After a weekend where The Odyssey dominated the box office and we finally saw a trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, I revisited a film from 60 years ago that reminded me these types of films aren’t new. The Longest Day is a 3-hour depiction of the D-Day invasion of World War II. It shows the strategy and preparations from all sides, including the French resistance and Germany. The cast includes many of the biggest names of the time, including Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Sean Connery and John Wayne. Wayne’s role is considered a cameo because he filmed it in a week, but he’s in the film so much this may be the most screen time ever for a cameo. I’m also tickled that the real Lt. Colonel thought Wayne was too old and too overweight.
Legendary Producer Darryl F. Zanuck ultimate took the director credit, overseeing a team of directors who divided up the work by country. The resulting film is seamless and highly entertaining, containing a number of jaw-dropping moments I doubt could be done today without digital effects. I’m not just talking about the hundreds of extras playing soldiers, but the amount of gunfire and explosions would require hiring every available stunt person and days of safety meetings to prepare for the random blasts that happen during what are often very long takes. Moments like a two-minute assault by the French filmed from a helicopter to convey the number of troops involved in just this one small part of the battle.
Leave A Comment