The Longest Day

1962
G
2h 58m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

60K

YOUR RATING

Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Sean Connery, Sal Mineo, Eddie Albert, Richard Beymer, Red Buttons, Jeffrey Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka, Arletty, Mel Ferrer, Steve Forrest, Gert Fröbe, Fabian, Jean-Louis Barrault, Bourvil, Ray Danton, Irina Demick, Leo Genn, Henry Grace, John Gregson, Paul Hartmann, Werner Hinz, Curd Jürgens, Alexander Knox, Peter Lawford, Christian Marquand, Kenneth More, Edmond O'Brien, Ron Randell, Madeleine Renaud, Robert Ryan, Tommy Sands, Richard Todd, Tom Tryon, Peter van Eyck, and Stuart Whitman in The Longest Day (1962)

Theatrical Trailer from 20th Century Fox

Play trailer3:08

1 Video

99+ Photos

Historical Epic War Epic Action Drama History War

The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 2 Oscars
- 8 wins & 6 nominations total

Trivia
While clearing a section of the Normandy beach near Pointe du Hoc, the crew unearthed a tank that had been buried in the sand since the original invasion. Mechanics cleaned it off, fixed it up and it was used in the movie as part of the British tank regiment.

Goofs
When the two men are on the rocking boat in the beginning, the straps on their helmets remain at a 90-degree angle to the car they're sitting in despite the boat's drastic rocking back on forth, showing that it was the camera, not the boat, wobbling.

Quotes
Flight Officer David Campbell: The thing that's always worried me about being one of the few is the way we keep on getting fewer.

Crazy credits
There is a 20-second overture on a black screen, no 20th Century Fox logo (in spite of this being one of their most expensive productions), and a six-minute cold open before the title is displayed. Apart from the title, there are no credits at the beginning of the film. All cast and crew credits are at the end of the film.

Alternate versions
Some video copies omits Jean Servais scenes as a Free French admiral making a short speech to his crew before the shore bombardments starts.

Connections
Edited into All This and World War II (1976)

Soundtracks
The Longest Day
Written by Paul Anka
Performed by Mitch Miller with His Orchestra and Chorus

User reviews287

Review

Featured review

Not a fair comparison

THE LONGEST DAY is one of the if not the greatest World War II movie epics. However, it is unfair to compare it to Steven Spielberg's SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. To do so would really be comparing apples and oranges. Spielberg's movie was meant to convey the gore and horror of war and succeeded quite admirably. In THE LONGEST DAY, which was shot in semi-documentary style, Zanuck's intent was to show the monumental effort involved, on the part of the allies, in mounting a successful cross channel invasion. In that regard this film also succeeded quite admirably. It should be regarded more as a history lesson rather than as simply dramatic entertainment. The historical value of the film far outweighs any minor dramatic licenses taken by Zanuck.