The Longest Day (1962)

Based on the 1959 history book The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, about D-Day, the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II.

Beginning in the days leading up to D-Day, the film concentrates on events on both sides of the channel such as the Allies waiting for the break in the poor weather and the anticipation of the Axis forces defending northern France. The film pays particular attention to the decision by General Eisenhower, supreme commander of he Allies, to go after reviewing the initial bad weather reports as well as the divisions within the German High Command on where an invasion might happen or what response to it should be. The film chronicles most of the important events surrounding D-Day. From the British glider missions to secure Pegasus Bridge, the counterattacks launched by American paratroopers scattered around Sainte-Mère-Église, the infiltration and sabotage work conducted by the French resistance and SOE agents, and the response by the Wehrmacht to the invasion and the uncertainty to whether it was a feint in preparation for crossings at the Pas de Calais

Directed by

Ken Annakin
Andrew Marton 

Bernhard Wicki 

 Based on the Book

The Longest Day

by Cornelius Ryan (1920-1974) 

Cast

John Wayne  Kenneth More

 Richard Todd  Robert Mitchum

Richard Burton Sean Connery

Henry Fonda  Red Buttons

Peter Lawford  Eddie Albert

Jeffrey Hunter  Stuart Whitman

Tom Tryon  Rod Steiger, Leo Genn

Gert Fröbe, Irina Demick, Bourvil

Curt Jürgens, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka and Arletty.