The Longest Day
Seen it?1962 | 178 min | War, Drama, History
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
It won 2 Oscars, people are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.6 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved A Bridge Too Far or Dunkirk, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's long: 2 hr 58 min.
- Made in 1962: an older pace and style.
The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, US, British, Canadians, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich's Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. "For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day"
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Special Effects. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars. Plus 3 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$50 million worldwide on a $10 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 337K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
A Bridge Too Far
Saturday SpecialAlso stars Sean Connery, in another military historical drama, and a Saturday Special.
Dunkirk Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed military war story.
The Guns of Navarone Saturday SpecialAnother war drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Six Triple Eight
Weeknight WatchAnother true-story historical drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Greyhound Saturday SpecialAnother true-story war drama, and a Saturday Special.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Ken Annakin, Bernhard Wicki, Andrew Marton
- John WayneLt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort
- Robert MitchumBrig. Gen. Norman Cota
- Henry FondaBrig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
- Richard BurtonFlight Officer David Campbell
- Sean ConneryPvt. Flanagan
- Leslie PhillipsRAF Officer Mac
- Robert RyanBrig. Gen. James M. Gavin
- Paul AnkaU.S. Army Ranger
- Wolfgang BüttnerMaj. Gen. Dr. Hans Speidel
- Mel FerrerMaj. Gen. Robert Haines