It's been 80 years since the D-Day assault that brought the allied forces to the Normandy beaches, and began the push that would end the second World War. There have been many incredible war movies made about that attack. And one of my favorite is The Longest Day, which had the jaw-dropping cast including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, and many others. That's a movie that I saw on TCM as a kid and that I've tried to watch on June 6th every year since. The film tells the story of D-Day from multiple perspectives, including American, British, French, and German soldiers and commanders. This provides a comprehensive and nuanced view of the events. And it has some of the most wondrous cinematography ever put to celluloid. Every time I show someone new the film, we always wind up talking about the French assault on Ouistreham, which contains a oner that has to be seen to believe. Check it out below. The French Assault on Ouistreham from 'The Longest Day'What I love about this movie are all the practical effects we see employed. This was made in 1962, so there's no CGI. These are real men running through real explosions—done safely with a crew and planned explosives. But the reality here is striking and moving. The film frequently employs wide shots and aerial views to showcase the vast scale of the D-Day operation. These shots establish the geographical context and emphasize the sheer number of...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 6 June, 2024