23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
War epic with John Wayne and Sean Connery 'is the best D-Day movie ever made'
The Longest Day is a 1962 war film about the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, during World War II - and it's been hailed as the best D-Day movie ever made
The Longest Day, a 1962 war epic, vividly portrays the Normandy D-Day landings.
The film was directed by three individuals - Ken Annakin handled the British and French exteriors, Andrew Marton oversaw the American exteriors, and Bernhard Wicki was responsible for the German scenes. The Longest Day enjoyed immense commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing black-and-white film of its era.
Cornelius Ryan penned the screenplay, which was based on his own book, with additional contributions from writers Romain Gary, James Jones, Jack Seddon, and David Pursall.
The Longest Day boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring the likes of John Wayne, Kenneth More, Robert Wagner, Richard Todd, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Paul Anka, Steve Forrest, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Irina Demick, and George Segal, among others.
Several actors made cameo appearances in the film, and many had served in the military during the war, including Henry Fonda, Leo Genn, Eddie Albert, Kenneth More, Rod Steiger, and Richard Todd. Notably, Richard Todd was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy during Operation Overlord and took part in the assault on Pegasus Bridge, reports the Express.
To ensure the film accurately represented the events of the war, the production team consulted with numerous real-life D-Day veterans, including Allied and Axis participants. Upon release, The Longest Day garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences.
The film earned five Academy Award nominations at the 35th Oscars, including Best Picture, and secured two wins - Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) and Best Special Effects.
Critics praised the film with one reviewer hailing it as "a solid and stunning war epic". Another said: "It is hard to think of a picture, aimed and constructed as this one was, doing any more or any better or leaving one feeling any more exposed to the horror of war than this one does."
In a separate review, the film was described as: "A far cry from the gore-drenched Saving Private Ryan, legendary producer Darryl F. Zanuck's heartfelt recreation of the D-Day landings is, in its own way, every bit as memorable."
One critic further praised it, saying: "It is, and will most likely always remain, the definitive D-Day picture."
Another fan said: "The Longest Day is the all-time top movie for D-Day..! ! Made in the 1960's and in black-n-white, it tops SPR as the go-to movie for historical accuracy.."
One audience review praised the film as a definitive war classic, saying: "This is an absolute classic War movie. Yes, it is long but tells about the events of D Day from all perspectives. Steller cast."
Another added: "The cast is immense and the movie is one of the greatest war movies ever made."
While a third said: "A great all star movie. While Saving Private Ryan has by far the best action scene of the landings (or maybe any battle scene), this old timer still reigns for scope and retelling the story of the Normandy Invasion."
The choice to present The Longest Day in black-and-white was particularly appreciated by one fan who said: "I thought it was amazing. The incredible detail and brilliant cameos. It was tragic seeing the loss of life and carnage on the beaches. I am glad it was in B/W."
The Longest Day can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
