led the airborne assault on the Pegasus Bridge), Lord Lovat (who commanded the 1st Special Service Brigade), Philippe Kieffer (who led his men in the assault on Ouistreham), Marie-Pierre Kœnig (who commanded the Free French Forces in the invasion), Max Pemsel (a German general), Werner Pluskat (the major who was the first German officer to see the invasion fleet), Josef "Pips" Priller (the hot-headed pilot who was one of the few Luftwaffe pilots to strafe the beaches), and Lucie Rommel (widow of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel). The Longest Day premiered in France on September 25, 1962, and in the United States on October 4. It received acclaim from critics and was a significant commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing black-and-white movie at the time. At the 35th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, and won awards for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) and Best Special Effects.