The Longest Day is an epic war film released in 1962 that depicts the events of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history. The movie shows the perspectives of multiple nations involved in the operation, including Germany, the United States, Britain, Canada, and Free French Forces.
The film features a star-studded cast, including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, and Henry Fonda, among many others. The characters are based on real people who participated in the invasion, and the movie strives to offer a balanced portrayal of the different sides.
The German perspective is shown through Marshall Erwin Rommel, who is depicted as a skilled tactician. He tours the defenses established as part of the Atlantic Wall, emphasizing the importance of stopping the Allied invasion on the beach. The American perspective is shown through soldiers like General Norman Cota and Colonel Benjamin Vandervoort, who lead their troops in the landing on Omaha Beach.
The British perspective is shown through characters like Major John Howard, who leads a glider assault to capture the Pegasus Bridge. The Canadian perspective is shown through soldiers like Lieutenant-Colonel John D. S. Bailey, who is in charge of constructing the Mulberry harbors used to unload troops and supplies onto the beaches.
The Free French perspective is shown through soldiers like Philippe Kieffer, who leads a commando raid on Ouistreham. The movie shows how the different nationalities worked together to achieve their common goal, highlighting the sacrifices made by soldiers on all sides.
The Longest Day was a commercial and critical success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1962. It was praised for its realism, attention to detail, and use of multiple perspectives. The movie is still regarded as a classic war film, offering a comprehensive portrayal of one of the most significant events of World War II.