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Before Private Ryan In black and white, with a huge international cast, The Longest Day was originally considered an impressive war movie striving to be definitive about D Day. As much as it could be, considering movies about war up to this point in time (1962) rarely became explicit in blood and carnage. We saw bombs explode, but not bodies; we saw the after-effects of bullets but not their initial impacts. Blood in black and white was antiseptic, it didn’t look realistic. (This is why the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan gripped us—it showed the realities long held from view.) Like Tora! Tora! Tora! roughly ten years later, The Longest Day tells two parallel stories—this time, one from the Allies’ view, the other from the Germans. Unlike Tora!, wherein claimants contradict they knew what was coming, the Germans knew an Allied invasion was imminent, only they didn’t guess right where it would land. The movie is Darryl F. Zanuck’s movie star parade of heroism and triumph, with “heroes” like John Wayne reassuring his men and viewers he’s up to the task awaiting him. There are some good moments—Red Buttons getting hung up in a parachute; Richard Burton having some quite time away from his usual oratorical emoting; the German in the bunker first sighting the massive armada arriving at Normandy Beach. Packed with either cameo star power or distraction: Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Wagner, Curt Jürgens, Rod Steiger, Richard Beymer, Sean Connery, Richard Todd, Kennegth More, Mel Ferrer, Alexander Knox, Robert Ryan, Roddy McDowall, Peter Lawford, Sal Mineo, Gert Fröbe, Tommy Sands, Paul Anka, George Segal, Tom Tyron, and Stuart Whitman. The most viewed female attraction: Zanuck’s girlfriend Irina Demick, but France’s celebrated Arletty does a bit as Madame Barrault. The second biggest grosser for the calendar year 1963, number one being Cleopatra, the picture many blame Zanuck for destroying in the editing process. Directed by Ken Annakin (British scenes), Andrew Marton (American) and Bernhard Wicki (German), with Zanuck involved in some scenes. Based on the book and basic screenplay by Cornelius Ryan; additional writing by Romain Gary, James Jones and David Pursall. In CinemaScope, with re-release prints in 70mm blowup. (Opening 10/11/1962 at the Roosevelt, running 20 weeks.) Oscars for best b & w cinematography, special effects; nominated for best picture, b & w art direction, film editing. ROLL OVER IMAGE
Text COPYRIGHT © 2002 RALPH BENNER All Rights Reserved. |
